Merc 3.0l water leak gimbal housing. 88 17' benito open bow

[Rick-101]

Finally got the "project" boat in the water after the 100 other problems.

While the boat is in the water sitting I'm getting a trickle from the bottom of the gimbal housing, not bellow it (rotten transom), its just above it like if my hand goes from the transom over the gimbal edge to this lip its coming from there. Could it be the "Y-pipe" seal? or the exhaust bellow. Audible Flow increased when i raised the foot.

From the manuals diagrams i cant see where it would be coming from logistically

The exterior assembly is pretty much completely submerged except the top 2 inches of the foot.
Engine and foot have been recently re-installed.

Thank you!

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Merc 3.0l water leak gimbal housing. 88 17' benito open bow

Drive bellows or shift cable bellows.... Unless you can get right down in there to see exactly where it is coming from (a camera comes in handy, too), you probably got to get it out of the water to check from the outside. Swing the drive full port and stbd and look/feel real close. Then pull the drive to fix what you find. Another source may be bottom of the y-pipe caused by a lost shutter vibrating a hole in the pipe, but since you said the leak gets audibly worse when you trim up, I'm betting on a drive or shift cable bellows leak.

 

[Rick-101]

Re: Merc 3.0l water leak gimbal housing. 88 17' benito open bow

I wanted to thank you. Pulled the foot, the leak was coming from the drives bellows a considerable amount of water was still stagnant. Picked up a shift and drives bellows at my local marine shop, got them to do the gimbal bearing at the same time. Realized i needed the hinge pin and my trim senders were cut off attempting the install today.

Since I'm in there, I would like to be bullet proof sure she wont be taking on any water.
What is the likely-hood of the trim sender gromit to leak?
Or the water inlet gasket to the I/O?

(planning on water testing the Y pipe)
Thanks again!