Water leak.

[10thHawk]

After launching, I had the boat tied up for about ten mins. Was about to close the engine hatch and untie when i saw water in the bilge. Went back home, took the drive off. The bellows checked out. No issues there.Went back to the ramp a week later to try and located the leak. All I was able to see was a trickle of water coming down somewhere directly above the plug. Couldnt get in to see where it was coming from.
Acting on some suggestions, I removed the Mercathode plate on the bottom of the gimal housing(Bravo 1). The two wires coming through did not seem sealed good. Was a white moist goo in the hole, best thing I can equate it to is, well, snot. Tried to remove the plate that goes over the manifold for the hydrolic lines but it would not come off. I snapped a picture of what I'm referring to.

Does it look like this is not sealed up correctly? photo shows up when you click on it.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Water leak.

Focus!

 

[AZSenza]

Re: Water leak.

A GREAT source of water in the bilge is through the shift linkage, just to the starbord side of the bellows and usually hard to see. Take a close look at the shifter bellows on the outside with the trim up, move the bellows around, stretching it while looking for cracks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water leak.

A GREAT source of water in the bilge is through the shift linkage, just to the starbord side of the bellows and usually hard to see. Take a close look at the shifter bellows on the outside with the trim up, move the bellows around, stretching it while looking for cracks.

Ayuh,.... Lotsa Great places for Leaks,....
But,...
The only way to find yer's is Look, 'n find it....
Use a better camera, mirrors, or whatever it takes,...
Water flows downhill, if ya find wet, look higher for the leak....
Worst case scenario, ya yank the motor, for a Better view...

 

[10thHawk]

Re: Water leak.

Focus!

Cell phone camera, best I had on short notice.

I examined the bellows when I hade the drive off. They looked good. The leak is definetely south of the driveshaft bellow. I'm fairly sure what I've found here is the source as it was not dry around those wires. I'm going to seal it up with some 4200 and do another dunk test when I get the time. I just wanted to see if anybody knew how well that should be sealed up around those wires. Thanks.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Water leak.

Everything below or near the waterline should be sealed up as if floating depended on it.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Water leak.

could also be the exaust Y pipe has sprung a leak

 

[cliffblue]

Re: Water leak.

If water runs out of the exhaust outlets on either side of the drive when I fill the bilge with water, is there any option other than a leaking Y pipe connection?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Water leak.

Sadly, no. Y pipe connects with 3 or 4 bolts.Failure rate there from loose bolts is low.Most times a metal remment from a shutter erodes a hole thru the pipe.

 

[cliffblue]

Re: Water leak.

The mechanic that winterized it last winter after I bought it told me the motor was not original. While fixing a lot of little things since then, I think whoever worked on it before was not detail oriented. There was a lot of sloppy work done here. Could they have damaged the gasket or seal there? I'm afraid I'm going to have to remove everything drive related and start over.

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: Water leak.

No sealer required around the Mercathod wires. There should be an O ring (old style) and perm rubber seal (new style) on the mercathode itself. If you had the bow high enough, water can run down the wire from standing water in the bilge and cause that white gooing stuff. The white, by-the-way-is aluminum corrison. When mixed with water, you get goo.

 

[Brentathon]

Re: Water leak.

Depending on how low your boat sits in the water, it could be a leak from the Upper Swivel Shaft Seal.
When mine was leaking, it somehow made it's way down the inside of the inner transom plate, and leaked from directly above the drain plug.
Check inside the cutout where the steering shaft goes through the transom, to see if it's wet in there.