Sinking boat

E

entilzah

Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2004
RO Number
15624
Messages
17
I have a 1987 Bayliner Capri with OMC cobra I/O and a 250 hp 305 GM engine, everytime we take it out to the water it begins to fill up with water. I have been told three different things as to what might be the problem is and was hoping someone here could help me out. The three things are that the keel needs to be repaired which is around $300 or the transom to outboard seal is leaking which is about the same price and finally the problem might be a gimbal bearing seal. Any idea as to how I can determine which of the three it is would be greatly appreciated.
 
Yes. You need to get down in there and look while the water's coming in.
You need a Buddy to run the boat while you look.
A good light, good eyes, and be calm about the water coming in.
Do you have a good pump on board?
If not, get one before you go out again.
1200 or 1500 GPM.

you dont say how long the boat is? Is it on a trailer?
Does the water come in while your underway?
When you stop?
Slowly oozing in or coming in at a noise gusher?
How do you get the water out?
Drain it?
Where does it come out?
Along the keel?
Down under the transome?
Is this something new?
Just start happening?
Is the boat new to you?
You didnt' put your homeport in there.
Could you answer the question with as little information as you provided?
 
Bet you're going to find a soft transom and the water is leaking around the seal on the transom assembly. Seen that happen many times on the older Bayliners. To see if the transom is soft, raise the outdrive and push down on it really hard while someone watches for flexing of the transom.
 
I've had two Bayliner's of that vintage, and they both leaked. Check all over while in the water and while running on place. But be careful!
 
Do a systematic search. Hoses, outdrive bellows, transom seal, any thru hulls, shift cable hose, all have been known to cause problems.
 
If it's on a trailer fill the bilge and as much of the hull as you can.. Then look under the boat. If the keel is leaking I would think you would see it for some time after the boat was hauled? No?
 
The boat is a 17ft it is on a trailer right now, the water does not seem to come in while on plane. The boat is new to me, the bilge pump (750 gph) keeps up with the water intake. The boat does not suck water through engine as I have had it running on the trailer hooked up to the "ear muffs" and no water leaks in. I have looked while we run the boat and have never actually seen water coming in the bilge area just fills with water while stationary. I have replaced the exhaust bellows as I was told before that might be it but it made no change to problem.
 
OK, sorry about that, but I work with computers everyday, and sometimes have to ask the stupid questions like, "Is it plugged in?"
 
quote:
Originally posted by STEELA

If it's on a trailer fill the bilge and as much of the hull as you can.. Then look under the boat. If the keel is leaking I would think you would see it for some time after the boat was hauled? No?

Click to expand...


I have seen this done with some success. You have new bellows, be sure the shift boot is OK..You may be leaking high on the transom seal, and it is hard to see...look for rust and follow...been there done that with a 21 foot capri after I bumped (slammed) a rock..
 
It leaks while it's setting in the water, not under way?

OK, is this with a load on board?
With you guys in it?
But you still cant see where it's coming in?

If this is a Cored Construction boat you may have a crack opening somewhere when all the weight is in the stern with the passenges and engine in the back.
On the plany, the leak will be above the water line.
That should be a hint for where to look.
That shifting bellows sounds like a good place to look.
 
You know what, I have seen leaks around the flange where the plug goes in to. That bronze fitting(should be bronze) sometimes becomes loose.
I assume you don't have any thru hulls for live well or wash down. Start with "man-made holes" first.

I've heard about people screwing their bilge pump to the bottom of the boat only to screw right thru the boat.
 
While stationary the boat leaks even with no passengers, it has a cabin in the front (smaaaaaallll)
so it is quite heavy.
 
While stationary the boat leaks even with no passengers, it has a cabin in the front (smaaaaaallll)
so it is quite heavy.
 
I put the plug in and started to fill the boat with water today, it did not take much water until I found the leak, it is leaking between the transom and the outdrive. I assume this is a good indication of the transom seal being the culprit. Does this sound correct to any of you?
 
yes, it makes sense... glad you found it. the key to troubleshooting water intrusion is to take it step by step and eliminate things one by one... ex... does it leak when sitting or runing. engine off or on. coming from the stern or further forward, etc...

exhaust bellow should not let water in, but the main bellow on Merc (and maybe OMC i dont' know) will.

for safety's sake,get a second bilge pump in there.. a 1500. pumps are rated with no head pressure (height between pump and thru hull), at full voltage and with smooth hose. a 750 is probably pumping out 400 or 500 in the real world.

good luck with the repairs.
 
I'm glad you found the leak and that it'll likely be a fairly simple repair as compared to what it MIGHT have been. Makes me now wonder though who gave you the original list of 3 possible problems? The one I worry most about is the TRANSOM REPAIR ( ?? ) complete with estimate of about $300.00 to repair?????...THAT one makes me wonder. Who in the world gave you THAT possible problem? I find it hard to believe that anyone could estimate THAT repair without looking at it first.......and had they been at all knowledgable they would have seen that THAT wasn't the problem. $300.00 for a Transom Repair as would have possibly been reqired to repair THAT type of leak seems ALOT unreasonable to me ( on the low side )

Also....Just for your own future reference should you want to do any future repairs on the engine etc. yourself....I'm 99.9999999% sure that there isn't any such thing as a 305 with 350hp. You've probably either got a 305 with 230hp or a 350 with 260 hp.
You might want to find out for sure what you have there because finding engine parts might become a problem down the road only because no-one will be able to look up a non-existent combination.
 
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