Honda 15 HP 4 stroke; water fills up in lower

[gstep]

Not sure how to explain this, when I started my engine this year to get it ready I noticed that the lower engine housing started filling with water.

The engine seems to run fine, the oil doesn't have water in it near as i can tell. No foam.

I'm pretty sure something is wrong I'm thinking water pump, but I'm not familiar with these types of things at all. Although I have fixed pumps and such on car engines.

Anyone know what this is and how to go about fixing it also what kind of skill level is this... ?

[gss036]

Run it with the engine cover off and see where the water is coming from and then go from there, maybe a hose broke or cracked. The thermostat is on the upper port (left) side of the engine and I think it is the only thing with a water hose inside the cowling, if that is where you are talking about.

[gstep]

Water squirts out the tell tail. But towards the back (prop side) of the engine at the base water is squirting out some place down there.

[gstep]

So how do you get the cowling off so I can get a better look at the base of this engine where it seems to be leaking...?

I see 4 bolts around it from the outside bolted up.. but there are several other things that seem kind of complicated...

[gstep]

anyone know how to determine the model year of a honda it's a 15 HP
BAAL 110053 I think around 93 is it's year.

[gss036]

Not really, but that sounds about right, my old Honda was a 1997. If the engine was used in saltwater all the time, they do have a way of corrosion taking out the bottom seal and housing as well.