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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | Hoping you all can help me problem solve. I have had my 2004 Ranger 618T for 6 seasons. The rod lockers and cabinets have always been bone dry throughout the season. About half way through this past season I started to get standing water in the rod lockers and cabinets. The lids seam to seal very tight and even if they were loose it's hard for me to imagine this amount of water getting in. The other issue that's developed is water in the bilge. The front livewell pump stopped working and I think water could be coming into the bilge from there although I'm not positive.
Is it possible for water to come into the cabinets from any place other than the lids? I don't see drain holes and the water does not drain out once it's in. I would love to get this sorted out over the winter. Thanks for reading! |
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Posts: 481
Location: Northern Illinois | I had a livewell pump freeze over the winter and crack allowing water into the bilge on a Lund I used to have. It took awhile to find it since I seldom used the livewells. The Ranger I have now has drain lines in the rod locker and compartments, and even so, I don't ever get water in the bilge unless it rains. I can't see water backing up and getting in from the drain lines. The drains may be plugged which happened on the rear battery compartment on my Ranger. After an all day rain I had standing water in the compartment. I was able to clean out the drain with a length of #10 solid copper wire. These are the experiences I have had. I wish you luck in fixing your issue. |
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Posts: 32801
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Sometimes the lock/latch mechanisms begin leaking, either loose or gaskets shot. Livewell system is next up. Try pouring water on the lids and see if there's water in the lockers, then plug every hole for the live wells on the outside of the boat and fill them, then look for where the water is coming in. |
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Location: 31 | sworrall - 12/24/2021 9:59 AM
Sometimes the lock/latch mechanisms begin leaking, either loose or gaskets shot. Livewell system is next up. Try pouring water on the lids and see if there's water in the lockers, then plug every hole for the live wells on the outside of the boat and fill them, then look for where the water is coming in.
X2 |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | Thanks for the advise.
1. I poured water on top of the lids and latches and it just pooled up and didn't leak in.
2. I'm going to redo with the livewell system regardless. I forgot to mention that the flowrite valve switch broke this year as well.
3. I'm still confused how water in the bilge can get into the lockers/cabinets. I don't see any drain lines. Would they be under the carpet? Also...The auto bilge kicks on so it's not like the whole bilge is ever filled up.
If anyone has other ideas I'm all ears! Thanks |
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Location: 31 | Assume you're going to try the live well when it gets warm. If that doesn't work, could try removing everything from the compartments, lining them with paper towels, and working your way up with a hose... eliminates guesswork.
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Posts: 715
| Key question: does it only get wet when it rains or just in normal use ? |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | bturg - 12/26/2021 7:33 PM
Key question: does it only get wet when it rains or just in normal use ?
The cabinets take on water during normal use...I'm just struggling to understand how the water gets from the bilge into the cabinets. I can't locate any drain holes in the cabinets. They appear to be fully sealed and the water does not drain out of them. I need to vacuum it out each time. I will definitely be replacing the livewell pump and checking hoses this winter, though. |
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Posts: 11
| I had this exact issue happen to me once before in my Ranger boat. Turns out I had a small crack/chip in the fiberglass near the drain plug. After the boat takes on so much water it will flood the storage compartments. |
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Posts: 715
| MD75 - 12/27/2021 4:07 PM
bturg - 12/26/2021 7:33 PM
Key question: does it only get wet when it rains or just in normal use ?
The cabinets take on water during normal use...I'm just struggling to understand how the water gets from the bilge into the cabinets. I can't locate any drain holes in the cabinets. They appear to be fully sealed and the water does not drain out of them. I need to vacuum it out each time. I will definitely be replacing the livewell pump and checking hoses this winter, though.
I think your on the right track |
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Location: 31 | Should be able to determine if the dry storage is taking on water from below, and where the leak is at the same time. Drain plug in, shut off bilge ~ add water 
I have found pesky leaks this way.
Edited by Jerry Newman 12/30/2021 6:08 PM
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Posts: 426
| Not a Ranger but I had a Lund leak half way through the season. Boat only took on water when it was run. Turned out there was a crack in the hull that only let in water when the hull was flexing while running. Auto bilge would come on and water was in compartments too. I plugged every water intake and drain. Boat still took on water. I even left the boat docked for 8 hrs. No water! Based on what you described it seems like the hull has a leak. Even a visual check of the under side of the boat showed no problems while on the trailer. I found the leak after the boat was lifted off the trailer. The leak was hidden by the trailer bunks. It took forever to find and fix the leak
Edited by 7ovr50 12/30/2021 10:13 AM
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Posts: 1207
Location: Walker, MN | My money is on the front baitwell pump or hoses.
Edited by Masqui-ninja 1/1/2022 8:18 AM
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Posts: 596
Location: Duluth | My money is drain plug or through hull needs to be rebedded. |
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