Boat taking on water Help!

[Blasanch92]

1988 Sylvan 188 Barritz open bow 4.3L Mercruiser

While parked and anchored my boat began taking water while sitting around a 2 hour period my entire bilge was full of water and it began seeping through floors luckily I got it back to the harbor with a tow I need ideas of what it may be Transom is rock solid so definitely not that maybe Gimbal Bearing??

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, service your bilge pump

second, is this a fiberglass or aluminum boat? I believe all sylvans are aluminum, however just asking

being a 1988, the wood in the transom could be soft

however it could be any of the following as well
a leaking bellows
leaking thru-hull fitting for a live well or drain
leaking rivet
corroded y-pipe

 

[Blasanch92]

18.5ft Fiberglass, Transom is rock solid boat was very well maintained

 

[Chris1956]

The driveshaft bellows should have been replaced a couple of times since the boat was new. Did that happen?

Other than that take a flashlight and look around the motor and see if you see a drip. For that much water to get into the bilge in 2 hours, the leak ought to be able to be seen.

 

[Stinnett21]

"...seeping through the floors..." oh man. Scott and others correct me if I'm wrong but the original cause of the leak is only part of the problem now. Starter is toast, ujoints toast, etc. correct?

 

[JimS123]

Dry the boat out and then put it back in the water. When you see the leak report back and you will get directions how to proceed.

Was the outdrive up or down when it leaked? Since you said "tow" I assume it wouldn't start. You surely will need a new starter.

 

[Chris1956]

gee, with a bilge full of water and no bilge pump, how did he get it onto a trailer?

 

[Blasanch92]

Engine sits above bilge no water touched it starter still turns fine I did not turn on engine as a precaution I see people are taking this as an opportunity to troll when I simply asked a question.

 

[GA_Boater]

Engine sits above bilge no water touched it starter still turns fine I did not turn on engine as a precaution I see people are taking this as an opportunity to troll when I simply asked a question.

Why do you start this crap? This at least the third time you've taken umbrage over comments. You've been boating for 4 months and you P.O. people with far more experience in their little finger.

No, it isn't the gimbal bearing. But you need to either fix or install a bilge pump.

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...6#post10834846

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boa...0833107-one-soft-spot?p=10834895#post10834895

 

[kpg7121]

Engine sits above bilge no water touched it starter still turns fine I did not turn on engine as a precaution I see people are taking this as an opportunity to troll when I simply asked a question.

Failed gimbal bearings do not cause a boat to take on water. Gain some knowledge before accusing people of being a troll.

 

[H20Rat]

Engine sits above bilge no water touched it starter still turns fine I did not turn on engine as a precaution I see people are taking this as an opportunity to troll when I simply asked a question.

The starter is almost the lowest thing on the engine, as well as being on the back. If the water level was above the level of the floor your starter ABSOLUTELY got wet. (remember the boat is at an angle, water is also higher in the back) Unless it is salty, they almost never die immediately. It might work for a year until you go to turn the key and there is nothing there. (mine lasted 8 months from the time it got wet until it locked up)

As suggested, need way more info, but I'm betting there is a crack on the bottom of your bellows. Probably won't leak much if the drive is trimmed down. Leaks a bunch the instant you trim it up. Being a 1988 vintage I/O, also highly suspect of the transom. You said it is solid, but can you stand on the anti-ventilation plates on the leg and bounce? Transom shouldn't move. Is there any caulk around the drive mount on the transom?

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, a 1988 fiberglass boat wouldnt have a solid transom unless the boat was placed in an air-conditioned show room since new.

the late 80's and early 90's had a boat coming out of every boat factory every few hours. total build time on the boat was minimal, and the level of encapsulation on the wood and general build quality was iffy at best

the transom drain plug hole is almost always not treated after they drill it, and the hole for the outdrive was usually cut with the precision of an angry beaver wielding a chainsaw while drinking his 6th pot of coffee. and after that hole was blasted thru the transom, the transom shield was slammed home and bolted in place. they never coated the edges of the key-holes

you cant say your transom is rock solid unless you actually did some test drills

next, your floor in your boat is well over the crank on the engine. if you had water coming above the floor, not only was the starter under water, however the alternator was probably under water as well.

so these two items will most likely fail in the near future.

back to the leak.

with a fiberglass boat, expanding on the list in post #2

the most likely culprits are in the following order:

• rotten transom
• bad bellows
• leaking thru-hull
• or corroded y-pipe

 

[kpg7121]

If Detroit built cars the way boat builders did in the mid to late 80's & early 90's somebody would have gone to jail. The transom on that guys boat started rotting a long time ago. And probably everthing else.

 

[Alumarine]

If Detroit built cars the way boat builders did in the mid to late 80's & early 90's somebody would have gone to jail. The transom on that guys boat started rotting a long time ago. And probably everthing else.

I think you're giving car manufacturers too much credit...

 

[H20Rat]

I think you're giving car manufacturers too much credit...

Probably more boats of that era still afloat (barely) than cars on the road from the same time! Especially early/mid 80's.

 

[cptbill]

Don't forget to check the "Y" Pipe at that age there could be some corrosion there

 

[kpg7121]

I think you're giving car manufacturers too much credit...

You're probably right. Lol

 

[JimS123]

Probably more boats of that era still afloat (barely) than cars on the road from the same time! Especially early/mid 80's.

My 1980 Pontiac Bonneville has about 87,000 original miles on it now and has no rust, runs like a top and turns heads every where we go. It was bought new and has never seen snow on the body. It's only mission is as a boat towcar. My last appraisal was 25% higher than I paid brand new. It has never in its life been in a car wash and has now had 80 wax jobs by hand.

(Obviously, not your average situation)

My 1984 19' Bowrider with a Mercruiser 3.0 liter is now on it's 37th season. (sold her last year - the new owner is ecstatic). She was always run hard, but never put away wet and always garage stored. She still looks like new.

My point is that the often cited 15 year service life of a boat is under-rated. Take meticulous care and a fiberglass boat will last many many years. Same for a car. Surely high mileage wears things out, but weather is what really takes its tole.

 

[CaptainSteveo]

My 1980 Pontiac Bonneville has about 87,000 original miles on it now and has no rust, runs like a top and turns heads every where we go. It was bought new and has never seen snow on the body. It's only mission is as a boat towcar. My last appraisal was 25% higher than I paid brand new. It has never in its life been in a car wash and has now had 80 wax jobs by hand.

(Obviously, not your average situation)

My 1984 19' Bowrider with a Mercruiser 3.0 liter is now on it's 37th season. (sold her last year - the new owner is ecstatic). She was always run hard, but never put away wet and always garage stored. She still looks like new.

My point is that the often cited 15 year service life of a boat is under-rated. Take meticulous care and a fiberglass boat will last many many years. Same for a car. Surely high mileage wears things out, but weather is what really takes its tole.

So very true. I got 10 years of service out of 25 year old Bayliner. Original deck and hull still rot free when I sold it. How? Was stored inside much of the time, covered when not, and lived in mostly dry CA climate. Now the Force outboard is another story, but for the most part the boat did great.

My current Glastron SX175 is 20 years old, but the all fiberglass hull is solid and it starts and runs great. Only issue in 9 outings was a broken alternator belt.

I don't buy the 15 year service life at all. Depends entirely on how it's been maintained.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Heck I have a 1954 alumacraft with the original wood in the transom it is in excellent condition.