Boat Actively Sinking - Need help with leak - Pics Attached

[tbbqwebber]

I have a 1987 Glasstream with a Mercuiser 3.0 Alpha One I/O. I went down to the dock this morning and found the boat nearly sunk. After pumping out the water I discovered a water leak from some hole directly above the drive shaft. Picture attached. It looks like a bolt worked loose and fell out. I didn't find one in the bilge area though.

Can anyone tell me what this hole is? Is it simply a missing bolt or plug? And if so what size?

Or is this a bigger problem? You can see some residue at the hole but I couldn't tell if that was outdrive oil (or some other oil) or sediment from the water.

FYI the boat is still in the water and slowly filling. I'm pumping it out periodically to keep it dry and hopefully get it started and over to the boat ramp. A couple other pics of the situation are also attached for novelty.

Quick answers are much appreciated!!!

Thanks for your help!

 

[stonyloam]

My guess is that your driveshaft bellows is torn, and when it fills with water it comes out of that hole. Better haul it out and check.

 

[Bt Doctur]

+1, bellows is damaged, pull it before it sinks

 

[GA_Boater]

No working automatic bilge pump and kept in a slip? I would get her out on the water ASAP, fix it and do something about the bilge pump.

 

[alldodge]

No working automatic bilge pump and kept in a slip?

Without a working bilge pump you were rolling the dice, so it was just a matter of time from lack of maintenance

 

[tbbqwebber]

I'm not sure why the bilge pump didn't handle it. Maybe the battery ran out of juice?

I'm definitely pulling it as soon as possible to evaluate the problem but I wanted to let it dry out for a bit before trying to start it. Anyone have any relevant experience or advice for starting one up after being mostly submerged? It will be about a 15-20 minute cruise to the boat ramp.

I'm afraid y'all are correct on the bellows but I was hoping it was just a missing plug of some sort.

 

[airshot]

I understand just how convenient it is to keep a boat in the water, and as rare as it may be, It is things like this that make me glad I keep my boat on a trailer in my barn. man that really sucks....

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

It needs to come out today not tomorrow. Crank that baby over and get it running ASAP!

If the starter was under water it's most likely gonna be toast. Gimbal bearing, u-joints, You in fresh or salt water?

 

[tbbqwebber]

Fresh water.

 

[GA_Boater]

The marina renting the slip doesn't have a ramp?

 

[jbcurt00]

Even if it needs to be actively towed and pumped from a fresh bilge pump/battery setup, most definitely sooner then later. Everything that's gotten wet needs to be dried, not allowed to simply air dry. That could take forever, and still not get dried out.........

 

[NHGuy]

Tow it or something, it needs to be on the trailer right away or you'll suffer further damage. It probably won't start. And if it's a torn bellows you might be smart not to start it any way.
Sorry, that really stinks!

 

[Watermann]

Don't wait around for your boat dry out or most likely sink, have it towed to the ramp and load it on the trailer.

 

[poconojoe]

+1 on hurry hurry...get it towed to the ramp and onto a trailer! Do it yesterday! I wouldn't rely on it starting. Probably won't due to submerged starter etc. Good luck. I feel for you. When I had mine in a slip the first thing I made sure of was that I had a new automatic bilge pump and two good batteries. A good waterproofed cover too.