Water in aft bilge

Yoshy

Cadet
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Jun 17, 2019
Messages
7
1996 SeaRay 270 Sundancer with a Single Merc 454 Bravo 1. I'm getting water in my bilge enough where after 5 hours and loading on trailer the bilge kicks on. Any ideas? The bellows appear ok as well as the shift cable. I did notice a lone zip tie has been used on the small end of the shift bellow. Any ideas?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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welcome aboard

if your bellows are older than a few years, plan on a bellows job

being a 1996 sea ray, you could also have a rotten transom.
 

Yoshy

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Jun 17, 2019
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I'm going to float it tomorrow and see if I can trace it down. I hope the transom is not at fault :facepalm:
 

mr 88

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Nov 3, 2010
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Unless you physically checked your bellows .inside and out for any small tears ,just looking at them verifies nothing. Have to run your fingers into every crease at the minimum.Zip tie on the end of shift bellows may be good if the bellows itself was loaded up with silicone when initially done , still prefer the correct size hose clamp. Pretty hard in most cases to see water coming in through the driveshaft on I/Os , where you would look for water due to a bad bellows. Sometimes when it running you may see water splashing off the driveshaft ,if your lucky. You also have a raw water hose coming from the outdrive that may be compromised as well.
 

Yoshy

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Jun 17, 2019
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I appreciate the info. Ill be floating it in the AM and I hope whatever it is is not an early end to Summer lol. I've been reading about the hulls on that vintage Sea Ray is that really something I should pursue also? I've heard good things word of mouth but the web is blasting them for poor hull construction. I'm not sure what a hull survey costs now.
 

mr 88

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I would figure out where the water is coming from before worrying about the transom. No need for a survey at this point , you own the boat . If you want you can take a plastic hammer and lightly tap the whole transom area and see/hear if there is any difference in the sound. Then if your not satisfied drill some small holes into the inside of the transom and see if the wood that comes out is dry, may use a pick to feel around in the holes for wet wood. Patch accordingly.
 

cptbill

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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Oct 6, 2012
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You might need to use a mirror on a stick to see things like the exhaust Y pipe and other stuff on the rear while your in the water
 

kpg7121

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Aug 25, 2018
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I appreciate the info. Ill be floating it in the AM and I hope whatever it is is not an early end to Summer lol. I've been reading about the hulls on that vintage Sea Ray is that really something I should pursue also? I've heard good things word of mouth but the web is blasting them for poor hull construction. I'm not sure what a hull survey costs now.
Lose the zip tie & put a hose clamp on that bellows. Launch the boat & check for leaks. I would do that before you start drilling into that transom. Best of luck.
 

Yoshy

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Jun 17, 2019
Messages
7
I appreciate all the info. I floated it and found the leak. It was the raw water pump housing. I found a stream of water coming out of a hairline crack. When under way it was pretty impressive. Safe boating to all.
 

kpg7121

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Aug 25, 2018
Messages
174
I appreciate all the info. I floated it and found the leak. It was the raw water pump housing. I found a stream of water coming out of a hairline crack. When under way it was pretty impressive. Safe boating to all.
Glad it worked out.
 

Yoshy

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Jun 17, 2019
Messages
7
I also replaced the Garboard drain. I found a medium sized wire attached to one of the mounting screws? What could this be used for? I tried following it back but it goes into a loom.
 

mr 88

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Nov 3, 2010
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If that wire is green it is probably a bonding wire ,although those usually do not go into a loom .
 

Yoshy

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Jun 17, 2019
Messages
7
It is a yellow wire. I reattached it. From what I've been reading you nailed it. A bonding wire.
 
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