Help wanted on Rickter XFS 2015 Hull

[Flipit'n'Dipit57]

G'day guys, I got a Rickter XFS 2015 hull, had it for just over a year now and has in the last month just started to take in water to the back tray where you stand.
Trying to find out where the water is coming in, tried filling the back tray up with water and nothing leaking there.
I got a rear tank in it so can't see in behind to look at the scupper pipe and other tubes if the seal has cracked around there? So it's a big job pulling motor out and tank just to have a look at the seals..
I've heard that they can break the seal around back exhaust as well.

Has this happened to anyone else or has any other helpful info!!
Much appreciated

 

[badvinny]

And you are positive it's not just coming in thru the scupper?

 

[Mdavies_02]

Pulling the engine to inspect should take no more than 20 minutes if doing it in a garage.

Granted your first time will be much longer but its an easy process and one that we shouldn't hesitate to do. So much easier than working around it.

 

[Harbor]

If it's a carbon hull you might pressure test your cooling lines....

 

[TheBuzzard]

put the garden hose in the engine compartment and watch where the water leaks out from. if you put the nose up, it wont need to be filled to the carbs or even starter level. I never like the water in the engine compartment to be above the starter seal. if the seal leaks, it gets water in the stator/ flywheel area.

 

[youcantkeepup]

If what you are saying is the engine bay is taking on water, rickter scuppers can leak like a sob! If you are saying the under tray area is taking on water that's an entirely different issue

 

[Flipit'n'Dipit57]

Yeah so the water is always coming in and out through the scupper, I've only got a flap on it. That isn't the issue at all, it's the water getting trapped in my rear tray area where there is suppose to be no water... In with the foam and it's a fibreglass hull

 

[Flipit'n'Dipit57]

Pulling the engine to inspect should take no more than 20 minutes if doing it in a garage.

Granted your first time will be much longer but its an easy process and one that we shouldn't hesitate to do. So much easier than working around it.

Yeah it's not 20 minutes for me haha.. but yeah it's looking like it's going to have to be done

 

[McDog]

Drill a drain hole and pressurize the tray with water. You will see it coming out from the leaks.

 

[badvinny]

I would pull the pump not the motor in that case. Rickters use very short pump bolts, if too long of bolt was installed it could put a hole thru the tray bottom.

 

[Flipit'n'Dipit57]

Thanks guys!

 

[badvinny]

I haven't heard of a leaky tray in a Rickter before, that's why I thought of the pump bolts, another possible is if a Bow eye was added in the rear and not sealed properly? Still it could be as simple as a tube leak in the engine area, chit can happen!

 

[Baja 252]

Does your bulkhead seal the engine compartment, some don't, I believe some skis have a bulkhead that stops short of connecting to the bottom of the hull?

Water can get in a number of places. Fill hull with some water and see if anything leaks. Leave it on the trailer and back in it in the water, start it up without hood and see if anything leaks. I still think the scupper is the most likely place, my XFS scupper leaked there when it was new.