Water Leak Somewhere

M

mikescarb

New Member
Aug 10, 2011
4
Washington
Boat Info
23 ft. Weekender.
Engines
5.1 l mercruiser
I have a 1988 SeaRay 23.5' boat and i'm getting what seems like a lot of water in the bilge. The automatic pump comes on every few hours and pumps it out, but i'm worried about what it might be.

When I run the engine on dry land (with water of course), I don't get any water in the bilge, so that should rule out any engine leak. BTW, the engine was transplanted with a later model fuel injected engine with a closed cooling system.

I ran a hose into the bilge and watched the boat overnight and I didn't get any leaks.

No damage on the outside of the boat that might clue me in either.

So now I'm wondering where the water could be coming from.

So at this point I only get water when i'm running the boat out in the water, or leave it docked in the water.

Does anyone have a suggestion on when it might be coming from?

Thanks
Mike
 
I would check any thru-hull fitting and hose connections to start
and run it in the water rather than on the hose.
 
Since it's every few hours that your pump is kicking on, that's a considerable leak. While that makes it easier to find it, it is also a "must do".

So, you're saying that the water comes in even if the boat just sits at the dock? That, again, is good for finding the leak as it narrows down the possibilities. It's gotta be somewhere below the waterline. In addition to what Jim said, take a real good look around the inner transom plate (the thing mounted against the inside of the transom wall). The first hose I would follow is your intake hose (Alpha drive?). Look at your t-stat housing (4 hoses, right?): It's not the big one... it's not one of the other two that are identical in size... it's the other one (odd-sized, but small). Follow that all the way back to the transom plate. If you don't readily see the leak - which you should based on how fast it is coming in - try putting paper towels in suspect places and then come back in 1/2 hour and check.

Now, if you have the boat on the hard - take a real good look at the 3 bellows hoses for cracks or tears. The lowest one (big) doesn't really matter. But the small one and the upper, big one do.
 
What he said plus check the exhaust Y-they go; and the anode bolts on the outdrive; they corrode, and the swivel shaft seals - some boats can sit just low enough. Time how often the bilge pump comes on. You should be able to see a trickle of water.
 
I think I may have found my leak. There are two bolts (looks like carriage bolts) that are on the bottom of the outdrive where it goes against the transom.

Am I right in saying that all I need to do is push a new carriage bolt through the hole, attach the nut and washer and then tighten it?

If so, does anyone know what the size is, or where I can order such a thing?

Thanks for the help on this.
Mike
 
No you should ckeck with a inspection camera like Harbor Fright has you will see where water is weaping in also check transom for rot 86 to 88 they used cheep plywood check out rot on 268s.
 
mikescarb said:
I think I may have found my leak. There are two bolts (looks like carriage bolts) that are on the bottom of the outdrive where it goes against the transom.

Am I right in saying that all I need to do is push a new carriage bolt through the hole, attach the nut and washer and then tighten it?

If so, does anyone know what the size is, or where I can order such a thing?

Thanks for the help on this.
Mike
Click to expand...

If that is where the water is coming from at may be a bigger problem than just changing the bolt.
Like vandal said you may have wood rot.
Hopefully not and the bolt just started leaking but it needs to be looked at closer.
What often happens is the transom assembly starts to leak around the bolts and water gets into the wood core of the transom. The wood softens and loosens things up increasing the leak. At that point putting new bolts in will only squeeze the soft transom. Pulling the bolt out you should be able to see or probe around the hole a bit looking for soft, dark, wet wood inside the hole.

Ours was rotted by both the transom assembly holes and holes from the swim platform supports
(reference post on my transom rebuild, pics may help http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/23289-1985-SRV270DA-Restoration )

Hopefully it's not that bad - best of luck with your investigation. :thumbsup:
 
You're in washington, fresh water or salt?
 
So, what does a person do to get the lower carriage bolts out? Can I get to them by removing the outdrive, or does the engine have to be pulled?

Thanks
Mike
 
Gotta pull the engine. You will need to anyways to inspect that transom.
 
I have an 82 270, had the same issue. Bilge would run every couple hours. I am having some repairs made to the stern drive, so thought I should replace the transom gasket, while everything was off anyway. Good thing, the gasket was shot on the lower side. Replaced it over the weekend, not a difficult job with the drive off, will put it back in the water later this week. Hoping that will solve the issue for me.
 
I have a similar issue (and posted) but i actually see the water entering at the bottom of the sterndrive hole. My understanding that the transom seal cant be replaced unless the engine is removed as well is that incorrect?

thanks,
 
chandalen said:
I have a similar issue (and posted) but i actually see the water entering at the bottom of the sterndrive hole. My understanding that the transom seal cant be replaced unless the engine is removed as well is that incorrect?

thanks,
Click to expand...

That is correct. To separate the transom assembly for seal replacement the engine must be removed.
 
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