2012 Tige Z3 taking on water - New tow rig

[Moki]

We were at Lake Powell this week and woke up to 6 inches of water in my z3. It doesn't seem to be coming from any of my ballast pumps. My best guess is the prop seal, has anybody had issues with this on their 2012 Z3?

Also, got a new rig to pull the Z3. I wanted the ability to haul lots of people and still have a diesel so I went with this 2004 Excursion

[IDBoating]

If water will flow UP, it will also flow DOWN. Put a few inches of water in your hull while it's on the trailer and the leak will self-identify.

[Moki]

If water will flow UP, it will also flow DOWN. Put a few inches of water in your hull while it's on the trailer and the leak will self-identify.

Great idea. I will give it a shot.
Thanks!

[ChrisBarnes05-12-84]

I'm not sure if there was an issue on 2012 shaft seal, but the 2013 z3 and z1 shaft seals got recalled last year.

[Moki]

I read about the recall for the 2013s, I think they switched to a new system on 2013s with water line going to the shaft. I have the older shaft seal with no water lines. I did what WABoating recommended and filled the bottom up with water. So far, not a drip from below the boat. I am wondering now if it is something as stupid as not getting the plug tightened. I will have to get it on the water again and see if the problem will occur again.

[trent]

My PSS seal was replaced with a lasdrop?? seal by dealer. That seal was then retrofitted with an additional clamp to prevent it from moving later that year.

[trent]

My seal failure was identified by a spray line that appeared in bilge. As the water was passing through the seal while the shaft was rotating it created a black line perpendicular to the shaft. Mine did not actually leak noticeably while the boat was not in motion until the very end.
Hope that helps

[Moki]

Trent, I couldn't see any noticeable water when I was stopped. That makes sense that the water could be leaking only when the shaft is moving. Was your seal covered under warranty? Was there a recall for your 2012?

[SATige]

Not sure if your motor is set up the same as my Mercruiser, but I had a seawater pump failure which was leaking at the pully shaft seal. It would leak while off and while running, resulted in a good amount of water in the bilge. My initial thought was leaking drive shaft, then realized you could actually hear the water trickling into the bilge. Good luck.

[Iwndr]

Welcome back Moki! Sweet Setup!!! So did you wake up to 6" of water after you left it with a dry bilge? Or did you not notice while boating that day and just saw it in the morning? And why is your bilge pump not working is what I'd like to know?

Here I'll put this in the correct thread...

[Moki]

Iwndr, you know that it would take me an extra mouse click to put it in the right thread The boat was taking water on through out the day, I did leave it with a dry bilge, which logically you are leading me to think that it wasn't just leaking when the shaft was moving. In regards to the bilge pump not coming on automatically. That is a very good question. I was wondering the same thing out there. I had to manually operate the bilge to get the water out throughout the day. What I still don't understand is that it was in the water the previous night and did not take on that much water. My first thought was that maybe my front left ballast hose was not connected as the pump was running but not filling up the bag. So I had several issues going on:

1. water leak
2. automatic bilge switch not activating
3. left front ballast not filling up.

[trent]

My shaft seal was never actually recalled, however I did not pay to have it replaced either. At the time it was replaced I was told that there had been some bad ones out there. I had been in a few times complaining of excessive water in the bilge. The other parties I took it to could not determine the issue. The guys at Lynnwood Motoplex, were able to immediately diagnose the issue, which was later confirmed via a water test.

I believe my boat is the same year as yours is I had quite a few other issue, including the bilge and blower not working. Check the fuse in the battery compartment for those. There is also a fuse in the rats nest of wires under the dash that blew on me as well. I believe these were removed from the wiring harness at a later date. They also added diodes to many of the wires that offered a manual switch.

[Ewok]

I would pull up the floor and follow the bow ballast line from the pump to the ballast bag and make sure all the connections are tight. I bet there is a line lose or popped off the bag and let all that water flow to the bilge. I had a similar situation on my first trip out this year, but I found the source of the water pretty quick.

[Z1Fan]

Hey guys 2013's did have a shaft seal recall , my z1 would have water in the bilge all the time , and even after they replaced it , found out the so called replacement was faulty as well , make sure if you have a water cooled seal that the water line is connected properly !!!

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[Moki]

Trent, Yes I found my blown fuse for the blower behind the battery and replaced it but the blower still doesn't work. I will have to look under the dash. Ewok, thanks for the info on following the ballast.