Hi all!
2007 Rinker 246 Captiva/ Mag MPI 350/Bravo 3
I have been chasing a leak for 8 years, literally. It’s been an absolute nightmare and getting progressively worse over the years. It’s only when the boat is sitting, not under way. I measured it one year and it pumped out 12 gallons after sitting for just one hour!! And I know what you’re all thinking, trust me. It’s NOT any bellows, steering pin, and so on, it’s all been replaced by the certified Merc service guys who have done nothing but cost me money for new things I didn’t need. FINALLY, (the same shop) came out and looked at it yet again and told me I have a bad transom seal. Well, let’s just say I have trust issues with this place now and in 2017 the engine was rebuilt and a new Bravo 3 was installed by a really high end dealer where I bought the boat. So, I did the right thing and started investigating and learning things and bought a borescope camera and a tube of 3m 5200 (or 4200, you know the stuff), and after weeks of searching I found that the leak was coming from the hydro manifold for the trim rams and the mercathode. I got decent video of the leak with my fancy camera and everything.
So, here’s the point, I searched all corners of the internet and not ONE post, thread etc mentioned the manifold. so, if you have a leak that you can not find and your boat is older…. Pop the manifold off and replace it or just reseal it like I did. Leak fixed. I was about to face thousands in repair costs for a new seal and I solved it with 5$ worth of sealant.
on a side note, while searching with my camera under and all around the engine I found some black cup looking thing under the engine around the oil pan maybe that looks like it’s coming through the hull. It’s threaded and there’s a retainer nut on it and it’s about 2 inches in diameter. Does anyone know what on earth that could be.? I’ll update with a picture when I get it moved off my camera.
thanks in advance!!!
2007 Rinker 246 Captiva/ Mag MPI 350/Bravo 3
I have been chasing a leak for 8 years, literally. It’s been an absolute nightmare and getting progressively worse over the years. It’s only when the boat is sitting, not under way. I measured it one year and it pumped out 12 gallons after sitting for just one hour!! And I know what you’re all thinking, trust me. It’s NOT any bellows, steering pin, and so on, it’s all been replaced by the certified Merc service guys who have done nothing but cost me money for new things I didn’t need. FINALLY, (the same shop) came out and looked at it yet again and told me I have a bad transom seal. Well, let’s just say I have trust issues with this place now and in 2017 the engine was rebuilt and a new Bravo 3 was installed by a really high end dealer where I bought the boat. So, I did the right thing and started investigating and learning things and bought a borescope camera and a tube of 3m 5200 (or 4200, you know the stuff), and after weeks of searching I found that the leak was coming from the hydro manifold for the trim rams and the mercathode. I got decent video of the leak with my fancy camera and everything.
So, here’s the point, I searched all corners of the internet and not ONE post, thread etc mentioned the manifold. so, if you have a leak that you can not find and your boat is older…. Pop the manifold off and replace it or just reseal it like I did. Leak fixed. I was about to face thousands in repair costs for a new seal and I solved it with 5$ worth of sealant.
on a side note, while searching with my camera under and all around the engine I found some black cup looking thing under the engine around the oil pan maybe that looks like it’s coming through the hull. It’s threaded and there’s a retainer nut on it and it’s about 2 inches in diameter. Does anyone know what on earth that could be.? I’ll update with a picture when I get it moved off my camera.
thanks in advance!!!
