Sinking Feeling!

S

spj

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Joined
Aug 23, 2009
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31662
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I get to my boat this weekend and step un the swim platform, and my bilge pump goes off. It is not uncommon for that to happen, but it seems that the pump ran longer then normal.

When I opened the engine hatch and I can hear running water. I ask my wife if she is using the head, Nope.

I start looking around and above the starboard drive shaft I have a pencil size stream of water coming in, not hard but very steady.

After watching and checking the bilge pump, I decide to keep it at my slip for the weekend and take it to the marina Sunday night.

I was more comfortable staying with the boat where I could keep an eye on thing, knowing that the marina could not pull it until Monday.

I dropped the boat at the gas dock, last night, and spoke with the marina this morning, it is still floating fine and they should have it pulled today, and go from there.

Two most likly scenarios, are problem from the newly installed bellows (July) or a stick went thru the bellows.

Hopefully they can have me back in the water by Saturday.

NOTHING sucks more then hearing and or seeing water on the wrong side of the hull!
 
Ahh, you are wrong. It sucks worse to come to the boat and see you lines underwater still tied to the boat. I would have done the exact same. Do you get barnicles in your neck of the woods? Or the clamp may have shifted.
Sorry to hear but it could have been much worse. Good luck in your repair.
 
Froggy,

Yea just seeing the dock lines would have been a whole lot worse!!!!!

No barnicles hear, fresh water. Hopefully just the clamp, I just hope no damage from the water in the bellows. The marina, that does my work can only pull at high tide, so I have to wait until later this afternoon for them to pull it. They said they will try to have it back to me by friday!
 
don't more boats sink at the dock than anywhere else?
 
Only ONE bilge pump in the ER? I wouldn't rely on just one ... What kind of drive?
 
That's what the hole over the driveshaft is for. To see if there is water in the bellows. Also when the drive was reinstalled the large rubber o-ring gasket could have been distorted. Every time I open my engine cover to check the oil I check that hole. After I have removed the drive for service and reinstalled it I check that hole daily for several days. It's not hard to damage the gasket. I've done it. Mine is an '88 alpha 1.
 
Pocket Change or any others If you have a pic can u you post it to show where this view hole is over the drive shaft on an Alpha 1? I was never familiar with this way of seeing if water is leaking into the bellows. I think my bellows are good but I would like to know how to do this.
 
Look behind the motor directly above the drive shaft. The hole is in the inner transom plate, in the center right over the shaft. You might have to wipe grease or dirt off to see the hole. If the drive is off you can see it right above the gimbal bearing inside the bellows. If you have a leak it will be very visible when you look behind the motor.
 
Alright thanks for the info I will give it a whirl... Wish I was shorter and skinner seems like a hard place to access but hell everything on this boat is!
 
Pascal,

Twin Alpha 1 drives. One of the many projects on my list is to add a second bilge pump. Biggest fear/problem is where/how to mount it. I hate the idea of putting screw holes in the bilge. The output does not bother me,it will be above the water line. Also my intention is to mount the switch for this one higher so they do not compete with each other.

Pocket Change, I learned something new this weekend. I did not know that the hole was there to check. Is there one for the shift cable bellows?
 
a second bilge puump should be mounted higher, so you dont' need to drill in the bottom... you can mount it on the side of a stringer. you want it to be a back up, in case the primary fails or can't keep up. feed it from a differetn battery.

that's one of the multiple reasons I hate Mercruiser/Mercury products... there is no reason for a failed bellow to sink a boat, even as far back as the 80s, volvo made an outdrive with proper seals so that water in the bellows could not get in the boat!
 
quote:
Originally posted by spj

Pascal,

Twin Alpha 1 drives. One of the many projects on my list is to add a second bilge pump. Biggest fear/problem is where/how to mount it. I hate the idea of putting screw holes in the bilge. The output does not bother me,it will be above the water line. Also my intention is to mount the switch for this one higher so they do not compete with each other.

Pocket Change, I learned something new this weekend. I did not know that the hole was there to check. Is there one for the shift cable bellows?

Click to expand...

No there isn't a weep hole at the shift cable bellows, only the drive shaft bellows.
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

a second bilge puump should be mounted higher, so you dont' need to drill in the bottom... you can mount it on the side of a stringer. you want it to be a back up, in case the primary fails or can't keep up. feed it from a differetn battery.

that's one of the multiple reasons I hate Mercruiser/Mercury products... there is no reason for a failed bellow to sink a boat, even as far back as the 80s, volvo made an outdrive with proper seals so that water in the bellows could not get in the boat!

Click to expand...

Pascal are you aware that Volvo currently has a recall on their outdrives due to water intrusion?
Bill
 
I'd also add that a self powered bilge alarm is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
 
Well every manufacturer has had a manufacturing issue or two... But a design where a leak thru a thin rubber below can sink a boat is a lousy one!

How many merc powered boats have sunk because of leaky bellows? How many volvos for comparisons
 
Bill - Do you have a link to the Volvo drive recall for water intrusion? I have a Volvo drive. Want to make sure it has not been recalled.
 
http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=123733 The drives are the XPD/OSI composites. The threads a bit old but I just read in one of the boating magazines there is some kind of class action filing on this. The above link is from an older thread here on BE.
Bill
 
A quick update. the water hose from the outdrive into the trasnsom, is so stiff when I trim the drive all the way up (trailer)position it is rubbing on the bellows and pulling on it. It pulled the bellows off the mounting surface. (I know my terms suck) The marina fixed it, I am back in the water, and will replace the hose over the winter.

I will also move my boat to a deeper slip so I do not have to trim up! Where I am now at low tide, sometimes my drives hit the bottom.
 
FYI for those that want to add a second bilge pump: Get a "Z" shaped piece of stainless steel or plastic. Mount the bilge pump to the lower leg. then screw the upper leg into the top of your stringer. Now you dont have to drill holes in the bilge.
 
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