Axis Wakeboard Boat Forum

So we had been on the water for a couple hours and everything was going as normal. I saw my bilge light kick on a few times but really didnt think much about it. We were surfing on the drivers side and thought getting in and out of the water, water dripping off life vest all was good. Now before we started surfing I started to fill all the factory tanks and plug 'n play system up, not know which side we would surf on first. I noticed that my driver's side rear 750 sack was completely full and the left side was maybe at best 1/3 of the way full.... No looking back on the situation I remember my bilge light on at this time. It was decided I would surf first. I am goofy foot so I go off the drivers side. left was was drained, no big deal. I surfed for a while. Took a break drank a few beers. Then a little rain shower appeared so we ran to the other side of the lake to get away. Again, noticed my bilge come on and off a few times. I knew that was more than normal but proceeded to go on. Now when I out ran the rain, I dumped all the tanks. About 45 mins goes by and we head back to the normal cove we surf in. We had a girl that wanted to try and had never surfed so I was like come you can give it a shot. She wanted to surf off the left side. No big deal, I fill the front and the left side. As the tank and bags are filling I kinda give her a run down of what to expect and what to so. I notice we have pretty good list the left hand side and thought we were ready.

Well I go to take off and can only get to 9mph, cruise set on 11.2. I try again, no dice. We only had 4 on the boat total and one is on the water so I knew the weight was not an issue. I took the cruise off and manually try to get to surf speed. I can just get to 9. About that time I noticed a weird sound from the motor. I open the hatches and remove the plastic cover and I see water EVERYWHERE. At least 8-10 inches and I start to freak out. I get everyone in the boat and I hammer it toward the dock. I was only doing 10 mph with all three passengers in the front.... and I was gradually slowing. Bilge was pumping but seemed like could not keep up. I ended up have to beach the boat the best place I could and started to bail water.

Luckily some friends pulled up in their pontoon and another boat pulled up with 12v sump pump. We took the battery out of the pontoon and set in on the platform, which was not by this time a good 8 inches under water. The battery was almost covered by water. Hooked up the pump and dropped it down by the engine. It pumped along with the bilge for a good 30 mins before I had enough out where I was comfortable to make a run for the dock. The pontoon boat took my friend back and had the trailer in the water waiting on me when I came in. Ran it up on the trailer. All drain plugs were in and everything looked OK.

Now when I was bailing water I was standing in the storage where the right Sac would be and I had water 1/2 to my knees. The was no visible water in the left side. I am thinking that when the left bag was no filling properly earlier it was pumping water into the boat somewhere. And maybe when I tried to drain it was not getting out of the boat????


Any thoughts? I literally thought I was going to lose the boat and it was going to sink.

Fill pump lines came off? And in addition to them just pouring water, you could have been pumping into your boat as well when the pump was turned on. Also, perhaps the drain came off?

I am really not sure. I did not notice any loose when everything was going on.... Almost too hectic to really fine a problem. I just knew I had to get it on the shore. After all said and done I looked at the bags for the plug n' play, but I did not see anything obvious.

If I ever see the bilge come on when I am at the lake I do look in the bottom of the boat just to see what is going on. If I see a bunch of water I will bilge until I see it is gone. Hang out and let the kids swim to see if we are taking on water.

You need to check each ballast hose on the plug and play and see if they are attached. Check all the ballast hoses that go in and out of the hard tanks also. Check the pumps and see if you see water coming in from the ballast pumps.

Check your plugs. See if the rear, center and plug near the V-drive plugs are all good.

Keep us posted.

I checked the plugs when I got the boat on the trailer and they looked fine.

It is a 2013 boat so it is going back to the dealer tomorrow. It was a very scary situation to say the least.

This is not my first wakeboarding boat. I had 2008 MC X-2, so I am not a total newb to the lake and boats. Been around them my whole life. I admit I should have paid a little more attention to the bilge, but at the time, really didn't think much of it.

Didn't think you were. Just trying to run down a list of all the possible issues.

It is scary no matter how experienced you are.

I didn't take it as your were. I was just saying for everyone's reference.

Do let us know what the dealer says. I am curious to see what they find.

I will for sure. I know that are kinda backed up with service request this time of year. So it might be a few days.

Strange thing is once we got it pumped out and headed to the trailer I ran it pretty hard and the bilge came on like it should with the water going toward the rear of the boat. Once I got in the no wake zone I idled for a good 10 mins and it was dry as a bone by the engine and did not take on any more water. That made me think it was definitely something with the ballast.

From what you are describing, sounds exactly like a quick connect popped off a ballast bag.