Water leak into bilge... bellows?

[hangdogger512]

Thanks wahlejim ... this is certainly part of my biggest worry as well. I felt like the previous owner was being honest about the care of the boat, but the more digging I do, the more worried I get!

I am thinking my current plan is much like your recommendation: 1) Fix the bellows and make sure that solves the leak. 2) At the end of the season, hire a shop to pull the motor for me, tear up the deck, inspect the stringers... and then hopefully... only need to replace/reglass the deck.

 

[nola mike]

You'd be lucky to only need to do the deck. I'd start by drilling into those wet looking spots on the transom. If your transom is rotten, you're looking at a lot of work, would need to decide if it's worth it. Same with the deck. Pull up some soft spots and drill into the stringers. Again, rot= big work. I'd do this before messing with the engine. Based on your description of everything, I'd be surprised if you didn't have significant other problems. I'd just replace the shift bellows for now (you could do it easy in a couple of hours--other stuff is more time) until you can evaluate everything else. Realizing that all the bellows would need replacing soon. You'd lose one round of pulling the drive doing it that way, maybe an hour. Check out the restoration forum for more info if you want to be scared.

 

[hangdogger512]

Nola mike, thanks for the input, that sounds like a smart, cost effective way to go.

I will move over to the resto forum for some more questions! I am already scared... but I'm pretty stubborn too.

 

[khe]

Honestly, I wouldn't bother with shift cable bellows until you verify the extent of the rot damage. If the rot is too severe, the boat is unsafe.