www.iFourWinns.com

Ok since I took the boat out on sunday the lowest tempature was 29. At 6:30 a.m. when I left for work it was 34 so it did not stay below freezing for more than 2-3 hours. I went out to drain the block today as we could have temps as low as 23 the next 2 days. When I had left the lake there was barely a drop of water in the bilge and it drained out. I brought it home and backed it into the shop and left it. When I just went out there was about 5 cups in the bilge. Of course I about had a conary and stroked out on the spot. I started looking to see if any freeze plugs popped and none did. The only spot I found water coming from was the starboard cylnder block drain. I touched the end of it and it was wet. I unscrewed it and a bunch of water came out. Checked the port side and it had not been leaking at all. Unscrewed it and a bunch more water came out. I finshed draining the block and now I am worried about possible damage. The starboard side drain was really loose. It took one turn and water was coming out. Are these supposed to only be finger tight? Also why wouldn't it have leaked while I was driving the boat for 4 hours? Let me know what you guys think.

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

They can get loose like that unless you snug em down with a wrench. I have to put grease on mine to make sure they come out, since I am in a salt water area. If I don't snug em down a little more than just finger tight they will leak (salt water which is not good, in fact if the starboard side manifold drain on the 4.3 leaks, it leaks salt water right on the starter terminals, not good!)
I'd just take a small adjustible wrench and snug em just a litle more than finger tight. Don't crank em down real tight though. Before I put my boat in the water one of the things I do is take an inspection mirror and make sure none of them leaks.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I will do that. Thanks as always Lou.

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Your fine, I agree with LouC, you need to tighten things down just a bit more. As the motor warms up and cools down (thermal expansion), if anything is loose it will leak.

I don't use an inspection mirror, I just look in the bilge for any water. First trip of the year, I look for leaks at any fitting and in bilge before taking off trailer, then maybe once a day during a week long camping trip, just to see if there is any accumulation in the bilge to let me know I need to look further for any leaks when I get home.

For a day use boat, I would check every so often to ensure no leaks.

_________________
2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Remember, water is supposed to drain into the bilge from many other areas of the boat. I would be very surprised to not find a quart or so of water after hauling the boat home - just hooking the trailered boat up raises the bow enough to shift fluids around. Now if you checked the bilge after parking the trailer, and then again the next day, it might indicate a leak. It's good you're keeping an eye on things, but I wouldn't worry too much.

_________________
2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP