Water leaking!!!

[blinkinacdc]

I have a 98 Wellcraft excel 21' with a 5.0l GL Volvo Penta. Everything was running smooth this year until recently. Took the boat out last evening with a few of my friends 5 in total and noticed as we zipped over to our destination that we had been taking in water. Naturally once we noticed the water we went back into harbor. Once back at the dock i let the bilge pump run and it pumped all of the water out. Today i went down to the boat out and found no water to be leaking vissually inside the boat. After finding no water in boat i took it out by myself and still found no water to be leaking.

i guess i have two questions here

1. what could be causing the water to leak and where do i begin to locate the leak
2. why isnt it leaking all the time

 

[captmello]

Re: Water leaking!!!

When your motor is running, It is pumping water from the outdrive up through the engine and exhaust system, cooling it. That water may be leaking from...somewhere. Or it could be leaking around the transom shield.... Is the boat kept in the water?

So, You said it was leaking the other day, and now its not, even while running the motor? Leaks need to be found, you'll have to get down there and find it.

 

[blinkinacdc]

Re: Water leaking!!!

yes the boat is usually kept in the water.. i actually just pulled it out about an hour ago. Im planning on going through it and giving it a good visual once over tomorrow. Well it all started last Saturday my father took it out with a few people about 5 people, and he called me saying that the boat was taking in water i didnt believe the extent of the water because when i got there he had the pumps going and there was no water on board. Later that day i took it out and was unable to get it to leak again. I also took it out at the beginning of the week with a buddy and we were unable to get it to leak. Took it out yesterday and i had the boat a person from capacity moving at a descent rate of speed and we began taking in gallons of water. When the boat is docked i am unable to see any water leakage with engine running or with it off.

 

[dypcdiver]

Re: Water leaking!!!

Just had a similar problem with mine, turned out that the large worm drive clips on the Riser elbow rubber joint had broken on the underside (out of sight) and the water was leaking out there under load. Worth a quick check. Clue on mine was dried salt on the exhaust manifold, but this might not show on fresh/lake water.