Water leak to the bilge from transom please help

[Kubaat3lover]

Hi friends,
Finally boat on the water but I’ve noticed water leak, I don’t know if it was last year because always I had some water in the bilge. this year I’ve noticed some leak from the transom.
It’s getting from where the bolt is visible I think
Is it bellows or something more serious??

Its alpha one gen 2, 4.3L Mercruiser,
My boat sits in the water in marina and I’m quite afraid on that

 

[achris]

If it's not coming from higher up and pooling there, the most likely thing that would cause water to get in at that point is the main gimbal housing to transom seal.

Unfortunately the only fix for that is drive off, engine out, transom housing off.

Chris.....

 

[Kubaat3lover]

I don’t know, it’s difficult to see something there, to take this picture and even notice the leak I had to crawl and use phone… do you have any other ideas Chris how to check it?
What do you think Maybe bellows?? Maybe hole under the anodes under the trim hoses ?
I’ve just slipped boat and I’m afraid of that because she’s in the water for the summer ….

 

[achris]

Very unlikely the bellows... It might be the gasket under the trim hose manifold. Even for that you're going to need to pull the boat out.

 

[Chris1956]

I do not like the look of those cracks in the transom fiberglass. How old is the boat?

 

[achris]

I do not like the look of those cracks in the transom fiberglass. How old is the boat?

I don't think they're cracks. I think they're the black 'brush spray' the glassers put on after the flowcoat.

 

[Kubaat3lover]

I don’t think it’s crack, boat is 2005 Caravelle

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Guys please tell me what to do now… wait till winter and enjoy the rest of the summer finally Or…? I live in Europe and it’s rare to find good mechanic. I will have to figure it out by myself with your help as always.

 

[Scott06]

Guys please tell me what to do now… wait till winter and enjoy the rest of the summer finally Or…? I live in Europe and it’s rare to find good mechanic. I will have to figure it out by myself with your help as always.

If you can i would keep it on a trailer vs leave it in the water, use it this summer and fix over winter.
in theory you Keep an eye on it if u leave in the water but that would worry me Unless there is someone to watch it daily….then make sure your bilge pump works and you have a charger for battery… but that seems risky.

you should get a endoscope camera or attachment for your phone to really get in there and see where water is coming in Before yanking the engine. Would hate to remove engine to find out its the bellows…

 

[Stinnett21]

From the looks of the pic it's a constant flow. Agree that the only way to use the boat the rest of the season is to trailer it. Even then, as Scott says, double check that your water extraction system, i.e. bilge pump, battery, etc., is running top notch. I would also carry a hand held manual bilge pump as a backup.

 

[Kubaat3lover]

It might be quite difficult/impossible to use boat on the trailer…
How to check if it’s bellows or transom?Quadring ?
I have boat for 5 years and I haven’t replaced it yet, doesn’t look bad for me but .. who knows
When fully up I can see only the water hose is cracked .

 

[achris]

How to check if it’s bellows or transom?Quadring ?

Put the boat on a trailer or dolly, put enough (fresh) water in the bilge to come up to the level of the leak. Go to the outside of the boat and see where the water is coming out.

I doubt you'll be able to find the leak with the boat in the water, you need to haul it out.

Chris.....

 

[Kubaat3lover]

From what I have noticed from other videos I can see the water is cumulating where I’ve marked with red
The boat is not That old… you Can see old Bayliners from 80/90 still crusin…

 

[achris]

Then that's probably the hydraulic manifold gasket.

I know you're trying to avoid pulling the boat out of the water, but I don't thing you can. Leave it in the water and risk a pump or battery failure and come back to find the boat flooded.

If it were mine I'd have it on a trailer in the next day or so...

But ultimately, it's your choice...

Chris....

 

[Kubaat3lover]

I will do it tommorow… do You know the procedure for replacement That gasket? Ill give it a try If its possible to do it on the trailer ??

I have replaced shift shaft bushing and seals and new impeller before putting to the water

How about upper pin seal? Is it possible to leak?

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Should i Put some marine sealant on the new gasket under this trim hoses Or aviation gasket? Replacement is Just unscrewing the nuts,pulling down, cleaning and new gasket in? Thanks

Can it be shifter bellow?

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Here’s the video I made while on a bot you can see in full screen the water leak when it comes…I’ll try to sneak some go pro camera maybe tomorrow to see what’s going on…

Bellows? Y-pipe?? Gasket under Trim hoses?? Shifter Bellows?
I’m not sure if I can fill bilge with water to that level and check from outside?

 

[Bt Doctur]

could be:
bottom of exaust Y pipe
hyd manifold gasket
corroded hole

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Is there solution to find the leak somehow by filling boat with water? Where to look for

 

[Kubaat3lover]

short Update, Weird. i was on the boat, i did even short trip but the leak stopped somehow, water level was almost the same as ive left the boat.
Ill keep an eye on that…
The worst thing is I am not able to reach or even find transom nuts in the starboard side…
I bought trim Manifold gasket Just in case.

Best regards