Where's the water coming from?

['86 Celebrity]

I have a 1986 Celebrity with 5.7 mercruiser and Alpha one outdrive. I took the boat out for the first time this season a few weeks ago and noticed a good amount of water coming into the bilge. I pulled the outdrive and noticed water in the U-joint bellows and rusty U-joints. Assumed I had a hole in th bellow, so I went ahead and had the U-joint and shift cable bellows and the gimbal bearing replaced. Took the boat out this weekend for the first time since the bellows were replaced and noticed water still coming into the bilge. So, when I got home I pulled the outdrive again and guess what...water was in the u-joint bellows. To try and find the leak I tilted the bow of the boat as high as it would go and filled the bilge with my hose. Once the water got high enough water started to leak out of a hole on the bottom of the transom assembly (see attached picture). Here are my questions. Where could the water that is entering the bilge be coming from? Can water enter the U-joint bellows if water in the bilge gets high enough? As a side note, my bilge pump clogged, so the water level in the bilge got pretty high when I had it on the lake this last time. Sorry for the long post...any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

Can water enter the U-joint bellows if water in the bilge gets high enough

YES, it looks like the exaust Y pipe has a leak, drive comes off and motor comes out

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

YES, it looks like the exaust Y pipe has a leak, drive comes off and motor comes out

Thats exactly what is was going to say.

The bolts have come loose where the exhaust bolts to the transom shield. This can also rot out the transom if left alone long enough.
Driver off and motor out is the only way to see what needs to be fixed.

 

['86 Celebrity]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

Ok, just for informations sake...what is that hole where the water is leaking out? Also, the boat has been in the shop this season. What would I be risking if I just pumped the water out while in use and fixed the problem in the offseason? Thanks.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

exaust relief holes,
Lets see"Can I use my boat"
Well ,if the exaust pipe opens up all the way you would have a 3 inch hole in the boat.
All thing being equal about bilge pump capacity, you would need a pump with a 3 inch hose to just keep afloat.
Not to mention as the motor is running your pumping water inside the boat

 

[MPII]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

I have the same problem. I bought a 1992 Rinker 206 Captiva, and have had it out at Lake Cumberland three times this year. The last time out, I noticed water (you can actually hear it) and the bildge was pumping water out every 10 minutes or so.

I can't get back in there on top of the motor to patch it, as you indicated, it looks like I am going to have to pull the motor. I don't know, however, if the water can get to the joints. It only leaks when sitting. I am assuming that as the motor is running it doesn't allow the water to come back up through the exhaust.

My mechanic friend said that it's harless so long as the Bildge works, Is he wrong? I was going to wait until this winter to fix. Any information would be helpful.

By the way, new to this site, its nice to be able to talk to people about these issues.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/16/16D7R2.PDF
7D-2
big hole thru there,
Leave a Float plan
Wear your life jacket
Carry PLENTY OF INSURANCE for the enviromental cleanup

 

[MPII]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

Yea, reviewing the manual...I'm gonna have to do it before we go back out. I wish I could see it more, but with a light it looks like the pipe itself has a break in a weld or something. It doesn't appear to be coming through transom plate, it looks like it coming off the top of the pipe. I wish I could at least see it more before I go pulling the entire motor out.

regardless, I don't think I can risk it! Thanks a bunch!

 

['86 Celebrity]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

Thanks for the replys and advice. Where do the exhaust relief holes connect to the exhaust system? Any reason why it would only come out of one side (port) after I filled the bilge? After filling the bilge until water came out of the exhaust relief the exhaust bellow stayed dry and I could see up into the y-pipe that also appeared dry. Does this information help at all in finding the location of the leak? Also, when I had the boat in the water yesterday I'm pretty sure that the water level increased in the bilge while the engine was not running. Does that fall in line with a leak in the exhaust system? I'm certainly not disagreeing with what anyone has said...Just trying to fully understand the issue here.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

When you filled up your bilge with water did you submerge the starter? If so, time to replace the starter.

 

['86 Celebrity]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

No, I made sure to watch the water level. It got pretty close, but didn't contact the starter. Anyone able to help with questions from my earlier post, copied here:

"Where do the exhaust relief holes connect to the exhaust system? Any reason why it would only come out of one side (port) after I filled the bilge? After filling the bilge until water came out of the exhaust relief the exhaust bellow stayed dry and I could see up into the y-pipe that also appeared dry. Does this information help at all in finding the location of the leak? Also, when I had the boat in the water yesterday I'm pretty sure that the water level increased in the bilge while the engine was not running. Does that fall in line with a leak in the exhaust system? I'm certainly not disagreeing with what anyone has said...Just trying to fully understand the issue here."

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

Water takes the path of least resistance. It is possible it is simply getting to the level of the port side relief port first.

Also...

It sounds like you have at least two problems. The exhaust water leak has nothing to do with water getting into your driveshaft bellows. If you are still getting water in there, it has nothing to do with the exhaust side of things.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

7D-2 http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/16/16D7R2.PDF those holes on each side of the main exaust

 

['86 Celebrity]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

Water takes the path of least resistance. It is possible it is simply getting to the level of the port side relief port first.

Also...

It sounds like you have at least two problems. The exhaust water leak has nothing to do with water getting into your driveshaft bellows. If you are still getting water in there, it has nothing to do with the exhaust side of things.

In an earlier post on this thread by Bt Doctor he said that water can enter the drive belows if the water in the bilge gets high enough. I'm hoping that is why I saw water in the bellows.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

the yellow arrows show vent holes,if the water gets to the lower hole it will enter the bellows

 

[MPII]

Re: Where's the water coming from?

Thats exactly what is was going to say.

The bolts have come loose where the exhaust bolts to the transom shield. This can also rot out the transom if left alone long enough.
Driver off and motor out is the only way to see what needs to be fixed.

In my situation, I've determined that the bolts to the transom plate are tight and clean, no corrosion or water.

The water is actually coming through a small crack on the top, Port side of the Y Pipe. It appears to be a defect in manufacturing of the piece, metal fatigue, or was thin in the cast at the weld site. I'm going to clean it, look at it again after getting paint off, and maybe JB Weld it to see what it does. Obviously, pay close attention to it and make sure that it doesn't get any larger. Motor is definitely coming out this Winter, new pipe put on. I may have a metallurgist/professional welder friend of mine attempt to repair it for me. Thanks for all the information everyone.