Hello,

I have a 1996 Crownline with the Bravo One outdrive. The boat is
taking on water when I'm just sitting on the lake. The water is not
coming from the engine. I have been trying to keep an eye on what
conditions the boat takes on the most water and it seems like when the
lake is calm and the boat isn't rocking much, it takes on very little
or no water. However when it gets rougher and the back of the boat
starts rocking more, quite a bit of water comes in. My exhaust
bellows had a hole in it, so I just took the boat to a mechanic and
got all three bellows replaced and I'm still getting a leak. When I'm
cruising and there is no water pressure against the outdrive/transom
area, no water leaks. On this boat, I have the Captains Call exhaust
with the choice of through-hull or through the outdrive for the
exhaust. I also have trim tabs installed as well. I am looking for
suggestions as to what may be leaking, or where specifically to look.
This has been really bothering me and I'd like to get it fixed before
it causes bigger problems.

Could it be a leak where the trim tab hoses come through the hull?
Seems like they are at the right level where they are out of the water
when it's calm, but submerged when I have a few people sitting on the
back of the boat in rougher water. Or is this not likely?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

On May 29, 7:01�am, wrote:
Hello,

I have a 1996 Crownline with the Bravo One outdrive. *The boat is
taking on water when I'm just sitting on the lake. *The water is not
coming from the engine. *I have been trying to keep an eye on what
conditions the boat takes on the most water and it seems like when the
lake is calm and the boat isn't rocking much, it takes on very little
or no water. *However when it gets rougher and the back of the boat
starts rocking more, quite a bit of water comes in. *My exhaust
bellows had a hole in it, so I just took the boat to a mechanic and
got all three bellows replaced and I'm still getting a leak. *When I'm
cruising and there is no water pressure against the outdrive/transom
area, no water leaks. *On this boat, I have the Captains Call exhaust
with the choice of through-hull or through the outdrive for the
exhaust. *I also have trim tabs installed as well. *I am looking for
suggestions as to what may be leaking, or where specifically to look.
This has been really bothering me and I'd like to get it fixed before
it causes bigger problems.

Could it be a leak where the trim tab hoses come through the hull?
Seems like they are at the right level where they are out of the water
when it's calm, but submerged when I have a few people sitting on the
back of the boat in rougher water. *Or is this not likely?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

Sounds like you have identified a likely source.

Can you get a couple of buddies to stand on the back of your boat, or
add weight in some other manner, while you watch the area around the
tab hoses and see if water begins trickling in? You could also spray
the area around the hoses with a large volume of water from a hose and
see if any finds its way into the bilge.

On May 29, 10:28 am, Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 7:01?am, wrote:



Hello,

I have a 1996 Crownline with the Bravo One outdrive. ?The boat is
taking on water when I'm just sitting on the lake. ?The water is not
coming from the engine. ?I have been trying to keep an eye on what
conditions the boat takes on the most water and it seems like when the
lake is calm and the boat isn't rocking much, it takes on very little
or no water. ?However when it gets rougher and the back of the boat
starts rocking more, quite a bit of water comes in. ?My exhaust
bellows had a hole in it, so I just took the boat to a mechanic and
got all three bellows replaced and I'm still getting a leak. ?When I'm
cruising and there is no water pressure against the outdrive/transom
area, no water leaks. ?On this boat, I have the Captains Call exhaust
with the choice of through-hull or through the outdrive for the
exhaust. ?I also have trim tabs installed as well. ?I am looking for
suggestions as to what may be leaking, or where specifically to look.
This has been really bothering me and I'd like to get it fixed before
it causes bigger problems.

Could it be a leak where the trim tab hoses come through the hull?
Seems like they are at the right level where they are out of the water
when it's calm, but submerged when I have a few people sitting on the
back of the boat in rougher water. ?Or is this not likely?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

Sounds like you have identified a likely source.

Can you get a couple of buddies to stand on the back of your boat, or
add weight in some other manner, while you watch the area around the
tab hoses and see if water begins trickling in? You could also spray
the area around the hoses with a large volume of water from a hose and
see if any finds its way into the bilge.

