Leak from sterndrive? - Maxum Boat Owners Club

iceman · 06-28-2010, 10:12 PM

I've been trying to track down the source of water in my bilge. There seems to be about an inch or so of water, all the time.

I dried it out completely before launching last weekend. I opened the hatch around 10 minutes after leaving the dock, and the water was back. We were on the water for about 5 hours, and I checked it again after 4 hours or so, and it was the same level. I guess the aft bilge pump could be keeping it down, but I don't ever hear it turn on.

So based on that experience, I'm wondering could the sterndrive be leaking, and possibly only when it's trimmed up? It's a Bravo 3 drive on a 2006 Maxum 2600SE. I'm getting ready to take it in to be checked, but I'd like to know what I may be in for in terms of cost!

-Tom

shrew · 06-28-2010, 10:34 PM

Were you running for 4 hours? Or did you cruise out to where you were going then shut the boat down and sit there? I had an issue just this weekend where a raw water cooling hose came loose. It only dumped water in while it was running. you might need to get in there with a flashlight and look around WHILE it's running to find the culprit. take a look around the manifolds and risers while it's running as well. Anywhere there is a hose............check it. Just a thought.

seapuppy · 06-28-2010, 11:03 PM

tom
there are only a few places that can enter the aft bilge....since you have a b3 drive on your 2600...my first look would be at the bellows......you may need to have it replaced or checked....the other place is along the rub rail.....but most likely it's the bellows....

SP

iceman · 06-28-2010, 11:42 PM

Shrew, yes I was running for all 4 hours, covering about 35 nm at various speeds and water condx, then shut the engine down for lunch. While we drifted I opened the hatch and looked at the water level. I did try and look at hoses earlier while the engine was running but didn't see anything. Kind of hard to get a look everywhere though...

SP, I didn't know the rub rail could leak. I wonder if it is the bellows, could that leak more trimmed up than trimmed down? Also I'd be curious if replacing the bellows is a big (i.e. $$$$) job?

Tom

seapuppy · 06-28-2010, 11:53 PM

the bellows can leak in an up position more so cuz the bellows is flexed......I'd say it's not a cheap job cuz it has to be glued to the transom gimble...then hose clamped and all......but I called the local shop and it's about 3 hrs job..at your shop rate...somewhere about 95 bucks an hr..plus cost of bellows...not sure what they cost...last I heard the bellows itself was only about 75 bucks to buy new...

SP

iceman · 06-29-2010, 12:12 AM

Great info, thanks SP. Piece of mind is certainly worth $375 or so. I'm not crazy about the idea of water getting into the boat!

seapuppy · 06-29-2010, 12:14 AM

yeah...salt water has a way of eating thru things ...like oil pans ...etc....

good luck and let us know what you come up with...but check all those hoses first...

SP