Need Advice: Rain water in engine compartment

[Shreve884]

Boat: 2005 Bayliner 185
Engine: Mercruiser 3.0 Alpha Stem Drive

I'll spare you my sob story, but I parked my boat about 60 days ago and intended to take it back out in about a week. A week later I was in the hospital and spent the next two weeks there. The boat was covered and it has not been freezing here yet so it has been the last thing on my mind.

Today I took the cover off to do some weatherization work. To my horror there must have been something wrong with the cover because water has been running in the boat. Did I mention that while in the hospital and recovering it never occurred to me to pull the plug? (Yes, I could kick myself). I did at least have the battery disconnected.

There was water in the bilge and it covered about 1/3 of the bottom pulley and about 6 - 8 inches of the bottom of the engine. It was not all the way up to the alternator. It was also covering the fuel tank completely. The only electronics under water seem to have been the sensors on the fuel tank. The bottom of the engine was under water as well (about 6 - 8 inches of it).

I pulled the block and exhaust drains. Clear water came out of the block. VERY RUSTY WATER came out of the exhaust manifold drain.

For tonight I drained all of the water out and placed a light bulb in the engine compartment to prevent freezing (it's only supposed to be 31 degrees - I live in Louisiana).

What should I do in the short term? I have it covered tonight, but I was going to try to dry everything out tomorrow.

What is the bottom part of the engine that was in the water? Is that the oil pan, or is that something to do with the coolant system?

I would greatly appreciate any help. I have only been back to work for about 2 weeks and talking in for a huge shop bill is not an option after missing this much work. I don't even know where to start here.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

BTW, there was no oil in the water. Also, I had just changed the oil, filter, and lower drive lube before I went in the hospital. I had taken it out once.

Thanks!

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Need Advice: Rain water in engine compartment

Yes the bottom of the motor is the oil pan, it should be fine as it is designed to keep oil in, should not have let water in. Rusty water in the manifolds is common if it is the first time since running it last you have drained, right?

Well. I have had alto of water in my bilge once, cover blew off, sat 1 week. The water was to the bottom of my oil pan. Ran the pump to empty and let it sit in the sun to dry. Did not have water in the cockpit or the bow, but wanted to dry it out good. It was late summer so weather was good.

I would want to make sure there is no water in the gas tank, maybe siphon it out. Change the oil in the motor. Check the floor and ski locker and dry out best you can. Would be nice if you could get it in a heated garage to dry out.

Your lucky your in the south, its 8 degrees here with 5 inches of snow, what a mess that would be!

 

[Shreve884]

Re: Need Advice: Rain water in engine compartment

Yes, I had not drained it since the last time it was in the water. I was draining it today because the weather was getting down to freezing. This boat normally goes in the water about every 2 - 3 weeks, so I don't drain it until I put it up (usually in late November/early December).

Tomorrow is going to be around 55 degrees, so about Noon or so I am going to remove the cover and put a box fan in to circulate some air and hopefully dry it out. No rain in the forecast for a week so it will be good and dry by mid-week.

There is a pulley on the bottom of the engine that was about 1/3 in the water. Obviously the belt was also sitting in the water. Do I need to replace that belt?

 

[dellsboater]

Re: Need Advice: Rain water in engine compartment

I would not think so, unless of course the belt looks bad, you might want to check it and make sure it is tight and looks OK, maybe want to spray the pulley bearings with some lube, or wd40...just try and not spray the belt. They do make some anti corrosion type spray to drive water out of electronics and such, I have used it on a phone that dropped in the lake, and got it to come back to life.

Was the floor of the seating area covered with water?

 

[Shreve884]

Re: Need Advice: Rain water in engine compartment

No. The floor was wet but not standing in water. The water was completely filling the bilge and over the gas tank (which is in the bilge directly forward of the engine compartment). The top level of the standing water was still about two inches from the bottom of the floor.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: Need Advice: Rain water in engine compartment

Your belt should be fine, except rust may have formed on the pulley. Turn it by hand a clean it off. FYI rust will form anyway if it sits long enough.

Mine did the same thing, water up to the pulley...the drain got stopped up.
No problems no just soggy/slimy water

Do like you said keep a light bulb (Do it safely) and put a box fan to dry it out.
You should be fine.

Stick a siphon hose into the tank...water is heavier than gas...and siphon some out. Get the hose on the bottom, if there is water, it will come out first.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Need Advice: Rain water in engine compartment

If the the water did not get into the starter you should be fine. Were it me, I would put on the muffs and start it, bring it up to operating temperature, while keeping an eye on the oil to make sure that there is no water in it. The belt should be fine, it may squeal a little when you first start it if it is wet (on your car belts get wet all the time). The gas tank should be water tight, after all it holds the gas in so it should keep water out. The fan to help dry things out should help. When done, drain the engine and don't worry about the weather. Oh yeah fix the cover. Good luck.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Need Advice: Rain water in engine compartment

If the water was as high as the main engine seals, it is likely you got water into the oil so it may look milky after you run it so change the oil. Pull the sterndrive as well as you may have gotten water into the u-joint bellows. If the water got as high as the starter you will need to replace it.