Water leak

[John pettinato]

Hello,
I recently restored a 1987 Searay with a Mercruser 3.0L motor. Changed bellows and all related rubber on the stern drive as well as humble bearing and water pump. We put in the water for the first time since 2004. Motor runs solid and comes up on plain fine. While sitting idle I notice bilge pump come on about once every thirty minutes while sitting at the dock. Wondering where I should start looking for water leak? I was thinking of filling the bilge with water and see if I could locate the issue. Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[John pettinato]

gimble Bearing not humble

 

[Bondo]

Hello,
I recently restored a 1987 Searay with a Mercruser 3.0L motor. Changed bellows and all related rubber on the stern drive as well as humble bearing and water pump. We put in the water for the first time since 2004. Motor runs solid and comes up on plain fine. While sitting idle I notice bilge pump come on about once every thirty minutes while sitting at the dock. Wondering where I should start looking for water leak? I was thinking of filling the bilge with water and see if I could locate the issue. Any advise would be appreciated.

Ayuh,..... Yes, you should find, 'n fix the leak, though it's better to find it, at rest, in the water,....
A camera in yer hand, can help you see, where yer head don't fit,....

 

[nola mike]

I was thinking of filling the bilge with water and see if I could locate the issue. Any advise would be appreciated.

Don't do that.

First thing to check is the condition of the bellows. If it's been sitting since '04 they're at least 20+ years old and likely a good bit older.
Has it been stored outside or inside?
Does it happen while sitting in the water, engine off?
How about out of the water on muffs?

 

[cyclops222]

That is a lot of water coming from something. Drain Plug leaking ? Or 20 year old rubber failing.
Do not fill a boat with water. Keep it out of the boat.

 

[flashback]

Check your block & manifold drains, maybe you forgot them.

 

[Kola16]

You said you changed the bellows and all related rubber so I would start your search there. Clean and dry your bilge before you launch. Launch and tie the boat to the dock. As soon as you put the boat in the water, watch for the water to come in and follow the initial stream of water to the source. If no water comes in, start the engine and see if water starts to come in.

If there are holes in the hull, you should have noticed water coming out of that hole when you put it on the trailer. A bilge pump coming on every 30 minutes is roughly an 1/8" size hole I would guess. It should be noticeable.
I guess before you head out, with the boat on the trailer, walk around the entire boat from the outside to look for open drill holes or open screw (obvious, but quick and easy).

 

[cyclops222]

Check all hose clamps for being loose.

 

[Scott06]

I would think hose clamps on cooling system, exhaust pipe to transom housing, transom seal (housing to hull) , core plug in engine

 

[cyclops222]

It should be the most difficult 1 to reach and tighten.

 

[John pettinato]

Don't do that.

First thing to check is the condition of the bellows. If it's been sitting since '04 they're at least 20+ years old and likely a good bit older.
Has it been stored outside or inside?
Does it happen while sitting in the water, engine off?
How about out of the water on muffs?

I stated I changed all rubber

 

[tpenfield]

The thing about leaks is you have to look for them. Lots of places to look as have been described. Use your cell phone as needed to see where your eyes can't reach.

 

[nola mike]

I stated I changed all rubber

Yeah missed that. The rest of the points stand.