I should have mentioned in the original post, the problem is that on
Crownlines, it's a real pain to see around the engine. Unless I wrap
myself into a pretzel, there isn't an easy way to see what's going on
there. That's why it's so frustrating. Somebody I had talked with
suggested taking a mirror to see behind the engine. Any other
possibilities that it could be on the outdrive? Or am I best off
looking elsewhere?

Thanks for the response,
Jim

On May 29, 7:53�am, Jim wrote:
On May 29, 10:28 am, Chuck Gould wrote:





On May 29, 7:01?am, wrote:

Hello,

I have a 1996 Crownline with the Bravo One outdrive. ?The boat is
taking on water when I'm just sitting on the lake. ?The water is not
coming from the engine. ?I have been trying to keep an eye on what
conditions the boat takes on the most water and it seems like when the
lake is calm and the boat isn't rocking much, it takes on very little
or no water. ?However when it gets rougher and the back of the boat
starts rocking more, quite a bit of water comes in. ?My exhaust
bellows had a hole in it, so I just took the boat to a mechanic and
got all three bellows replaced and I'm still getting a leak. ?When I'm
cruising and there is no water pressure against the outdrive/transom
area, no water leaks. ?On this boat, I have the Captains Call exhaust
with the choice of through-hull or through the outdrive for the
exhaust. ?I also have trim tabs installed as well. ?I am looking for
suggestions as to what may be leaking, or where specifically to look.
This has been really bothering me and I'd like to get it fixed before
it causes bigger problems.

Could it be a leak where the trim tab hoses come through the hull?
Seems like they are at the right level where they are out of the water
when it's calm, but submerged when I have a few people sitting on the
back of the boat in rougher water. ?Or is this not likely?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

Sounds like you have identified a likely source.

Can you get a couple of buddies to stand on the back of your boat, or
add weight in some other manner, while you watch the area around the
tab hoses and see if water begins trickling in? You could also spray
the area around the hoses with a large volume of water from a hose and
see if any finds its way into the bilge.

I should have mentioned in the original post, the problem is that on
Crownlines, it's a real pain to see around the engine. *Unless I wrap
myself into a pretzel, there isn't an easy way to see what's going on
there. *That's why it's so frustrating. * Somebody I had talked with
suggested taking a mirror to see behind the engine. *Any other
possibilities that it could be on the outdrive? *Or am I best off
looking elsewhere?

Thanks for the response,
Jim- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Why not make sure the area around the trim tab hoses is initially dry,
then reach in and place something absorbent around the hoses, do the
spray or immersion test, and then check to see if your tell-tale is
wet?

On May 29, 11:27 am, Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 7:53?am, Jim wrote:



On May 29, 10:28 am, Chuck Gould wrote:

On May 29, 7:01?am, wrote:

Hello,

I have a 1996 Crownline with the Bravo One outdrive. ?The boat is
taking on water when I'm just sitting on the lake. ?The water is not
coming from the engine. ?I have been trying to keep an eye on what
conditions the boat takes on the most water and it seems like when the
lake is calm and the boat isn't rocking much, it takes on very little
or no water. ?However when it gets rougher and the back of the boat
starts rocking more, quite a bit of water comes in. ?My exhaust
bellows had a hole in it, so I just took the boat to a mechanic and
got all three bellows replaced and I'm still getting a leak. ?When I'm
cruising and there is no water pressure against the outdrive/transom
area, no water leaks. ?On this boat, I have the Captains Call exhaust
with the choice of through-hull or through the outdrive for the
exhaust. ?I also have trim tabs installed as well. ?I am looking for
suggestions as to what may be leaking, or where specifically to look.
This has been really bothering me and I'd like to get it fixed before
it causes bigger problems.

Could it be a leak where the trim tab hoses come through the hull?
Seems like they are at the right level where they are out of the water
when it's calm, but submerged when I have a few people sitting on the
back of the boat in rougher water. ?Or is this not likely?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

Sounds like you have identified a likely source.

Can you get a couple of buddies to stand on the back of your boat, or
add weight in some other manner, while you watch the area around the
tab hoses and see if water begins trickling in? You could also spray
the area around the hoses with a large volume of water from a hose and
see if any finds its way into the bilge.

