Water leak through outdrive?

[saaristo]

I have a VP 4.3 GXi-JF with DPS-A drive and the bilge is always bone-dry even though it is wet slipped. Now however I have noticed the last few days when on the sandbar that there is few gallons of water in the bilge afterwards. The only thing that I can relate it to is that the drive has been on trailering position. Can this somehow let water into the bilge?

 

[alldodge]

Yes if your bellows starts leaking
When was the last time they where changed?

 

[saaristo]

Yes if your bellows starts leaking
When was the last time they where changed?

It was replaced last fall when winterizing the boat. So the bellow itself must be as good as new. However, what I noticed from the exploded view of the drive is that the bellow itself has a hose clamp only on one end of the bellow. The other end is just sort of "press-fit" or something, somehow fitted inside a groove? How could that be watertight I dont get. Could it be that while fully tilted the end of the bellow is detached or ripped from this groove?

And if that's the case, it probably means the U-joint along with the bearings have already worked hours in saltwater?

 

[alldodge]

The design does work, Merc uses similar to seal. There is a metal ring which is pressed in and then a quad ring.

In any case I would pull the drive soon to check