AFTHER WINTERRISING

M

Mars

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2005
RO Number
18308
Messages
9
Hi to all of you
This spring when I made my first ride, I have notice that there is water in the bilge after a day boating, I am suspecting that the motor wasn't properly winterized even if I had paid for the job.
Can it be the block that is cracked or only the expansion plug that pop off, is there anyway to pin point the problem and what can expect money wise in either case.
The motor in a Mercruiser 6.2 MPI 2001 with 370 hours
Thank you
 
Sometimes it seems that a boat spends it's entire life trying to get to the bottom! :)

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First things first. Before you make any assumptions as to whether or not winterizing was performed correctly, you need to be certain of the origin of the fluids in the bilge.

What "type" of water did you find in the bilge? That is, if you are boating in salt water, is the water in the bilge salty? If the boat has a closed cooling system with a heat exchanger, does the water appear to contain anti-freeze solution? Did you check your drinking water system for a leak?

In short, you need to do more looking about for the primary source of the fluids. A determination of the problem will not be possible until you actually know, for certain, what type of fluid it is, and the source of the fluid.

By the way: there are ( unfortunately ) many possible sources. You need to get down in the bilge and find the source.
 
Hi, this boat is used in fresh water only and it's not a closed cooling system, in the bilge there is hardly any space to see anything, but anyway I will do my best, what should I be looking for or at.
Thank you
 
First, dry out the bilge. ( Cleaning is useful, as well, but not strictly required ).

With the hatch(s) open, and with the help of a second person, start the boat, and go slowly around the harbor. The helmsman, should pay attention to operating the boat, but the second person ( carefully ) observes the engine and bilge. If water is spraying from someplace, then perhaps it will be visible.

If this little "cruise around the harbor does not produce results, try something else.

Again, you -must- start with a dry bilge. Place dry newspaper in the bilge ( or paper towels, etc ) then take a short trip, similar to you took when you first discovered water in the bilge. Stop from time to time to open the hatches and observe the paper. If you have a leak, it should be visible on the paper, and if caught early on, the location of the water on the paper should give an indicator of where the water is coming from. Some folks have used talcum ( baby powder ) dusting it about the bilge and then the fluids will leave "tracks" as it seeks a lower level.

Mostly, use common sense. Find the drip/spray.

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If this is an I/O ( inboard/outboard ) you may have a leak in the area where the engine passes through the transom. IF inboard, look around the stuffing boxes.

But, again, start with it dry, and proceed in small/short steps till a) it leaks and b) you can isolate the leak source.

Once you know the leak source, then you can diagnose the problem.
 
I/B or I/O? How much water was there after the day of boating and did you happen to check the bilge before the trip? Pump running full time?
If you can put it on a trailer run it on the muffs and see if you still get substantial bilge water. A popped casting "expansion" plug is going to flow a lot of water and it's going to be warm at least.
 
Hi, this is a I/O, after 3 hours there was about 2 quarts of water, the pump never started, for the trailer option, that is what I was thinking to do.
Anything else that I should be looking for
Thank you
 
Forgot about the bilge, yes it was dry before the ride
 
That could have been rainwater shook loose or something from the Head or Gally. Two quarts aint much. See what happens next time for comparisin.
 
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