I should have mentioned in the original post, the problem is that on
Crownlines, it's a real pain to see around the engine. ?Unless I wrap
myself into a pretzel, there isn't an easy way to see what's going on
there. ?That's why it's so frustrating. ? Somebody I had talked with
suggested taking a mirror to see behind the engine. ?Any other
possibilities that it could be on the outdrive? ?Or am I best off
looking elsewhere?

Thanks for the response,
Jim- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Why not make sure the area around the trim tab hoses is initially dry,
then reach in and place something absorbent around the hoses, do the
spray or immersion test, and then check to see if your tell-tale is
wet?

Good idea. I will give that a shot this weekend when I head out.
It's leaking enough that I would think I could find out if that's it
pretty quickly. I will give it a try.

Thanks!

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I have a 1996 Crownline with the Bravo One outdrive. The boat is
taking on water when I'm just sitting on the lake. The water is not
coming from the engine. I have been trying to keep an eye on what
conditions the boat takes on the most water and it seems like when the
lake is calm and the boat isn't rocking much, it takes on very little
or no water. However when it gets rougher and the back of the boat
starts rocking more, quite a bit of water comes in. My exhaust
bellows had a hole in it, so I just took the boat to a mechanic and
got all three bellows replaced and I'm still getting a leak. When I'm
cruising and there is no water pressure against the outdrive/transom
area, no water leaks. On this boat, I have the Captains Call exhaust
with the choice of through-hull or through the outdrive for the
exhaust. I also have trim tabs installed as well. I am looking for
suggestions as to what may be leaking, or where specifically to look.
This has been really bothering me and I'd like to get it fixed before
it causes bigger problems.

Could it be a leak where the trim tab hoses come through the hull?
Seems like they are at the right level where they are out of the water
when it's calm, but submerged when I have a few people sitting on the
back of the boat in rougher water. Or is this not likely?

Any help is appreciated.


You need to approach this from a different angle, literally. If water leaks
into the bilge from a specific location, there's a better than average
chance it will leak back out at the same location. The following assumes
you have the ability to put the boat on a trailer or to remove it from lake
by some other means such as a hydro-hoist. With the drain plug installed,
fill the bilge with water from a garden hose. You will need to temporarily
disable any automatic bilge pumps. Fill the bilge as high as possible
without involving the starter or any other electrical components in the
bilge. You should be able to see water trickling down the outside of the
transom. The source of the trickle is your leak. Common leaks include the
drain plug itself (or in its attachment to the transom), any number of
internal outdrive parts, and the transom seal. The transom seal is between
the gimbal housing and the transom.

Gene Kearns wrote:
On Tue, 29 May 2007 17:21:24 GMT, "RG" wrote:

Fill the bilge as high as possible without involving the
starter or any other electrical components in the bilge.

No, don't.

This only works when you need to put a small amount of water in a
boat. Boats are expressly designed to keep water out NOT keep water
in. Putting too much water INSIDE of a boat can cause MAJOR structural
damage.


Bingo.

Put some silicone where the hoses go thru the transom. It's impossible to
see the shift bellow from inside. It's under the exhaust on the stbd. side.
The ujoint bellow has a small vent hole just above the driveshaft that might
leak if the bellow is not installed right. It's possible to leak through the
gimbal bearing also. Then there's always the transom drain. You really need
to see the leak. Use mirrors if you can or you can use a video camera hooked
up to a monitor to get where your eyes can't.
Jim
"Jim" wrote in message
oups.com...
On May 29, 11:27 am, Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 7:53?am, Jim wrote:
.


On May 29, 10:28 am, Chuck Gould wrote:

On May 29, 7:01?am, wrote:

Hello,

I have a 1996 Crownline with the Bravo One outdrive. ?The boat is
taking on water when I'm just sitting on the lake. ?The water is
not
coming from the engine. ?I have been trying to keep an eye on what
conditions the boat takes on the most water and it seems like when
the
lake is calm and the boat isn't rocking much, it takes on very
little
or no water. ?However when it gets rougher and the back of the boat
starts rocking more, quite a bit of water comes in. ?My exhaust
bellows had a hole in it, so I just took the boat to a mechanic and
got all three bellows replaced and I'm still getting a leak. ?When
I'm
cruising and there is no water pressure against the
outdrive/transom
area, no water leaks. ?On this boat, I have the Captains Call
exhaust
with the choice of through-hull or through the outdrive for the
exhaust. ?I also have trim tabs installed as well. ?I am looking
for
suggestions as to what may be leaking, or where specifically to
look.
This has been really bothering me and I'd like to get it fixed
before
it causes bigger problems.

