Taking On Water

[mcvette]

I have a 1997 Chaparral 1930 SS with a 4.3 LX Gen+ mercruiser. Had it in the water all day Saturday. When I loaded up that afternoon and took the drain plug out I thought there seemed to be a lot of water coming out. More than normal which is usually just what you might take on from swimming skiing etc.

So, when I put the boat in the water Sunday I thought I better raise the engine cover before I start the engine. The outdrive was still up. Around the rear of the engine it looked like water running from a faucet. I lowered the outdrive and it nearly quit. Engine started fine so I raised the outdrive just to be sure. Once again water poring in like a faucet. At this point I decided to load it back on the trailer and have it checked out.

Could this be the bellows gone bad and if so how difficult is it to fix.

I would appreciate any advice I can get. The boat ran like a champ all day Saturday.

 

[Don S]

Re: Taking On Water

Could be anything, where exactly is the water coming from. Pictures are a good thing.

 

[mcvette]

Re: Taking On Water

Don't have any pictures yet but the water appeared to be coming out at the rear of the engine on the starboard side.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Taking On Water

Have the main bellows and shift boot ever been replaced?

 

[mcvette]

Re: Taking On Water

Dropped the boat off at the shop this morning. As I was unhitiching the trailer from the car the guy asked why I was there. He said let me go back here and take a look. Imediatly he said " here is the problem, a hole in the shift boot ". So, he is going to change that, the drive and exhaust bellows.

Hopefully that will resolve the problem and give me peace of mind this weekend.