Water in the transom driving me absolutely nuts - a one time fill up ?

[donberry]

Recently took my boat out for her "maiden" voyage after repairing a leak in the transom, a 1988 Dynasty 190 Fish and Ski. Boat ran great, not a drop of water in it. I was real happy as I know nothing about boats and using the service manual, pulled the engine and outdrive, repaired it and put it all back together by myself (yea me lol)

Was taking daughter-in-law and grandchildren out tubing Saturday, so took it for one more test drive. Boat runs about 38 mph but I like to cruise around 30 mph. Checked for any water after about 15 minutes - bone dry. Checked again after about a half hour, bone dry. I was as happy as a clam, i finally had my boat working great. We ran it for about another 35 minutes, still mostly around 30 mph. At no time did we take on any waves so no water ever came into the boat.

Trailered it, pulled up the ramp and I took the drain plug out - water just came gushing out. I lifted the engine cover and water was up to the bottom of the oil pan (I really need to fix the auto switch on the bilge pump)

I was really bummed. Went home and hooked it up to the hose, thinking maybe a hose had broken. Nope, not a leak.

Today took it back down to the lake to check it out. Ran it for a good 10 minutes - did not take on a drop of water.
Went home and got the family and took them tubing. Was out for about an hour and a half. Pulling the tube so it gave the boat a good workout - back to the dock, trailered it and not a drop of water.

So, it seems fine, but is driving me crazy - where did all of that water come from the previous day. It was not just a little bit, but gallons and gallons of water. I just can not figure out where it came from and it is driving me nuts

 

[superbenk]

Re: Water in the transom driving me absolutely nuts - a one time fill up ?

Have you checked all your bellows for any cracks? Maybe some particular maneuver is opening up a crack in there?

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Water in the transom driving me absolutely nuts - a one time fill up ?

i some times have a problem like that, i had the boat in the water for 30 hours straight this weekend kept hitting bilge no water ever. 3 weeks ago i went out for 5-6 hours i had 2 gallons come gushing out... i will be watching your thread i am thinking bellows too, but its kind of odd how random it is. i'd also check how tight your plug is in, if its old and has cracking if its the cheap $3 rubber ones[mine is a brass nut i just use a 1/2inch wrench]

 

[donberry]

Re: Water in the transom driving me absolutely nuts - a one time fill up ?

I obviously checked out the bellows when I pulled everything. I was just going to replace it because, but it honestly was like new. I am guessing the po replaced it trying to fix the leaky transom.
I believe the leak I fixed was the drain hole in the transom and the housing needed a new seal. So I did put in a new drain tube. The old one did not go all the way thru the hull, more like halfway, so I put a new one in that went all the way thru, plus I used "The Right Stuff" gasket maker on it. Don't know if I will ever get it out, but I don't see it leaking anytime soon.

The only difference was the next day the water was not as rough, but the boat never did take on any water. I drove it about the same each day. Would have thought pulling the tube may even be a tad tougher. After we tubed, I took her for a spin.....

But even the day it leaked. The first half hour it was great. So sometime between then and when I trailered it, about a half hour later, I took on enough water to put it up to my oil pan.

The biggie is making sure I get a new auto float switch. The old one was broken.
Will just always be thinking about that and wondering where the water came from.

 

[backyard mechanic]

Re: Water in the transom driving me absolutely nuts - a one time fill up ?

Can't answer where the water came from but since it got up to the bottom of the oil pan you better check to see if the water got up high enough to get into the bellows from the inside. If it did, pull your lower unit and clean the water out before it ruins the gimbel bearing and U joints.