Could it be a leak where the trim tab hoses come through the hull?
Seems like they are at the right level where they are out of the
water
when it's calm, but submerged when I have a few people sitting on
the
back of the boat in rougher water. ?Or is this not likely?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

Sounds like you have identified a likely source.

Can you get a couple of buddies to stand on the back of your boat, or
add weight in some other manner, while you watch the area around the
tab hoses and see if water begins trickling in? You could also spray
the area around the hoses with a large volume of water from a hose
and
see if any finds its way into the bilge.

I should have mentioned in the original post, the problem is that on
Crownlines, it's a real pain to see around the engine. ?Unless I wrap
myself into a pretzel, there isn't an easy way to see what's going on
there. ?That's why it's so frustrating. ? Somebody I had talked with
suggested taking a mirror to see behind the engine. ?Any other
possibilities that it could be on the outdrive? ?Or am I best off
looking elsewhere?

Thanks for the response,
Jim- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Why not make sure the area around the trim tab hoses is initially dry,
then reach in and place something absorbent around the hoses, do the
spray or immersion test, and then check to see if your tell-tale is
wet?

Good idea. I will give that a shot this weekend when I head out.
It's leaking enough that I would think I could find out if that's it
pretty quickly. I will give it a try.

Thanks!

On May 29, 6:32 pm, "Jim" wrote:
Put some silicone where the hoses go thru the transom. It's impossible to
see the shift bellow from inside. It's under the exhaust on the stbd. side.
The ujoint bellow has a small vent hole just above the driveshaft that might
leak if the bellow is not installed right. It's possible to leak through the
gimbal bearing also. Then there's always the transom drain. You really need
to see the leak. Use mirrors if you can or you can use a video camera hooked
up to a monitor to get where your eyes can't.
Jim"Jim" wrote in message

oups.com...

On May 29, 11:27 am, Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 7:53?am, Jim wrote:
.

On May 29, 10:28 am, Chuck Gould wrote:

On May 29, 7:01?am, wrote:

Hello,

I have a 1996 Crownline with the Bravo One outdrive. ?The boat is
taking on water when I'm just sitting on the lake. ?The water is
not
coming from the engine. ?I have been trying to keep an eye on what
conditions the boat takes on the most water and it seems like when
the
lake is calm and the boat isn't rocking much, it takes on very
little
or no water. ?However when it gets rougher and the back of the boat
starts rocking more, quite a bit of water comes in. ?My exhaust
bellows had a hole in it, so I just took the boat to a mechanic and
got all three bellows replaced and I'm still getting a leak. ?When
I'm
cruising and there is no water pressure against the
outdrive/transom
area, no water leaks. ?On this boat, I have the Captains Call
exhaust
with the choice of through-hull or through the outdrive for the
exhaust. ?I also have trim tabs installed as well. ?I am looking
for
suggestions as to what may be leaking, or where specifically to
look.
This has been really bothering me and I'd like to get it fixed
before
it causes bigger problems.

Could it be a leak where the trim tab hoses come through the hull?
Seems like they are at the right level where they are out of the
water
when it's calm, but submerged when I have a few people sitting on
the
back of the boat in rougher water. ?Or is this not likely?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

Sounds like you have identified a likely source.

Can you get a couple of buddies to stand on the back of your boat, or
add weight in some other manner, while you watch the area around the
tab hoses and see if water begins trickling in? You could also spray
the area around the hoses with a large volume of water from a hose
and
see if any finds its way into the bilge.

