Water rushing into engine compartment

S

Steve Walker

New Member
Jul 3, 2020
27
Boat Info
2007 sundeck 270
Engines
6.2L bravoIII
Hello all, I just picked up a 2007 sea ray sundeck 270. We love it. She was running good until she was bogging down. Turned out there was a ton of water in the engine compartment and the air filter was drenched, so no wonder she bogged down. Dried out the filter and took her for another spin to see where the water was coming from. The left side had a ton of water rushing in when we were waking off. Anyone else experience this or have suggestions what the problem may be? Maybe e the blower vents? Just sitting there is not water coming in.
 
Check your raw water intake and exhaust hoses. Make sure they aren’t leaking and all clamps are tight.
 
Check the fuel cooler box. If your engine has one it could have corroded through and sending out a stream of water that increases with rpm.
Had this happen on 7.4 MPI horizons
 
Check all blue plastic drain plugs
 
It doesn't seem to be coming from the engine. When I put it in neutral and rev the engine, not water is seen. It's only when I am trying to plane out. It almost seems like it's coming from the air vents on the side, but only the left side. I will add a picture shortly. I'm sorry I'm new to posting in forums but I can't seem to find much information from just googling. Thank you all for the help!
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Here is the vent that it seems water is coming into. But I may be way wrong. Literally gallons rushing in when I'm trying to plane out, half of my engine was in water.
 

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How rough is the water?
It would be very difficult for water to enter that area unless your in some seriously rough water.

how about your fresh water tank?
Is it cracked or leaking?
 
I agree. I don't know how it's getting in there from that high up. I believe that holds 10 gallons in the fresh water tank, this thing was rushing water. It has to be coming in from the outside somehow.
 
How about a worn impeller and a missing blue drain plug?
A worn impeller won’t push much water at idle but will provide more volume as engine speed increases.

what happens when you “throttle only” up to 2500-3000 rpm? Can you see water being pumped in?

Have you pulled the boat out of the water and given it a good visual inspection for hull damage, bellows inspection, transom seal, shift cable bellows etc?

I know that you say it doesn’t happen at idle, but anything is possible.
 
Espos, I checked the bellows the other day, they all look good, nothing seams to be damaged. I did run the motor in neutral up to about 4000 rpms and didn't notice water.

So I think it's definitely coming in from that vent maybe somehow. My plan now I believe is to hook a GoPro camera up while I take off to see exactly what's going on. I did try to see it while running but just can't see up in there.

Thanks again for all of the help, it may be a day or two before I get in there. But I will update yaw on what's going on after I run the camera in there.
 
Espos, I checked the bellows the other day, they all look good, nothing seams to be damaged. I did run the motor in neutral up to about 4000 rpms and didn't notice water.

So I think it's definitely coming in from that vent maybe somehow. My plan now I believe is to hook a GoPro camera up while I take off to see exactly what's going on. I did try to see it while running but just can't see up in there.

Thanks again for all of the help, it may be a day or two before I get in there. But I will update yaw on what's going on after I run the camera in there.
 
If you're getting water in that vent, your boat is sinking. I highly doubt it's coming from there. I'd pull the boat. Run in on muffs in the driveway. Check every hose, clamp, etc. on the engine. Rule out the engine cooling system first. Then go from there. Look for a cracked thru hull as well. Good luck.
 
Simple test is have an observer watch the vent as you accelerate. I would bet the wake is nowhere even close to the vent. As you displace water as you accelerate to up on plane, the wake moves outward, not up that high. This will rule the vent out.
 
FYI, don’t exceed 1200 rpm on the muffs. You’ll run away from the water supply and damage the raw water impeller.
 
in this vicinity there are engine hatch drain thru hulls and bilgepump discharge thru hull (one of them you see on your picture ) which are not far away from waterline and a wake or an ass heavy boat can reach it. they should be connected to tubings so nothing happens . but if this tubing is off you can take serious amounts of water thru them .
 
and maybe one more thing : be a bit careful with your seatrail testing when its really 'a ton of water' .

the water may destroy your starter , electronics etc .

if due to water ingress the engine quits offshore and the weight of the water pushes the ass down enough the leak , whatever it is , becomes below waterline at a still standing boat and you cannot find and control it immediately you are ready to go with a salute ...
 
You could need to reseal the rub rail. I get some water when I stop and start, plan to reseal at the end of the season
 
Colo, I think you nailed it. I'm about to post some pictures. I can see light coming in thru that rub rail
 
Here is the port side. Nicely sealed tight.
 

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