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Just took my new to me 2011 Puma FTD 250XS on maiden voyage. Found a couple fixes after reading the BCB boards after reading this informational board.However, need some direction to verify not bigger issue. Water came up from floor drain while I was running. This was after I had just finished testing the Fortrex 101 TM for about 2 hours fishing. (No live well operation but valve was in “empty” switch position. I was testing hole shot settings with Detwiler Hydraulic JP and have to assume the water came in from the passenger side rear facing vent after multiple starts and not slowly letting boat set down to avoid backwash.Last night I backed boat into lake while hooked up just to see if water would come into bilge with live well switch set to ” auto”. I could see water very slowly seeping into lower bilge area barely noticeable. I used bilge pump to pump oit 1 sec worth of water. From the pumps and hoses that I could see, none were leaking. One pump i forgot was located under the plate with oil tank so I looked at it back in the garage. Tightened up all clamps more but none were loose.I plan to investigate more later this week and wanted to ask a couple questions:1. Wondered if plumbing will allow water to get into bilge with live well switch set to “empty” or “auto” when stopping or starting on plane ?2. Confirm that the only pump or valve installed through hull to water is the live well filll pump and auto fill valve?3. Confirm other than that the rear passenger vent, hull through hummingbird transducer, and self contained stainless steel metallic screw in drain plug are the only other “designed” access ways for outside water to get in bilge (other than overflow and flush valves from live well water)Finally if excessive water did fill bilge from repeated entry from rear vent then only way to get all the water out is to pull boat out of water and pull drain plug and set live well switch to empty. Other than that bilge pump out and live well pump out will get most all water pumped out.Boat is in like new condition so i dont see any cracks or rub rail considerations. Boat is amazingly great ride, handling and bcb rush so couldnt be happier.
Check your drain plug, when you remove it see if it is “smooth”, rather than have the rubber ridges – if so replace it.I kept getting water in the bilge when just on the TM for a long time and couldnt figure out how and finally replaced the old drain plug with a new one – No More Water.You could also be getting some water in there from transom over wash when stopping, are your rear carpets wet? Very unlikely water is coming in thru the vents.
1. Not unless you have a leaking connection, but you have checked those.2. Correct.3. Correct.I agree with catmantwo. I doubt water is coming in through the vent. If you allow water to wash over the back deck, it is getting in around the rear deck compartment lids which is normal. My first thought is that your drain plug is not sealing correctly. To get ALL of the water out, you would need to pull the boat out and pull the drain plug. Make sure you have your bilge pump set to Auto. I flip mine to Manual every so often when it is raining or I let water splash over the transom to pump out the small amount of water that has accumulated but that has accumulated to the point the float kicks the bilge on.
Thanks Cats!The self attached drain plug is a new one to me. It looks like it has rubber O Ring around end of screw top that may be bad. Looks like BCB carries replacement but I will try installing new O Ring first.
I recently had water dripping from a fitting that ran from the live-well fill pump to the actuator housing. A pair of channel locks and 30 seconds and it was fixed. It took me a while to track it down though and gave me an excuse to clean the bilge,
I will check all fittings with pumps operating next time on water.I did find a very slow “drip” at bottom surface of drain plug when filled bilge with water hose. I have this drain plug:http://www.basscatstore.com/stainlessst … dplug.aspxAnyone have similar results / solution?
Many thanks to Allan in parts. A new “O” ring for the stainless plug, and bilge stayed bone dry over the weekend.
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