'07 Cobalt 252 w/ 496 Mag and Bravo 3. It seems that the auto bilge is always coming on. It seems that every time I get the boat up on plane, make a 15-20 minute run, the bilge will run for a few seconds.

Is this normal? I trailer the boat so it's only in the water for 6-8 hours at a time.

If it's not normal... what are the possible failure points. Boat only has 22 hours on it now and has only been out 5 weekends.

If only collecting water while underway I suspect your cooling system. You rig has a closed cooling system that utilizes a heat exchanger to bring in cold water to the boat. Perhaps a hose clamp is loose?

Can you have someone drive the boat while you observe the engine bay with the hatch open ?

Do you observe any water other than in the bilge ? Does any water collect when the boat is not running / docked ? How about at an extended idle ?

I would not see it as normal and in that is a new Cobalt - Have the dealer check it out ASAP - if it is in the cooling system it could lead to big problems.

Best of Luck

I'll have my shop take a look on Monday. I'm glad to hear that a cooling system hose leak is also a possibility.

Now that I think about it, water was "splashed" around all over under the hatch when I would look. It' was on the batteries, on the bottom side of the hatch, sprayed along the rear wall of the hull. Thought it was just water sloshing around, but a leaky cooling hose as plane RPMs makes more sense.

It also goes with the theory that your drive is actually up and out of the water at plane, so it shouldn't leak while cruising.

Thanks!

While we all try to keep our bilges bone dry, its kind of hard to do, and usually a little water gets in. But what you are describing sounds abnormal to me.

Agreed, not normal. If we don't do water sports, we get a few table spoons of water out. Incidentally, I don't like that either and would like to fund out where it is coming from.

Not normal. Assuming you're not bringing water inside, you should have zero water whatsover in the bilge.

I notice it's an '07, has it been winterized once? If so, whoever de-winterized may have forgot to tighten a clamp, install or tighten a block plug, etc. That IS normal...

Yes, it was a dealer leftover from '07 so it has been winterized once. Then it sat until I bought it new this year.

I'm just VERY glad to hear that it's a leaky hose and not something major.

I've e-mailed my repair shop who also stores and valets the boat in and out of the water for me. I'll wait to hear what they say, but at least I can sleep a little easier with what you guys have said here.

It very likely COULD be a hose, but could be something else. Irregardless, I would say it likely would be a warranty issue. Just reminding you this is a boat and boat stands for bring on another thousand.

I normally do not have water in the bilge except for when we've been in the water and have dripped water into the interior. Even at that, the water that drains when I pull the boat out is minimal at best and I've never had the bilge pump come on expect for once when it was raining cats and dogs and the boat was exposed to the rain. It sounds like you have some kid of issue that does need to be resolved. Your dealer should find the cause and take care of it.

With the kind of spray you are talking about being water, and not antifreeze ( closed cooling system ) it really points to a loose clamp and or a leaky water pump.

Just a possibility, but you might check your drain plug. Some folks use a wrench to TIGHTEN it too tight, and with the continual tightening/loosening, the drain plug housing might loosen up and leak water in.

Drain plugs should be snug, not "cranked down"...

(not saying that is YOUR case, but just sayin'...)

Good luck!

It is a guessing game at this point. you may want to put the boat in the water and open the engine hatch. see if you can spot the leak. try it with both engine running and off.

if you can point the mechanic in the right direction, the fix may be easier.

Its not normal. As one poster said it could be many things. You also could have bellows leak. Its a 2007 what ever it is, should be still under warrenty

May also check thru-hull transducer for the depth gauge if applicable.

Cobalts also drain the cooler water into the bilge. It's not as much water as you describe though and it shouldn't be splashing around so much as to get on the battery.

If you are just in the water for the day, the only water that should be in the bilge is from the melting ice in the cooler. Dealer should be able to trace it down for you and fix.

There are a number of things that could be leaking on a newer boat - probably a warranty issue - something could have gotten assembled poorly.

It needs to be fixed - water in a boat is not normal.

I would also take a close look at the bellows. The shift bellows is pretty small and thin and easily damaged. The others are much more sturdy, and should not be leaking on a 2007 boat, but stranger things have happened. Turns out my Cobalt had one leaking which caused a major problem a couple years down the line.

"Cobalts also drain the cooler water into the bilge"...

Say what? JMO, but NO water should EVER go into the bilge "on purpose". With the damage mildew and ice do, that's just plain dumb. Geez, even the cheesy icebox in our '87 Sea Ray had a thru-hull drain...

My cooler drain consists of lifting it over the stern and dumping it out.

Typically the bilge stays pretty dry, even when doing water sports. This past weekend when I pulled the plug, nothing came out. I have drilled many a hole below the water line too.

I may be a bit off here. But with all of the spraying around going on in there, I would be willing to bet that if you could have someone bring the boat up on plane while you were back there with the hatch open, it would be easy to see where it was coming from. Just my guess.

On that new of a boat you shouldn't have a leaking bellows, but if it is, get if fixed quick. Water dripping on your gimbal bearing is bad and will multiple the repair bill by 3!!!!! I know from recent personal experience!!

IT'S FIXED!!

Ended up that the speedometer hose had came off. By the way, the speedometer had also stopped working but I figured it was only because the pickup tube had become clogged.

The best part is that I just had to write an e-mail and all was fixed.

The boat is stored and launched for me at Lake Cumberland Boat Works. They are also an authorized Mercury dealer. Basically, they launch the boat every weekend and put it in a covered slip. I pay $400 a year for the service and the storage. They store the boat in a main area where a gate is locked when no one is there. I don't have 24 hour access to the boat but I don't have a truck anyways.

Boat Works does the warranty work in conjunction with the selling dealer is 150 miles away. I never have to lift a finger.

Glad to hear it was a easy fix.

too late but that would have been my suggestion if no loose hoses or block plugs.
Do I get any browny points for that?

On my old Wellcraft the cooler (all under seat storage areas) drained into the bilge. I could not for my life figure out where the water was coming from as I always thought they drained out. Finally I realized the fact and plugged them up when filled with ice. Drained them then under my observant watch or just used separate cooler.

Good luck with the boat it is a great one.

h