R23 Water in Engine Pod

R23 Kingfisher

R23 Kingfisher

Active member
Joined
Dec 4, 2025
Messages
38
Fluid Motion Model
R-23 (Outboard)
Hull Identification Number
US-FMLT2325H
Vessel Name
OTTER III
There is/was at least 10 gallons of water in my engine pod. I removed the drain plug and drained it while hauled out.

It is my understanding that the only water ingress points would be the large plastic access cap or where protective hoses connect to it and that there is no way to drain it, short of using a dinghy hand bailing pump, unless hauled out.

Thats a good amount of water/weight to be hauling around so I would prefer it remained dry.

Is it normal to get water in the pod or do I have a leak somewhere?
 
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Mostly normal. Depends on how long you've exposed "heavy" water to the access/hoses (off plane cruising, following sea while off plane, etc.) They leak, period. Early model R23 like ours did not have a bilge pump in the pod from FM. We added a pump and changed the plastic access cap with a stainless steel one. The new access cap helps but we still expect water. We believe the water comes from the hose connections but it is hard to test.
 
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As we all know, the pod is a critical component of watertight integrity. Any component failure allows direct access for water to inside the hull. In our opinion, any fitting or penetration in the pod should be considered "below-the-waterline". With this in mind, we're focusing on our pod. Leak sources now obvious and more questionable FM construction:
1. Factory plastic access cover assembly is weak and flange held in place with #10-1/4" screws. The sealant under the flange was thin (non-existent in some places) and points of obvious leaking was noted around the flange and screw holes.
2. Hydraulic steering hose "bulkhead" fitting clearly leaks with no sealant present, only a thin rubber gasket. Assembly held in place with screws with obvious water intrusion into the fiberglass around each screw.
3. Engine "bulkhead" flange fitting seemed to be bedded correctly but held in place with screws and obvious intrusion into the fiberglass is noted.
4. No chafe protection for hydraulic steering hoses, electrical line, or fuel lines through the transom.


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Thank you for the follow-up and reminder that this situation needs my attention. A reminder that you get what you pay for. I believe that Fluid Motion boats are a good value and mine checks nearly every box for my current needs but that value reflects build quality and overall marketing strategy. I've owned better built boats, albeit more expensive, when build quality was a higher priority (i.e., off-shore cruising).

I'm curious if these issues have been identified during surveys of their larger boats. R23s fall in that size/price point where many people, myself included, might bypass pre-purchase surveys.
 
Our previous boats were both Cobalts. Talk about attention to detail...it really spoils you when you own pristine examples of what FM could be. Of course, If Cobalt built an R23, we couldn't afford it.

FM boats have some remarkable lapses in quality mostly of the "attention-to-detail" variety. With the exception of the crummy gelcoat, we have been able to address the short-comings and have learned a lot about the boat...always a good thing.

Perhaps, this forum is even better than a professional survey. We've learned to use ChatGPT in the TugNuts forum database. It would be hard for me to believe that there is surveyor that has that kind of knowledge. Cobalt owners do not have such a database as reference.

Maybe the shortcomings of FM products coupled with the checks-every-box owner mentality creates a benefit (via TugNuts) that Cobalt owners could only dream about.
 
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That’s a good reminder to check the pod carefully rather than assuming a small amount of water is normal. The access cover and hose fittings seem like areas worth inspecting closely, especially around the seals and screw holes. Adding a pump sounds like a practical solution too, particularly on the earlier R23s without one.
 
That’s a good reminder to check the pod carefully rather than assuming a small amount of water is normal. The access cover and hose fittings seem like areas worth inspecting closely, especially around the seals and screw holes. Adding a pump sounds like a practical solution too, particularly on the earlier R23s without one.
 
I have a 2019 R23 with a bulge pump in the pod. I run the pump before every trip. I find it drains a few liters of water after heavy rain. Not much gets in there while cruising. The pump is essential.
 
I'm curious how the bilge pump in pod was plumbed and wired
 
Water intrusion around engine pod access covers and hose fittings is worth investigating, especially when several gallons accumulate. Checking seals, screw holes, and hose penetrations can help identify potential leaks. Hydrasearch also shares useful marine and engineering information: https://hydrasearch.com/what-do-aerospace-engineers-do/
 
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