water in the bilge

J

jim_m5

Member
Aug 19, 2008
275
Woodstock, GA
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2000
Engines
7.4L 310hp V-Drives
I had a dry engine bilge and now I seem to be getting some water. It varies from no water to little water to 10gallons. If I drive 10mph or less, no water. Once I start cruising and then slow down water seems to show up, sometimes. I have sucked out the water a few times and did test drives on 3 different days. It seems when the water from the wake comes into the back of the boat, under the swim platform some water creeps in. I have looked close and cannot see where it is coming from. I do see some of the hoses and cables direclty behind the engine wet. This is the inside of the transom. I have not had the out-drive serviced for some time, could it be a leaking gasket. But it seems to only happen when I get the following-sea situation. As I said it was fine till this week. Thye boat sits on a lift. Any ideas?
 
Is it only following seas? Or might it be a raw water leak that only occurs when going faster? Any chance of having the hatch opening and getting a friend to run the helm while you keep an eye on the engine compartment while going faster, or letting the wake catch up?
 
My guess is that you have a split or cracked bellows on your outdrive since an overtaking stern wake seems to increase the flow.

Other possibilities would include every other hose in the bilge, but I'd start by looking at the bellows.......and I believe a B-III has more than one.
 
Thanks. If there was some type of leak from the water system I would be get something at idle or at 10knots. The 'following sea' appears to be the issue and it sounds like the 'bellows' as you indicate. I have not had the out-drive serviced and I doubt the original owner had it done, maybe just the drive oil change. So the bellow maybe the originals.

You have to pull the drive to change the bellows, right? Is this an expensive maintenance item?
 
Yes but do them all and you'll be set for another 3-5years

Shift bellows-$25.20
U-joint bellows-$102.02
Exhaust bellows- (which isn't really necessary if you don't mind a bit more noise)-$39.52

Its probably around 3-4hrs labor.

They will probably tell you to change out the intermediate shift cable too-$99.90, which I also recommend, as you have to pull it out anyways to change the shift bellows.

Good Luck
 
Jim,

Could be coming in the rear of the engine hatch. If the hatch doesn't seal well or the hatch drains are clogged then water when you come off plane can ride up over the swim platform and enter from the rear of the hatch. You can check this with a hose allowing water to flow into the hatch groove and see if any leaks into the engine bay.

Mike
 
Spent a couple days out in the water. Nice weather here. Still getting water in the bilge. Checked the hatch no leak there, carpet dry. Had the wife drive about 18 mph and I opend the hatch and surveyed the engine bilge. Saw water dripping at back of transmon on starboard side. Water was dropping off some cables pretty steady but still confused where it is comding from. Could it be the bellows? Like I said I had a dry bilge last week.
 
if you are running 7-8 year old bellows then start there. You need them replaced regardless. If it fixes the problem, great, if not then keep looking.
 
If you keep running the boat or store it for the winter without fixing it, and it is the u-joint bellows, you will need to ask someone how expensive it is to replace gimble bearings.
 
fwebster said:
My guess is that you have a split or cracked bellows on your outdrive since an overtaking stern wake seems to increase the flow.

Other possibilities would include every other hose in the bilge, but I'd start by looking at the bellows.......and I believe a B-III has more than one.
Click to expand...

"split or cracked bellows on your outdrive since an overtaking stern wake seems to increase the flow."

My guess too. Same symptons on our previous boat that had an outdrive and it turned out to be the bellow.
 
I talked to the marina mechanic and he said if it was the bellows they would be leaking at idle. He siad when under power of 10mph or greater the bellows are out of the water so they would not cause the leak. He is thinking it could be the speedometer cable that is dripping water when under pressure. I think this may be the problem since I saw dripping off some back cables, behind the engine onthe starboarr side. while the wife was driving about 18mph. It would also explain why I see no water when driving in a 'no wake' zone. Does this make sense? Not sure how much this may cost me..
 
If you think that it maybe the speedometer tube (its not a cable) ... disconnected from the drive and run the boat...

I had a similar problem... dry bildge and slowly but surely water began to creap in.. first a cup, then two cups and the end it was a few gallons and the bildge pump turned on..

The problem was the seal around the gimbal pin that was wearing out...and water would flow in and through the gimbal plate (inside the boat) down to the bildge. Very expensive to repair as the engine had to be pulled and the gimbal housing also... Very Sh*Ty design.
 
Even so, since you have never replaced the bellows and your records confirm you're not sure that the Previous Owner did either you are do. It sounds like the perfect time to get all of these things done......or as Frank advises you may have other repairs in your immediate future and at an elevated rate.
 
maybee where the thru hull fitting that comes thru your transome assembly where your water comes from the outdrive into your engine, the hose connection, or the little plate that holds the tube coming thru
 
Eureka, found the leak yesterday. It was the hose clamp behind the flame arrestor. I thightended it down. I saw it spraying at sppeds greater than 10-mph. There was a smaller hose and clamp next to this one but I could not catch the nut/screw since it was facing the transom and I could not see it. But it seems it was the larger hose. This hose runs to the water pump. Apparently when the impeller was changed a few weeks ago they did not tighten this clamp down. Since they did not take it for a sea trial they could not see the leak as it only happened under high water pressure.

Anyway, I was anal about keeping a dry bilge even though many peopls say a littled water in the bilge is fine.

Now I will chack these clamps annualy. Should these clamps be tghtened down real hard?

I am still scheduling the 200hr out-drive service (i.e. bellows/ujoints, etc.) but it looks like it may be in the spring since they are immersed in witnerization projects.

Thanks for all the feedback and guidance. This forum is great!
 
Same issue here. Just splashed my AJ for the first time yesterday and water started pouring in behind the port motor. Doh! Bad bellows. Had to yank it back out and am going to have both drives services with new gimbal bearings and seals/bellows. Cheap insurance. :thumbsup:
 
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