very dumb question

[krazylegs]

I have an AQ 190 Stern drive with a Ford 302 motor and Volvo 270 outdrive tri- hull boat- don't know the name of the manufacturer.

I'm in a wheelchair and since I've owned this boat, I've learned to wait until the boat is started and running smoothly before making the transfer into the drivers seat. while the boat was running, I looked down at the outdrive (checking the new bellows) and found that the whole outdrive was in the water, not just the lower, but the upper as well- I mean all of it including the top where the dipstick is to check the fluid in the outdrive.

Is this normal? I know it's a stupid question (at least, that's how I feel) but it didn't look right to me. But, then again, I'm a newbie still- 3 years plus working on the boat (notice I didn't say driving the boat). Any help would be great. Krazy

 

[captmello]

Re: very dumb question

no, they are not intended to be completely submerged. I'm not sure its damaging, but you may need to investigate further.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: very dumb question

Can you get some help with a pump or bucket to empty out the engine compartment to see if it will empty or just fill back up?

Mark

BTW: in my book this is not a stupid question at all. Now the ones that drag on for days and weeks and with multiple threads with the "what about this boat", "what about that boat", "my wife doesnt like it because....", "my husband doesnt like it because.....", "I have friends who have never owned a boat but say......" ..now those are borderline.

 

[krazylegs]

Re: very dumb question

no, they are not intended to be completely submerged. I'm not sure its damaging, but you may need to investigate further.

DAMN, this is not good at all- holy !@#$

 

[krazylegs]

Re: very dumb question

Can you get some help with a pump or bucket to empty out the engine compartment to see if it will empty or just fill back up?

Mark

BTW: in my book this is not a stupid question at all. Now the ones that drag on for days and weeks and with multiple threads with the "what about this boat", "what about that boat", "my wife doesnt like it because....", "my husband doesnt like it because.....", "I have friends who have never owned a boat but say......" ..now those are borderline.

But when we pulled the plug, no water came out. So, what could be the problem?

 

[MarkSee]

Re: very dumb question

Is the boat out of the water now on a trailer, no bilge plug in but the bilge is full of water?
Trying to understand what the situation is right now.

Mark

 

[southkogs]

Re: very dumb question

... this is in a tri-hull, so what year is the sterndrive? I'm assuming early 70's?

I only ask because on the older OMC's the stern drive is COMPLETELY submerged and it's supposed to be that way. The older Volvos have always looked to sit low on the transom too. The experts can pitch in a little better than I can, but if you don't have water coming outta' the bilge pump and aren't draining after ya' put it back on the trailer we probably don't need to panic just yet.

... figure it out before you launch it again obviously, but don't panic yet.

 

[krazylegs]

Re: very dumb question

Is the boat out of the water now on a trailer, no bilge plug in but the bilge is full of water?
Trying to understand what the situation is right now.

Mark

The boat is out of the water on a trailer.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: very dumb question

So in looking into the engine compartment right now, does it have standing water?....appear bone dry?....a little wet?

Mark

 

[Silvertip]

Re: very dumb question

And is the bow of the boat higher than the stern. Obviously if the boat is parked bow-low, any water that is in the boat is in the bow so you likely would not see it. If the bow is high, then any water would be at the stern. It may also be that the boat is simply water logged and full of water soaked foam. That can add lots of weight.

 

[QC]

Re: very dumb question

Why does anyone think there is water inside the boat? The OP doesn't mention that. And we don't even know what boat here. Single screw I/Os in large hulls indeed sit low. There is no rule that says they cannot be submerged. This thread has gone whacko . . .

1) What boat?

2) Pics?

Edit: I just looked at every pic I could find of an I/O in the water. All of them the top of the drive is submerged. Not the transom plate, but the point he is speaking of with the dipstick is the top of the drive unit itself. The top of my Bravo is submerged. Look at any I/O boat with a swimstep. The step is often right on the water line and the drive sits under that.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: very dumb question

This thread has gone whacko . . .

Not quite sure why you would think that as originally there were some assumptions on it being underwater there were several questions (posts #8 and 11 on my part) asked to the OP on what the status is and if there is any water at all to try and help him.
He has yet to respond to those questions but maybe he'll respond to yours needing to know what boat it is and pictures.

