Water in the Bilges

[danbhoy1888]

I have just bought my first boat with sterndrive a Bayliner 2255 with 4.3l Mercruiser and Alpha Leg, all my other boats have either been Outboards or Inboard with stern gland.
The other boats if I had water in the bilges I knew where it was from.
What I want to know should there be any water seepage on stern drives . I put my boat in the Marina a couple of weeks ago and I have some water in the bilges, it may just be rainwater but I would just like to know if the seal or anywhere else on the outdrive lets any water in.The outdrive and seals were replaced a couple of seasons ago so they are in good condition.

 

[sailorman]

I have just bought my first boat with sterndrive a Bayliner 2255 with 4.3l Mercruiser and Alpha Leg, all my other boats have either been Outboards or Inboard with stern gland.
The other boats if I had water in the bilges I knew where it was from.
What I want to know should there be any water seepage on stern drives . I put my boat in the Marina a couple of weeks ago and I have some water in the bilges, it may just be rainwater but I would just like to know if the seal or anywhere else on the outdrive lets any water in.The outdrive and seals were replaced a couple of seasons ago so they are in good condition.

have you tasted the water

 

[trying]

If all is well no you shouldn't get water in via the transom mount.

Obviously it is possible if there is something amiss.

I would try drying / cleaning up and then trying to find where the water is coming from.

(Hopefully) you'll find it is rainwater.

 

[spannerman]

Its not unknown for Mercruiser transom shields to leak throught the pivot pin on the steering gimbal, I have overhauled about 15 of these, and have another one to do as my boat has started leaking!
If you put the steering on full lock to port and look at the back of the engine where the steering arm comes through the transom, you can see if seawater is trickling in past the pin.
Unfortunately its a big job, engine and transom out as these are the first two pieces you put together in the whole driveline. The seal is mounted the wrong way in engineering terms with the lips facing inwards away from the sea, I install the new one the other way round and also drill a hole throught the transom shield and fit a grease nipple as the original mercruiser shields had, so you can pump some grease in behind the seal onto the pin, they don't leak after that.
If it is leaking there then thats the only remedy as eventually you will get corrosion problems around the back of the engine with the steady influx of saltwater.

 

[paultallett]

I have just bought my first boat with sterndrive a Bayliner 2255 with 4.3l Mercruiser and Alpha Leg, all my other boats have either been Outboards or Inboard with stern gland.
The other boats if I had water in the bilges I knew where it was from.
What I want to know should there be any water seepage on stern drives . I put my boat in the Marina a couple of weeks ago and I have some water in the bilges, it may just be rainwater but I would just like to know if the seal or anywhere else on the outdrive lets any water in.The outdrive and seals were replaced a couple of seasons ago so they are in good condition.

Hi,

If it is a steering seal leak as Spannerman has discribed, I can vouch for what a big job it is. I had this when we fisrt bought our boat, but luckily my surveyor picked it up and we got the job done as part of the sale conditions!!

As other have said, taste the water because it could be from the fresh water system, dry the bilge completely and see if you can trace the leak. If it is the steering seal leaking and your in salt water, where the steering arm dissappears throught the transom plate, you should see a tell tale of salt around there where it drips on to the transom plate.

Good luck with it and let us know what you find.

Paul.

 

[danbhoy1888]

Thanks for the advice, I will check it out as suggested and find out if it is seawater or rain water it's not from the fresh water system because the tank is not in place at present.
I will let you know how I get on.

 

[tinkicker0]

Check the carpet in front of the transom for dampness. If it feels wet, that is where the scuppers for the cockpit drains into the bilge are located.

And no, as the others have said, if the bellows and seals are ok, you will not get a drop of water through the transom shield.

Make sure that all the raw water hoses and water elbow joints are water tight too.

 

[danbhoy1888]

Removed all water from the bilges about 4/5 litres,tasted water and it is fresh not salt checked transom area no sign of dried salt, carpets are dry there is a small rust stain on the transom that I will keep an eye on for leaks other than that everything looks ok.
There was a new gearbox fitted in 2007 and a new leg gasket was fitted last year during servicing so all parts in transom area including hoses are in good condition.
I am hoping that the water may have got in while the boat was on the trailer before I launched her. Thanks for all the help guys I will keep you informed of any developements.