Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

[amanphoto]

I have a 2005 Monterey with a Volvo Penta out drive. I am getting water in my bilge. I can't seam to find a place where it's coming from. I know boats will have a little water in the bilge, but the water keeps accumulating.

I had the bellows and water intake hose replaced last year by a marina. Engine is recessed down in the bilge. I don't see any water puddling around the raised parts of the engine bay. So I don't think it's coming from the rub rails or the threw hull fittings. My holding tanks are not leaking. I'm stumped. I've looked around the back of the engine and don't see any water running in.

ps. I wrapped the drain plug in Teflon tape before I screwed it in.

Any suggestions on where to look?

 

[wgl333]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

Do you have a lot of in and out of the water activity in your boat? Is it covered securely when not in use? And honestly, if your boat is trailered there really shouldn't be ANY water in the bilge. If it is slipped, you might have a little accumulation that the bilge pump doesn't remove...but otherwise, it should be dry. One test would be to pull the boat, while on the trailer leave the plug in and put a hose in the bilge and start filling, keeping it below the electrical components of the engine and see if anything starts leaking out the transom around the drive or any other areas.

 

[amanphoto]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

I got the book on the Volvo Penta. I'm not sure where to look. Does the steering leaver seal let water in? Does the exhaust bellows? It's driving me nuts!

 

[BonairII]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

Check the rub rail and/or any other trim etc. As boat plows thru waves etc ....water can be forced into the hull if there is even the smallest of openings.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

Check the rub rail and/or any other trim etc. As boat plows thru waves etc ....water can be forced into the hull if there is even the smallest of openings.

+1 on that. Most boats hull and cap are riveted together without any real sealing. The joint is covered up by the rub rail, and the only thing to prevent spray from getting in is a bead of caulk/sealer above and below the rub rail.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

Last year when having the brakes completely overhauled on my trailer at the boat shop, I mentioned about having water intrusion similar to what you are experiencing as I could not see any obvious leaks either.

Using his forklift he raised the front up as high as he could then using a hose introduced water into the bilge.
He found water coming out from the garboard itself and some from the bottom of the gimbal housing.
Tackling the lowest cost item first, he completely removed the garboard, cleaned it all up, put fresh sealant all underneath/around it and re-installed with new screws.

This alone cut down on most of the water that was entering.

Mark

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

You might check for cracked cup holders, missing snap screws, holes from old fixtures, etc. These will all lead to water intrusion.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

How much water? Check the bottom of the circulation pump. ( the thing you would call a water pump on a car)They have been known to leak from a faulty seal. I think there is a weep hole on the bottom where the shaft comes through.

 

[amanphoto]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

Mystery solved. It's the bellows. The bellows is only a year old.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

That is so rare it at least the material should be under a warranty!

Mystery solved. It's the bellows. The bellows is only a year old.

 

[amanphoto]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

The marina is replacing them no charge labor. I just buy parts.

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

Our Chap, like many other boats, has a pair of scuppers in the front corners of the "ditch" (or groove?) where the engine cover sits. The groove is designed (I guess) to catch water that ends up on the floor, and drain it thru the scuppers and the thru-hulls, so the bilge stays dry.

But- on our boat, the thru hulls are under water most of the time, and depending on what the boat's doing at any given time, water is forced backwards thru the thru hulls and out the scuppers! There's ALWAYS water in our 'ditch', and much of it ends up in the bilge, most of it I'm assuming as it shoots up out of the scuppers. One of the few flaws I've found with our boat (but a pretty easy flaw to live with)...

Even tho the OP found his water source, just thought I'd share mine.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

The marina is replacing them no charge labor. I just buy parts.

That's good you found the source of the water and I admit I'm not a Volvo guy but if you've been having water getting in there, couldn't you also have some excessive rust/wear on the components that should have been dry? If this was a Merc. you'd been possible also be replacing gimbal bear and ujoints.

Is the marina also going to replace those also or at least check them?

Just something to think about.

Mark

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

I posted a bellows only lasting a year is rare. Maybe not rare for a Volvo! There is another thread on the 1st page-- 3 bellows in 3 years-- a Volvo.

 

[QC]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

Rare for a Volvo too.

 

[Don S]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

See his other thread on this subject. We will soon be finding out why he is having bellows failure.

http://forums.iboats.com/volvo-pent...tdrives/three-years-three-bellows-615673.html

 

[JoLin]

Re: Water in bilge - but from where? Mystery

Rare for a Volvo too.

Yes, it's rare. Did the bellows fail, or was it installed incorrectly? Have the mechanic show you the failure point on the old one.

Ditto what Mark See said about the gimbal bearing and u-joint. Water intrusion is the kiss of death to those, and that applies to any brand of outdrive.