Water in bilge

[Offthepath]

I just got a new to me 2006 Crownline 240 Ex, 5.7mag MPI and bravo 3. After 2 times on the lake for a few hours each time, the boat is getting a decent amount of water in the bilge.

I am planning on replacing the bellows next weekend when the parts get in. While I was waiting, I pulled the outdrive.

There was no sign of water in the ujoint bellow, all the grease was fresh and no rust. The boot was not dried out or cracked.

The shift boot bellow also looked fine and the clip for the shift cable was in place. The only thing I noticed was with a little pressure, the bellow would slide on the shift cable. It was not loose, but would slide down the cable with a little force. Is this normal?

I put the engine on a muff and ran it for about 15 min and could not see any signs of water in the bilge.

I also put water in the bilge to the point to pump engaged and I did not see any external leaking.

I went back out to the lake and it was gradually getting water in the bilge. I could not tell where it was coming from. I'd say about an hour and a half on the water there was 1/2 a gallon.

I hate to waste time and money on something that will not stop the problem. Should I still replace all the bellows? Is there any other common items for water leaking I should check?

Thanks

 

[GA_Boater]

Howdy and welcome aboard.

Any passengers getting into the boat from the water?

Is the water in the bilge warm or lake water temp? Warm water could be coming from the motor or exhaust. Cool water could be getting in from the lake.

While sitting on the lake, stick your cell phone down there and record some video. Try it with the motor and off. View the sides of the motor, under exhaust manifolds, down the exhaust tubes, Y pipe and Y pipe connection to the transom plate. Video all the hoses, too.

1/2 a gallon isn't much, but small leaks can turn into larger leaks and sometimes quickly.

 

[Offthepath]

Thanks.

The water is definitely leaking in, no one was wet getting in and out either time at the lake.

The water was not noticeably hot, but I could not say for sure if it was cold lake water.

I'll try the cell phone trick. I had my head stuck everywhere it could fit and I did not see anything. Although, even though the 240 has really good engine access, its tough to get a good look at all the areas of the engine.

 

[GA_Boater]

its tough to get a good look at all the areas of the engine.

One of the nice features using a phone - It puts your eyeballs on stalks like some characters in Star Wars. LOL

One other thing to look for is signs of rust stains from dripping water.

 

[Scott Danforth]

completely dry the bilge

if you cant find a rust trail, or a dirt trail from water coming in.

cut cardboard to sit on the bottom of the bilge under the motors

launch the boat

and immediately look for a wet-spot on the cardboard

wet at the transom - either bellows, y-pipe connection, transom seal or soft transom
wet under raw water pump - bad water pump seal
wet along the sides of the motor - loose hose connection (there are about 30 hose connections), weeping manifold, etc.
wet at the front of the bilge - water coming from somewhere else such as breach in the hull, etc.

if after a short period of time, you see nothing.

fire the motor up at idle and look

if it only leaks when the motor is running
leaking y-pipe
one of the many many many many hoses in the over-complicated plumbing leaking
crack in block/head/manifold
loose core plug

if its still not leaking
go for a short ride then look

you will find the leak

 

[Offthepath]

Thanks, great idea with the card board.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Mine was leaking around the gimbal housing to transom seal. I tightened the transom plate bolts a little and sealed it up. My fault for putting them spot on the torque spec, I guess. Only way I knew where it was leaking was to float the boat and look.... a lot.

 

[Offthepath]

I'm hoping I found it. The 240 ex has several built in drians around the cockpit, cup holders etc that all drian outside the boat. I poured water down all these drains and some of it ended up in the bilge. I think one or more of the drain tubes have come unhooked, which would allow water into the boat. I'm going to do some more investigating, but fingers crossed.