Water spraying from exhaust boot below riser

[WesLambier]

I’ve got a bit of a strange one. I have a 93 Maxum 1800 with the 3.0L and the alpha 1 gen 2.

I’ll give the question then the backstory.

While taking it out tonight at anything above 2000rpm I have water spraying out of the bottom of the lower boot on the exhaust. I meant spraying like finger over the end of a garden hose. Slow down no spray. Have to run the bilge the whole time while driving at any sort of rpm above 2000. My thought is stuck exhaust shutter but I’m open for second opinions.

The backstory

2 weekends ago just when it got up on plane I noticed the engine was about to overheat. I shut it down and got towed in. That night I started it up no problem, ran it in neutral at about 1500-2000 rpm and she stayed below 150. Put it in idle and temp shot right up.

Took it out of the water and changed the impeller (which was still in good shape). Noticed the water tube had 2 holes either blown or melted into it as well as the tube guide was completely melted. Replaced that as well.

Took it to the water the next day, still wanted to heat up at idle. Replaced the thermostat and that fixed the heating at idle.

Took it out tonight for test run and noticed the aforementioned water spray out of the bottom exhaust boot. I mean this spray could probably fill the bilge in about 5 mins or so but the temp stayed under 150 while running at wot and a little above 150 while going through no wake zones.

Just interested in anyone’s thoughts.