Plumbing?? Hot water heater? water is leaking and filling step down area

[judgebobo]

88 Sea Ray 268 454 Mercruiser

today while on the river continued to get water in my cabin and it was warm. I would turn on step down pump and it would get rid of the water. I believe it has something to do with the water system. Then when I took the boat out of the water and pulled the plug I had a great amount of hot water (maybe 60 gallons or more) come out that had a grey tint to it, but the bilge area was not full of water. Boat ran fine no overheating. 2 questions....

1) Are these related
2) If I disconnect the 2 hoses that attach to the water pump and top of engine that come from the boat and plug those outlets will this keep it from happening temporaily and will the boat be ok?

thanks for any help! This boat is giving my a headache.

Bobby

 

[Pete104]

Re: Plumbing?? Hot water heater? water is leaking and filling step down area

Your asking, That if you eliminate the "hotwater bypass" will this solve this problem. I bet it Stunk pretty good, didn't it?!
Put a pipe plug in the top & buy a new hose for circ pump! And by all means get rid of the water heater!

 

[judgebobo]

Re: Plumbing?? Hot water heater? water is leaking and filling step down area

Pete what do you think was happening?

** the second hose that you said replace, doesnt that go to the heater too?

 

[Pete104]

Re: Plumbing?? Hot water heater? water is leaking and filling step down area

Yes, or cap it off with a crutch tip. Remove the water heater from the engine. Those hoses go to the water htr which has a heat exchanger in it that heats water while running thru the water. It wasn't winterized properly & has cracked allowing cooling water to leak out. Not enough of a crack to let engine get hot but enough to squirt out & make mess.