My boat is taking on water!! Help!!

[rash_decision]

Hi all. I'm wondering if anyone can give me any advice? I had a 21' Caravelle motor boat, with a 4.3l Volvo Penta inboard engine, and it's taking water in around the transom. I've had someone take a half hearted look at it, said they'd come back, but never! I'm pretty sure the transom is fine. The water came in when I was beached, and the leg was on the bottom of Loch Lomond. My nephew and his friend sat on the rear of the boat, and the water came rushing in! It seems to me like they put weight on the boat, pushing the leg upwards, opening a gap up somewhere. Does anyone know if there is a gasket or any type of seal behind the transom plate?

I'm tempted to tip the boat up in the air (bow up!), and fill the bilge with water, and see where it's coming out! If it's getting in, it's gotta come out! Lol.

Any advice appreciated. Cheers!

[danyeates]

I'm no sterndrive expert (we specialise in outboards), but it may be split bellows

[danyeates]

rash_decision said:

I'm tempted to tip the boat up in the air (bow up!), and fill the bilge with water, and see where it's coming out! If it's getting in, it's gotta come out! Lol.

That's what we do at work if there's a boat taking on water through the bilge.

[King Herald]

There will be a big rubber seal where the stern drive pierces the transom. I'd guess that has torn/rotted. The only option is to get it out of the water, as mentioned, and change the seal.

[tr7v8]

Could be the bellows or could be the exhaust bellows & connectors.

[rash_decision]

Thanks for the replies.

The boat is already out the water and on the driveway, unfortunately!

I've checked the bellows, at the drive/gimbal (?) and the gear cable, and they looked fine. I've been told that exhaust bellows would not allow water into the bilge by a few folk??

I have a gut feeling that it's going to be the seal between the transom plate and the transom, purely based on the water ingress speeding up with weight/pressure on the leg. I think I will tip it up and fill it with water though to check.

Has anyone changed this before? I've never worked on a boat before, but it doesn't look all that difficult. I'm guessing it's a rubber/cork gasket with some sealant??

[Simpo Two]

Well I don't have an outdrive, just shaft drive, but it seems odd to me to fill one's boat with water to see where it comes out. I'd rather lower the boat gently into the water and see where it comes in...

Talc is useful for tracing slow leaks - I've traced rainwater ingress and drinking water leaks so far; luckily the underneath is dry.

[Fishtigua]

There are 3 possibilities.

First, bellows as mentioned.

Second, the 2 big rubber doughnut seals either side of the transom.

Third, the water inlet pipe to the saltwater pump.

[Fishtigua]

No.68 are the 2 rubber rings.

Check the water inlet hose that mounts on the top of the drive.

If you have any problems, please PM me. This is what I for a living.

http://www.marinepartseurope.com/en/volvo-penta-ex...

[rash_decision]

Fishtigua said:

No.68 are the 2 rubber rings.

Check the water inlet hose that mounts on the top of the drive.

If you have any problems, please PM me. This is what I for a living.

http://www.marinepartseurope.com/en/volvo-penta-ex...

Thanks for the diagram. That helps me a lot with the whereabouts and set up of the rubber ring, and the sealing strip that runs around the outside of the transom plate. I guess I'd need to remove the engine to replace the inner one? Would I be able to replace the outer rubber ring and sealing strip, and seal with an industrial grade silicone type sealant, rather than remove the engine? I know this isn't exactly a good repair, but just thinking that this may work, as if water isn't passing the outer seal, in theory, the inner seal(s) shouldn't really need to "work" as such??

Can you point me in the direction of the water hose you mention? I can't seem to find it on the diagram? The only water intake I was aware of was through the leg.

Cheers.

[Fishtigua]

rash_decision said:

Fishtigua said:

No.68 are the 2 rubber rings.

Check the water inlet hose that mounts on the top of the drive.

If you have any problems, please PM me. This is what I for a living.

http://www.marinepartseurope.com/en/volvo-penta-ex...

Thanks for the diagram. That helps me a lot with the whereabouts and set up of the rubber ring, and the sealing strip that runs around the outside of the transom plate. I guess I'd need to remove the engine to replace the inner one? Would I be able to replace the outer rubber ring and sealing strip, and seal with an industrial grade silicone type sealant, rather than remove the engine? I know this isn't exactly a good repair, but just thinking that this may work, as if water isn't passing the outer seal, in theory, the inner seal(s) shouldn't really need to "work" as such??

Can you point me in the direction of the water hose you mention? I can't seem to find it on the diagram? The only water intake I was aware of was through the leg.

Cheers.

Hi,

As you can see from the diagram the outer ring is held on by 3 plates. To get to these, the leg must be taken off.

Before you do any of this, see if you can get hold of a set of 'ear muffs' that they use for flushing the motor and attatch to a hose. Run the motor up and see if the leak is from the inlet pipe. Look at the bottom left of the diagram, you will see an elbow and 'S' shaped hose that sits on top of the hood, follow it to the other side of the shield to the hose tail. If water p!sses out of that, there's the leak. Just follow the hose. The motor well will need a fresh water rinse anyway.

This is for a SP drive.

http://www.marinepartseurope.com/en/volvo-penta-ex...

If you have a more modern SX drive it is slightly different.

http://www.marinepartseurope.com/en/volvo-penta-ex...


Engine model and drive details would be useful.

Let us know how you get on.

[rash_decision]

Cheers Dave, you've given me more info in a few messages than any of the marine engineers I've spoken to locally about fixing my problem!!

I'll have a look. It'll be nearer 2 weeks time unfortunately, as I've just arrived offshore with work for a couple of weeks. I don't think I have the newer type, but I'm obviously unable to look at the boat to give you any more info right now. I'd ask my Dad to go have a look but he'd be looking for a bonnet catch near the hull!! Haha.

Forgive my ignorance, but the hose you mention, if this was the source of the leak, could it get worse by my description of my nephew being sat on the back of the boat and putting pressure on the leg?? It was as if something was opening up due to the hull being forced into the water, but the leg being unable to move with it.

The reason I noticed the water, was due to another problem the morning in question, the starter motor packed in! Coincidentally my mate had a brand new spare in his garage, so whilst he was on route, I stripped the old one out, but this obviously disconnected the power to the bilge pump! I know, stupid on my part, but I never expected the water to come in! The new starter is fitted no issues, I'm comfortable with the engine and ancillaries, it's just the outdrive/leg I know nothing about!

[MOTORVATOR]

Before you go tearing the transom shield apart you should check the hull and deck seam.

Let's just say yours wouldn't be the first american boat that hasn't been sealed.