Water seepage into engine compartment

[shadowrider]

I just purchased a mercruiser pontoon boat, this my first mercruiser, so I have a lot of questions. Should there be no water at all in engine compartment ? How much is acceptable ? I actually have not used the boat yet, I did back it in to the water. Water immeadiately starts to come in from stern, I assume this is not normal.
Bilge float is at front of compartment and would take a while for the level to reach it.
I can manually active the float with a stick with a piece of wire on the end and pump evacuates water rapidly, then it slowly starts coming back in. I then pulled out and tried to remove the plug, but it was too tight. A ten minute ride home, I removed the plug and no water left to drain. I am suspicious of the plug. Thanks for reading this long story.

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Water seepage into engine compartment

put the plug back in and with the boat out of the water put some in the bilge and see where it leaks out.

 

[shadowrider]

Re: Water seepage into engine compartment

I had planned on doing just that. There was water in the bilge just below plug.

 

[shadowrider]

Re: Water seepage into engine compartment

Did the water test, not the plug. Comes out from transom/drive flange. Does anyone have an idea what a shop would charge to reseal the drive unit to the transom ?

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Water seepage into engine compartment

While I dont have any idea what they would charge, its a lot of work. You have to pull the drive, engine, and the transom shield.
Then you have to hope the transom wood is still good (probably not), or it will just leak again.
Pretty much the only reason that gasket leaks is because the transom wood is rotted away.
If you have an aluminum transom you may have a better chance.
Anyway you put it, id do the work myself (and have) to save some money or sell it and get one that have done a sea trial on before you pay for it.

 

[shadowrider]

Re: Water seepage into engine compartment

The transom has a wood core and aluminum frame. Boat was moored 4 months out of the year for last 2 years, unknown before that.