fwd bilge running
 

Should your bilge ever need to pump water our? I thought it was just if you took on water somehow, leak, rain, wave over the bow, etc. Mine seems to pump water out when I'm fully loaded with people and gear. Not alot, maybe 3 times while out for 5+ hours. Could that just be water dripping off the people swimming?

Highly unlikely pumping 3x for passengers getting in and out of the boat. What kind of boat and engine? Are you running any internal ballast systems? Have you checked your shaft packing for excessive dripping? I'd start with the shaft packing, it's pretty easy to tighten if the packing isn't completely worn out, it should only drip a few times a minute.

Its a 2008 X15 with the Indmar 350. Never checked it.

is it normal for the rudder to have a little play in it?

Have you taken water over the bow? Sticking you bow through your own roller can easily take on about 20 gal of water. Also if you have people in/out of the boat dripping, this will amount to water in the bildge.

08 MC's had/have dripless packing shafts so that won't be the culprit. You'd be suprised at how much water can accumulate from people going in and out of the water. Check around any and all thru-hull connections as well as around the engine, v-drive, and ballast system. Does your boat have a heater?

mastercrafts tend to take water in from the back when stopping, i am bilging almost every time i stop my xstar

going to test it again today. yes i have a heater and i've heard same thing about MC's. thanks