Water Ingestion-Service Bulletins

[mstaglia]

I am looking to buy a 1998 310 Sundancer. I have read a lot on this site about water ingestion on these boats. The owner said when he bought it 5 years ago the heads were done and the manifolds and risers replaced. Some said it was the log style mufflers, the risers were too short, the exhaust manifolds need to be fresh water cooled because of condensation. I spoke to several dealers who weren't much help. I contacted Sea Ray and Mercruiser on line and neither were much help either. They both refered me back to local dealers.
Does anyone really know what the cause and fix really are?
Did mercruiser or Sea Ray put out any service bulletins I could read? I am a mechanic by trade and work part time for Dockside Marine in Boston,MA.:smt089

 

[davefin]

Don't know much about the history of this problem, but below are pics of the problem exhaust and the new exhaust that solved the problem. The bad system is on the left....good system is on the right.

 

[mstaglia]

Sea Ray of Boston told me that was an improvement, but did not fix the problem. They said," Fresh Water cool the exhaust manifolds to stop condensation". I am hoping someone has something in the form of a service bulletin to help me solve this.

 

[RonF]

Sea Ray of Boston told me that was an improvement, but did not fix the problem. They said," Fresh Water cool the exhaust manifolds to stop condensation". I am hoping someone has something in the form of a service bulletin to help me solve this.

I have the service bulletin in .pdf format. I'll try to send it to you by private message (PM).

My 1999 is raw water cooled in a salt water environment. The former owner had the water ingestion problem, and it was handled by Marine Max under the extended service plan. He got new long blocks, new manifolds and risers (with 4" height extension) and new waterlift mufflers to replace the horizontal log style. That was back in 2002 and around 250 hours on the engines. Invoices showed about $15 thousand in parts & labor. I bought the boat in 2004 with 55 hrs on the new engines.

I have put another 400+ hrs on the engines with no water ingestion problems. Closed cooling system was not required. At around 300 hrs, I had the manifolds and risers replaced as a preventative measure, but it looked like I could have gone another year or so.

 

[flflatrate]

I just did a 2000 310 da. I installed the newer style warm manifold exhaust with 3 inch risers and a taller elbow that fit under the engine hatches, and it had the newer style searay canister exhaust already. If the exhaust in that boat is 5 years old already I would replace it. fyi, it is expensive. about $4000