Is a little water in the bilge ok?

[alwhite00]

I recently looked at a 97 250DA and checked out the bilge pretty good while in the driveway - I could not see all that great under the engine but it looked dry.

Went for a sea trial and after that I again looked in the bilge, at this point the bow was down a little lower than before. There was some water in the bilge, I would say less than a gallon. Is this normal?

I know on my last boat sometimes I would stay at the marina a couple days and nothing, Other days I would go out for the afternoon and there would be a quart.

Any comments?

LK

 

[Nehalennia]

It depends but it may mean that the bellows are leaking and will need to be changed and the u-joints will need to be inspected.

 

[alwhite00]

on the 95-98 250DA the intake & exhaust for the bilge are facing up at the rear of the boat, I am wondering if it was rain water, Like I said the bow was lower than my first inspection so I am not sure if it was in there or noght before the sea trial.

LK

 

[skolbe]

It is not uncommon to have water in the bilge desirable or ideal. No. But sometimes the cause is hard to find. On my 260 had an issue and wasn't able t find it until the engine was pulled for a new coupler. My 320 pretty much stays dry.

 

[FastFred]

Its possible that water can get in from the upper pivot pin, on a Mercruiser outdrive most all are made using steel pins but they start rusting and will take out the very thin seal which holds back the water from coming in around the steering arm, and this is common especially in salt water. It usually starts with just a small amount of water and within a year it can errode a lot and then leaks steady when its in the water. On most boats these pins are high and dry but if the stern is heavy and the upper part of the outdrive under water then the pin and seal may need replacing. Look around the area where the steering arm comes though the transom, if its bad you can see water pooling and leaking down. There is a guy in Cleveland that has a Stainless kit avaiable and sells them to the US Navy and CoastGuard for many of their boats.

 

[scott young]

I can put our '96 250 on the trailer, completely drain bilge, put it back in water and by the next time I check (later that day or so) the same approximately 1/2 gal. of water is right back. It is never enough to activate float switch on bilge pump and will remain that same small amount for (as far as I can tell) the entire season, never more never less. Thus far I have decided to live with it. If/when it gets any worse I will do whatever is necessary to address the problem.

 

[alwhite00]

I can put our '96 250 on the trailer, completely drain bilge, put it back in water and by the next time I check (later that day or so) the same approximately 1/2 gal. of water is right back. It is never enough to activate float switch on bilge pump and will remain that same small amount for (as far as I can tell) the entire season, never more never less. Thus far I have decided to live with it. If/when it gets any worse I will do whatever is necessary to address the problem.

Thanks, Like I said - Not sure if it was there before the ride or not - Just collecting info.

LK

 

[The Continuum]

It seems after every use, I have a quart or two of water in the bilge. I've noticed that if I come down from plane too fast, that big wave comes up over the swim platform and floods into the bilge. Now that I come down real slow, i just get a little bit. Also, After I give the boat a good washing, some water works its way down there. Never enough to trigger the pumps. I ussually just sop it up with a terry cloth towel.

 

[Summer Fun II]

I've noticed that if I come down from plane too fast, that big wave comes up over the swim platform and floods into the bilge.

Really :wow:. How does the water get thru the transom and into the bilge ??

 

[hobbs]

IMO it is not normal. I would guess something is leaking and it is not water forward moving aft. I had a leaky hot water heater, water pump and steering pin. After replacing all these things, no more water in bilge.

 

[mistercomputerman]

I just made an 800 mile trip and had less water in the bilge than when I left. Something is generally leaking. Engine hatch gasket, bellows, whatever...

 

[The Continuum]

Really :wow:. How does the water get thru the transom and into the bilge ??

There is a drain "tunnel" running from the cockpit area out to the swim platform. It's only an inch or two above the swim platform level. When that big wave overtakes the swim platform, it pushes water all the way back into the cockpit area, and then drains down into the engine compartment.

Here's a pic...

 

[max9948]

I had a similar problem. It was discovered the top of the boat and the hull at the gunwhale was not caulked and therefore backwash on decelerating entered the boat.

 

[Crave1957]

I have had a slow leak in my boat that was ending up in the bilge. Was pulling my hair out trying to figure it out. Recently I had a shifter cable problem that we isolated to the outdrive. When we pulled the outdrive to fix the problem the gasket directly behind the outdrive was completely shot and there was obviously water where the drive goes in. We fixed shifter cable issue replaced gasket and no water. Needless to say had the shifter cable problem not occurred I would still be pulling my hair out trying to find this leak.

Good Luck