Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no clue where to start looking....

[murrayfish]

I bought my boat via CL knowing it had MANY MANY issues, hence the $350 price tag. Its an 18' Thunderbird Formula F-18 the a MerCruiser 888.
I have replaces all the bellows and water line in the out drive. They all feel and appear water tight. I have started and run the motor several times in the driveway all seemed well so today was water trial day that ended in FAIL. Not only did the boat not start it filled up with water. The water only made it to the bottom of the oil pan so I assume no damage to anything....

So, where do I start? The leak is what I need help with, Starting is just a carb rebuild.

*** took on about 10 gallons in about 10 minutes***

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no efin clue where to start looking....

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no efin clue where to start looking....

Throw some water in the bilge and see where it leaks out of.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no efin clue where to start looking....

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no efin clue where to start looking....

running or not running?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no efin clue where to start looking....

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no efin clue where to start looking....

I bought my boat via CL knowing it had MANY MANY issues, hence the $350 price tag. Its an 18' Thunderbird Formula F-18 the a MerCruiser 888.
I have replaces all the bellows and water line in the out drive. They all feel and appear water tight. I have started and run the motor several times in the driveway all seemed well so today was water trial day that ended in FAIL. Not only did the boat not start it filled up with water. The water only made it to the bottom of the oil pan so I assume no damage to anything....

So, where do I start? The leak is what I need help with, Starting is just a carb rebuild.

*** took on about 10 gallons in about 10 minutes***

Howdy,


I always thought a trial run came before the "buy".......

When you put water in the bilge (on the trailer), look closely at the transom on the outside for leaks around the gimbal mount where it bolts to the transom.

Also, see if the nuts inside holding the inner transom plate are loose. If they are and water is leaking around the tramsom mount, you possibly have a rotten transom.

If that's the case, you must remove the drive, engine and transom mount (in that order) to replace the transom.

Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair is where that is discussed.

Let me also add that if you DO have to replace the transom, you might be "money ahead" to sell the engine, drive, transom-mount etc separately, cut the boat up with a sawzall, and take the money you'll make on selling that stuff to put on another boat. (you'll get a whole lot MORE than $350 for the above stuff)


Regards,


Rick

 

[murrayfish]

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no efin clue where to start looking....

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no efin clue where to start looking....

I filled the bilge when i got home and saw nothing. I'm going to do it again though.


I never got is started at the lake. Now when I got home it started first turn of the key!!


Rick, I agree with parting out but i'm not there yet. I did buy a parts boat and have made all my money back on that and then some.
Ill go look at the transom bolts!

 

[BonairII]

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no clue where to start looking....

Lots of motors run like a dream in the driveway.....cause they're on muffs(no load on the motor).

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no efin clue where to start looking....

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no efin clue where to start looking....

I filled the bilge when i got home and saw nothing. I'm going to do it again though.


I never got is started at the lake. Now when I got home it started first turn of the key!!


Rick, I agree with parting out but i'm not there yet. I did buy a parts boat and have made all my money back on that and then some.
Ill go look at the transom bolts!

Yeah.you may not be able to safely put enough water in the bilge to see a leak. a gallon a min is a LOT!

The starting problem may be a neutral safely switch issue. The boat doesn't really "know" when it's in the water!!

You also have should have an aluminum exhaust Y-pipe that if corroded thru, will leak a LOT of water! and it will appear to be coming from the transom.

 

[achris]

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no clue where to start looking....

If the exhaust pipe was leaking he'd see it when running on the muffs... Take the drive off and verify that the bellows are still dry. If they are, start looking for a loose/broken hose clamp... Or a corroded bolt hole. My next step if you don't find a hose/clamp would be remove the engine, then put the drive back on and take it back to the lake... Back the trailer into the water and have a look and see where your leak is...

Chris......

 

[murrayfish]

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no clue where to start looking....

I couldn't figure out where the water was coming from so I went back to the lake and backed in. It was clear that water was flowing in, I'd guess a gallon a minute. I took 2-3 minutes to figure out where the water was coming in although I could see the splash on the bottom of the bilge.


And the looser is me! I did't replace the shift bellows because it looked good and I didn't want to pull the lower shift cable out...

Putting it back together I think I folded over the edge of the bellows and tightened the hose clamp without having the bellows all the way on the nipple. I did pull I off at the lake today but could not get it back on without it still leaking.

Next.... I guess I replace the shift bellows

Any tips on getting the bellows seated over the nipple? Tools?

 

[achris]

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no clue where to start looking....

Clean.... The surface needs to be clean.

 

[becxlt]

Re: Crappy trial run. Leaking boat and no clue where to start looking....

Bellows adhesive !



SIERRA Adhesive at West Marine