I should have mentioned in the original post, the problem is that on
Crownlines, it's a real pain to see around the engine. ?Unless I wrap
myself into a pretzel, there isn't an easy way to see what's going on
there. ?That's why it's so frustrating. ? Somebody I had talked with
suggested taking a mirror to see behind the engine. ?Any other
possibilities that it could be on the outdrive? ?Or am I best off
looking elsewhere?

Thanks for the response,
Jim- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Why not make sure the area around the trim tab hoses is initially dry,
then reach in and place something absorbent around the hoses, do the
spray or immersion test, and then check to see if your tell-tale is
wet?

Good idea. I will give that a shot this weekend when I head out.
It's leaking enough that I would think I could find out if that's it
pretty quickly. I will give it a try.

Thanks!

I'm pretty much positive that it's not one of the bellows that is
leaking since I had them all replaced last weekend. What exactly is
the transom drain? Perhaps that is an area that could be my problem.

Thanks,
Jim

Jim wrote:
On May 29, 6:32 pm, "Jim" wrote:
Put some silicone where the hoses go thru the transom. It's impossible to
see the shift bellow from inside. It's under the exhaust on the stbd. side.
The ujoint bellow has a small vent hole just above the driveshaft that might
leak if the bellow is not installed right. It's possible to leak through the
gimbal bearing also. Then there's always the transom drain. You really need
to see the leak. Use mirrors if you can or you can use a video camera hooked
up to a monitor to get where your eyes can't.
Jim"Jim" wrote in message

oups.com...

On May 29, 11:27 am, Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 7:53?am, Jim wrote:
.
On May 29, 10:28 am, Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 7:01?am, wrote:
Hello,
I have a 1996 Crownline with the Bravo One outdrive. ?The boat is
taking on water when I'm just sitting on the lake. ?The water is
not
coming from the engine. ?I have been trying to keep an eye on what
conditions the boat takes on the most water and it seems like when
the
lake is calm and the boat isn't rocking much, it takes on very
little
or no water. ?However when it gets rougher and the back of the boat
starts rocking more, quite a bit of water comes in. ?My exhaust
bellows had a hole in it, so I just took the boat to a mechanic and
got all three bellows replaced and I'm still getting a leak. ?When
I'm
cruising and there is no water pressure against the
outdrive/transom
area, no water leaks. ?On this boat, I have the Captains Call
exhaust
with the choice of through-hull or through the outdrive for the
exhaust. ?I also have trim tabs installed as well. ?I am looking
for
suggestions as to what may be leaking, or where specifically to
look.
This has been really bothering me and I'd like to get it fixed
before
it causes bigger problems.
Could it be a leak where the trim tab hoses come through the hull?
Seems like they are at the right level where they are out of the
water
when it's calm, but submerged when I have a few people sitting on
the
back of the boat in rougher water. ?Or is this not likely?
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim
Sounds like you have identified a likely source.
Can you get a couple of buddies to stand on the back of your boat, or
add weight in some other manner, while you watch the area around the
tab hoses and see if water begins trickling in? You could also spray
the area around the hoses with a large volume of water from a hose
and
see if any finds its way into the bilge.
I should have mentioned in the original post, the problem is that on
Crownlines, it's a real pain to see around the engine. ?Unless I wrap
myself into a pretzel, there isn't an easy way to see what's going on
there. ?That's why it's so frustrating. ? Somebody I had talked with
suggested taking a mirror to see behind the engine. ?Any other
possibilities that it could be on the outdrive? ?Or am I best off
looking elsewhere?
Thanks for the response,
Jim- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
Why not make sure the area around the trim tab hoses is initially dry,
then reach in and place something absorbent around the hoses, do the
spray or immersion test, and then check to see if your tell-tale is
wet?
Good idea. I will give that a shot this weekend when I head out.
It's leaking enough that I would think I could find out if that's it
pretty quickly. I will give it a try.
Thanks!

I'm pretty much positive that it's not one of the bellows that is
leaking since I had them all replaced last weekend. What exactly is
the transom drain? Perhaps that is an area that could be my problem.

Thanks,
Jim




It's the hole with a plug in it at the bottom of the transom. Usually.


If you look at the ass end of your boat from the outside, the bottom
should form a sort of V. There's a drain at the crotch of the v. Sorry
to use such graphic terms, but I think you'll get it this way.