Troublesome leak in 73 Tsunami

Entourage · #1 06-26-2009, 07:55 PM

Brand new scuppers, removed through hull transducers and still have water getting into my bilge in my 73 tsunami with 350 MPI mercuiser, Bravo 1 Outdrive. Does anyone have any suggestions on where the water can be coming from? It is not coming in from the air vents cause there was no waves the last time i took it out. Is there a place where water can be getting in from that i can't see. The motor is not fresh water cooled. The motor only has 30 hrs on it and the water in the bilge is driving me crazy. Any help on this issue would be appreciated.

Dilligaf · #2 06-26-2009, 08:48 PM

what shape are the bellows in???

abl1111 · #3 06-26-2009, 10:10 PM

Is it fresh or salt water ?

Is it in the bilge or pooling on the outside of the stringers and overflowing into the bilge ?

If fresh water - could be leaking from the brass tubes that drain from the transom ice boxes... I had a leak there - it's a high flex spot, the flange and sealant gets loose and water can get in through there.

Also, check your washdown hose connections - under pressure they could be leaking...

Entourage · #4 06-27-2009, 04:33 PM

It is saltwater cooled, there is no washdown in the boat. I think i am going to have to check the bellows. The water is in the bilge.

McGillicuddy · #5 06-28-2009, 12:08 AM

if the scuppers were leaking it's likely that the drain plug tube and or live well tube may also be leaking...might check the bow-eye, too. Mine was loose when I bought it. Had to reseal and re tighten...

rockdoc · #6 06-28-2009, 11:13 AM

I'd fill the bilge with water while the boat is dry and on a trailer, and see if any leaks out anywhere.

I'd definitely check the bellows too.

Entourage, I saw what had to be your boat being trailered across a bridge going over 195 friday afternoon as I was driving east under the bridge!

Steve

oldfielder · #7 06-28-2009, 01:53 PM

These old girls spring leaks all over the place. If you have a forward fish box, or any kind of drain in the front-that spot is really vulnerable because there is a gap between the hull and liner and that sucker takes a lot of stress. They put some putty around it originally but that stuff gets pretty brittle.
I guess you need to figure out if it's sweet water or salty.
I had a leak that used to drive me nuts. I thought it was a bilge outlet, scupper, ........
It wound up being slight delamination where the side vent was in the stern. Water was creeping around the vent and down into the hull. Some 5200 and a few screws and I was good to go.I found it by getting someone to spray the crap out of the vulnerable spots with a hose while I stayed in the bilge with a flashlight. It definitely helps to start with a dry bilge. Mirrors are good friends too.
One other suspicious place for me has been when I had a few guys fishing in pretty good chop in Montauk and the pumps were kicking on more than I was happy with . It turns out that water was coming in and down into the bilge through my bilge outlet. A riser loop solved that one.
Good luck

oldfielder · #8 06-28-2009, 01:56 PM

Another good one, come to think of it. When I pulled my motor and then dropped it back in, the coupler must have hung up for a minute on the nylon, crappy water tube that comes through the transom assembly. I was pumped to put the boat back in, went to the ramp, opened the engine box, lo and behold, the bilge was filling up with water. Fun, fu, fun.

Entourage · #9 06-28-2009, 09:07 PM

Yes this sounds more like it. It can't be the bellows i looked at them real quick the other day and they are brand new. The motor only has 30 hrs on it and i trailer the boat. I just can't figure this one out. I will have to check it out again when i get my patients back. In the mean time i'm going for bass with my outboard sceptre.