Merc transom alpha one question?

[sully123]

Hi Guys
I was out to the annual Pottahawk Bash yesterday here in Ontario and noticed that there was a lot of water getting into the hull (I was always having to operate the bilge pump and a lot of water was bailing out). When I got home I decided to fill the inside of the boat/hull with a hose and check for leaks. Once water was up to the bottom of the engine oil pan I noticed water coming out of the back of the transom. It was coming out at the bottom through one of the round exhaust/ water return holes ( not sure what they are called but this is where I see water normally coming out when I hitch up the garden hose to run the engine). Because of this I assume this is where the water must be getting in when the boat is in the water. Question is... How do I fix?.Any ideas would be great? Boat is 1990 bayliner with a 3.0l merc out drive alpha one.

 

[bstarved]

Re: Merc transom alpha one question?

sounds like you need to pull that drive off and
replace your upper and lower bellows

the boat WILL sink if you dont fix that

 

[sully123]

Re: Merc transom alpha one question?

Update? could the water be coming in through the exhaust pipe where in bolts on to the transom inside the boat?.and the big question is?.How the &*&# (lol)?do you get at the exhaust pipe bolts without the engine coming out?.

 

[bstarved]

Re: Merc transom alpha one question?

Im sure as the day progresses more knowledgable than I will answer your question
it sounds to me without seeing, that your bellows are allowing
water into your boat, they are rubber boots that transition from outside
the hull through the hull one is for your driveshaft/one for exhaust
the rubber gets brittle after a few years and cracks
thus allowing water from outside in

 

[sully123]

Re: Merc transom alpha one question?

Bstarved .... thanks for the reply...looks like the leak is bellow them....from filling up the hull with water inside the boat, just to the point just where the exhaust pipe meets the transum (like about 6" of water in engine compartment)..it starts to leak out of the holes located on the outside of the boat on the lower transum...I am assuming they are return ports of some sort...there are two of them about on 1" diameter...

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Merc transom alpha one question?

Sounds to me like the exhaust tube inside the boat is leaking..........

When you put water in the boat the water is entering the exhaust somewhere, I would expect you will need to remove the engine to really see it.

Even if the exhaust bellows was missing, it should not cause water to enter the boat......

 

[sully123]

Re: Merc transom alpha one question?

Thanks for the replys guys.....just back from out at the boat and found one of the bolts on the bottom of the exhaust tube where it bolts onto the tramsum inside the boat was loose....tightened bolt and BINGO....leak seems to be stopped...(Fingers crossed)...wont know for sure I guess till out on the water again but the leaking is stopped at the level it was leaking before....Now comes the task of checking the remaining bolts...checked two so far (starter motor side)...two more I think on the other side...Oh to have arms like Inspector Gaget the Cartoon character...lol.