Mark

 

[QC]

Re: very dumb question

Sorry Mark, but many are trying to get water out of the hull, and he never said he had water in the hull . . . I don't get it. Except maybe the dipstick comment. This dipstick is on the drive, outside of the boat.

Take a reread of his first post. He is asking how low should the drive be in the water. And he is looking from outside of the boat. I don't think there is anything wrong and now he thinks he has serious issues.

 

[krazylegs]

Re: very dumb question

Sorry Mark, but many are trying to get water out of the hull, and he never said he had water in the hull . . . I don't get it. Except maybe the dipstick comment. This dipstick is on the drive, outside of the boat.

Take a reread of his first post. He is asking how low should the drive be in the water. And he is looking from outside of the boat. I don't think there is anything wrong and now he thinks he has serious issues.

Bingo, winner winner chicken dinner- for all comments. The upper and lower are infact supposed to be submurged. I spoke to my boat mechanic and he confirmed that all is fine.

Disclaimer- please just try to understand that I've been through hell and back several times with this boat (check out previous posts if you would like) and I just assumed the worst. What else can go wrong? Everything- But in this current situation, the only thing left that I have to address is the overheating issue, and Don has already got me well on my way. Thanks again for all the posts. Krazy.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: very dumb question

Sorry Mark, but many are trying to get water out of the hull, and he never said he had water in the hull . . . I don't get it. Except maybe the dipstick comment. This dipstick is on the drive, outside of the boat.

Take a reread of his first post. He is asking how low should the drive be in the water. And he is looking from outside of the boat. I don't think there is anything wrong and now he thinks he has serious issues.

Double Bingo!

Check out this BoatTest. (Skip ahead to 5:30)
The Alpha 1 Out-drive is 100% completely under water when stopped.

This is NOT the Engine Oil Dipstick.
The Early Alpha 1 out-drives had a dipstick built into the top of the upper unit to check the level of the Drive Lube.
Later model have the monitor bottle mounted on the engine block.

 

[Don S]

Re: very dumb question

The OP does not have a Mercruiser, he has a Volvo 270. Mercruiser rules do not apply.

On the Volvo 270 outdrives, the top cap of the drive (with the dipstick) and the steering fork where it goes through the transom shield are supposed to be out of the water. That is so you can check your gear lube while in the water, and the steering fork is not designed to be water tight when submerged. There is a V ring that keeps splashes out, but it doesn't work under water.

If the boat had been designed where the drive would have set that low in the water, the transom cutout would have been raised and spacers between the lower and intermediate housing installed to keep thing high enough.

 

[RyanSS]

Re: very dumb question

Which is why everyone was asking about water INSIDE the boat....because SOMETHING is causing the boat to sit low in the water. Like extra water weight INSIDE the boat, could be soaked foam.

 

[krazylegs]

Re: very dumb question

Which is why everyone was asking about water INSIDE the boat....because SOMETHING is causing the boat to sit low in the water. Like extra water weight INSIDE the boat, could be soaked foam.

I don't think that it's soaked foam.

1- the boat stays in the dry garage all winter long

2- the boat is broken down so much there's not much time on the water to soak the foam

 

[krazylegs]

Re: very dumb question

The OP does not have a Mercruiser, he has a Volvo 270. Mercruiser rules do not apply.

On the Volvo 270 outdrives, the top cap of the drive (with the dipstick) and the steering fork where it goes through the transom shield are supposed to be out of the water. That is so you can check your gear lube while in the water, and the steering fork is not designed to be water tight when submerged. There is a V ring that keeps splashes out, but it doesn't work under water.

If the boat had been designed where the drive would have set that low in the water, the transom cutout would have been raised and spacers between the lower and intermediate housing installed to keep thing high enough.

THIS- is what I was really worried about. If I could just find the damn elusive picture of a 270 outdrive in the water submurged or not that could answer my question. I don't think I'm out of the woods yet on this by a long shot. But, I just don't know for certain where it should be. Don, is dead on with his comment about being able to check the oil in the outdrive while on the water. Scratching my chin here, and don't know what to do. I've been looking everywhere, other websites are garbage compared to this one. any advise or just take it out and pull the plug?

 

[QC]

Re: very dumb question

If I could just find the damn elusive picture of a 270 outdrive in the water submurged or not that could answer my question.

Found one. Here of course:

http://forums.iboats.com/volvo-pent...tdrives/1982-bayliner-volvo-270-a-391546.html