1992 four winns OMC

[RobNaarz]

New boat owner. Still learning.
4.3 OMC cobra drive.
Just got back to the dock after a fun day, and heard trickling from the engine area. Found water trickling in from either the exhaust outlet, or just Just around it. Any thoughts on what it could be?

 

[alldodge]

Welcome
We cannot see what your seeing so we need pics and more explanation

Looking at exhaust outlet or just around it is a bit vague

 

[Scott Danforth]

First thoughts are not good....post pics

 

[RobNaarz]

 

[Scott Danforth]

See if the water is coming in around the transom shield

 

[RobNaarz]

This is looking in from the port side.
Hard to get a camera in, a light, and take the photo.

The bottom centre has water trickling over the top of the horizontal part of the exhaust, and down into the bilge.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Have you done a bellows job?

 

[RobNaarz]

4 days into owning the boat.
No history given other than it sat before the previous owner bought it

It was out with him once this year,
And now us.
I am half tempted to say, very well could be 30 years old.

 

[Scott Danforth]

With a new to you boat, you have to do all the maintenance that the prior owner never did

Pull the drive, check alignment, gimbal and u-joints. Do a bellows job. Check stringers and transom for rot

 

[RobNaarz]

Same as a car. Will start the process after this vacation. (Ends sunday)
We haven't pushed it at all since Picked it up - lots of little cruises to find out the issues.
And the list is growing.
It started with on first cruise a coolant line blowing off in the middle of the lake.

 

[Scott Danforth]

However unlike a car, your boat can sink

 

[RobNaarz]

OK, ran out of good internet on vacation.
A bellows job is on the list for spring. (The truck has the shop this fall for a paint job)
Now that I have had it home and gone over a bit better and not in a trailer parking spot - I found a .5inch slice in the top accordion bellow on the starboard side - and if I leave the boat in water and have the drive up, and turned starboard my leak almost stop...so think that's the guilty party.

Other things I have noticed that I will have to tackle when the drive is off, the trim sensor, and play find the hydraulic leak on the drive.

The amount of crash coursing I am doing is epic.
Biggest winter item - figuring out how to winterize the engine!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Your u-joints will rust up long before spring

Pull the drive now

 

[Lou C]

Yep if it’s a Cobra the bellows is easy as long as the drive comes off. I usually get 10 seasons out of an OEM one.
You bought an old I/O, they are high maintenance machines and if neglected will make you hate boating. An old salt water mechanic I knew here on Long Island referred to them as “double trouble”
Deferred maintenance will put you on the end of the tow boat hook….