Water in Bilge? Where can it come from.......

[ltklein]

Let someone chime in if they think this is a bad plan. I had an 85 Chris Craft and I changed all bellows, the drain plug, etc. Still had a small leak. I like no leaks..

I just couldn't see it on the lake so back on the driveway, I put a block under the tongue jack and jacked it up as high as I could. I put a hose in it and filled the back up as far as I dared (it had been well flooded in the past). I kept. Then I lifted and twisted the drive and behold...a small river of water showed up from the transom seal. Easier to see outside than inside and it was likely flexing under power but sealed at rest.

Even if you get no leaks, you will then know a few things that it isn't...

 

[JASinIL2006]

I think intentionally filling a boat with water, particularly a fiberglass boat, is a horrible idea. Not only are you failing to recreate the conditions under which the boat is leaking, you are potentially introducing water to all sorts of places that would be better staying dry. I would never advocate this approach.

Getting the boat on the water and using a smartphone or GoPro camera can help you get a view of places not easily seen. A smartphone on a selfie stick is pretty useful in this regard.

 

[vandentr]

Ok, thanks for the feedback,
So this got me thinking, it's a 35 year boat, and the best way to find out what's going on is to have the motor pulled and look at the transom and other parts and pieces. I assume a boat with 1000 hrs on it would need some work...

I tried all of the tricks, but there simply wasn't enough room or light down low and under the Y-pipe connection to get a good visual, not to mention the movement of the boat in the water and all of the variables that throws into the mix plus the fact that the bilge area was already nasty from years of neglect by the previous owner(s).

If you know it's coming in from the transom area, but can't hear it or see it coming in from the top looking down into the coupler area between the engine and the transom, you've pretty much ruled out any major failures of the water hose connection, upper steering shaft, or drive and shift bellows.

The only things left are the Y-Pipe connection or transom plate seal, which are nearly impossible to thoroughly inspect with the engine in your way.

If you really want to feel the blood drain out of your face, check out my story: Sea Ray Rebuild

 

[Fiat4Fun]

Wow,
That Sea Ray is one lucky girl getting all that attention. I hope this one is not that far gone. I love your advice, I doubt I would take that on......
Just finding someone to pull the motor and see where I am is looking to be tricky, no one around here is willing to work on old boats.........
Going to reassemble the exhaust this week, then get her in the water this weekend,,,,, Might try to drop my goPro down there to see if I can see anything......

 

[poconojoe]

No chance it's just from the boat getting rained on?
Where is it kept?
Is it protected by a good cover with no pooling of water occurring?

 

[Fiat4Fun]

I wish it was from rain, or even the ice chest,,,,,, It has a good cover, and I always open up the engine when i start it in the water, just to make sure nothing is near the moving parts of the motor. It goes in the water dry, then after being in the water for 2-3 hours, I have water in the bilge. Enough that when I start the bilge pump, water comes out. It has not getting so much water that the pump comes on automatically
I am convinced it's under the driveline, since everything else looks dry, Many years ago I had a rip in the u-joint bellows, and I could see water then...... I thought it might be the power steering cooler, but that seems dry too. I did hit a rock with the prop many years ago, broke the lower unit, so maybe that dislodged the transom seal? A few have just said run it like it is and don't worry about it. I am nervous that it could be doing more damage to the boat if I don't find out where it is coming from........