Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

New owner here of a 1994 Mariah. Love the boat, finding out about all the hiccups along the way. First day out while taking a break sitting on the platform, I felt like the back of the boat was going down.:eek_animated: Right after that the bilge pump ran. All we had done was go up and down the lake a few times.
So we thought that was odd that the pump ran, how could it have taken on enough water to run. Than while sitting there and swimming near the boat, the bilge pump ran at least two more times. The previous owner had said we could call with any questions and so we did. He claims the boat has always done that since he brought it new. But, how could there be water coming in the boat when we are just sitting still and yet he claims it did this from new. He did mention there is hose on the outside that could get a crack in it and we should check that, but I can't understand that the boat would need to run the bilge pump and expel water over and over, when it is just anchored for maybe an hour at most.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

Most probably your bellows, although you could have a leak in any part of your cooling system.
another place to look is the gasket between the exhaust and the transom shield. had one of them go before. best thing is to put it back in the water and get a touch out.
Does the boat take on any water whilst running the engine in muffs?

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

That is not normal! :shakehead:
If it's taking on water that fast , you better find the prob and find it fast!
As Andy asked , does it take on water while running on the muffs in the driveway?
Check all the boots , especially the shift cable boot.
If you have a split/leaking boot , it will take on water whether it's underway or not.
It's basically just like drilling a hole in the side of the boat!:eek_animated:

Sounds stupid , but the plug is in and in good shape isn't it?

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

Not stupid at all... that's boating mistake 101
we've all done it :rolling_laugh:

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

Do you have to activate the switch on the console to turn the bilge on? Or is that switch a manual override to the automatic activation of the bilge- I'm a nooooooooobie.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

They installed them both ways. Some Auto with float switch and a manual switch at dash , and some just manual only. Looks like after 1993 , the Mariahs were all equipped with auto/manual bilge pumps.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

Thanks!

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

Hi, Yes, plug is in and tight.
Found one hose clamp that did not seem too tight, tightened
that, tried again and still taking on a lot of water. Almost seems like it is worse
when we are sitting still on water. Tried looking under engine with flashlight
while spraying with hose on dry ground and also watching while in the water
and could not see any water coming in, but it is coming from somewhere!
Bilge runs automatically. However, last trip out, after it ran we ran the manual override
and a LOT more water pumped out. Till we docked, maybe 1 hr later, it ran again at dock,
and when we undid the plug...gush gush gush, a LOT of water! Do I have to remove the outdrive to
find the source at this point?

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

It does not take on water while running with the muffs.
Any more suggestions? Finally found a boat that suited our needs, price and
seemed to come from a honest person. Original owner from new who moved
on to a pontoon. Only few weeks left of summer weather, hate to take time to
rip apart, but would hate even more to sink! Especially with my grand children on board!

Also I was wrong about previous owner saying the bilge pump ran that much. He did however,
tell us when what I thought was a lot of water after the trial run coming out after plug was
removed, that it was because he got caught in a lot of rain on way to lake, and it had rained
quite a bit so we believed him.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

Sounds like you are down to a split in your drive bellows or the shift boot. My bet is on the drive bellows. To replace it you need to remove the outdrive and while you have the outdrive off you may as well inspect the gimbal bearing as well as the u-joints for wear. Removing the outdrive & doing these repairs is for the mechanically inclined. This is not something you will want to leave for any length of time or you may find your boat on the bottom of the lake.

Here's a link to a step by step instruction on doing this job so that u have an idea what you are up against if you are planning on tackling this one yourself.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

oh boy! Frustrating cause I believe previous owner had just had the gimbal bearing done. Could it be it was not put back together properly and if so anyway to just check on and fix "that"?

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

There are some suggestions of items to check in this thread.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

Thanks I'll check it out.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

My money is on drive shaft bellows, either split or not sealed correctly after the gimble bearing was done.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

I have to replace mine this spring. I had the previous owner change the shift boot before I bought it since I saw a hole in it. I told him to replace them all since it was apart but aparently he didn't. I was inspecting mine the other day and saw some cracking in the larger bellow. It doesn't take on any water yet but I will replace it this spring anyway. I think I am going to get my upper bravo III refinished since is has some corrosion on it(common issue with the Bravo III's). Luckily my boat mechanic only charges $700 to replace all the bellows and shift cable. Some of my buddies have went to the big boat shops and have been charged over $1000 to have the bellows replaced.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

With just two or three weeks left of good weather for boating...and the bilge pump is taking care of the water, would it hurt to run the boat for now and pull apart at end of boating season?
In other words, just how fast do these things sink? I don't want to be stupid about it, but also don't want to give up boat right now after just buying it. Also thinking whoever fixed the gimbal for the previous owner did not put it back together correctly.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

If it is running enough to pump out water and leave an alarming amount of water in the bilge- it is time to hang it up for the season. As a first responder- you are putting the lives aboard and those who respond or give assistance to you if the boat should falter.

Craft will sink and sink fast given enough pressure and volume. Remember holes don't stay the same size. The tear in the bellows will enlarge given enough water pressure on it... the more it leaks the larger it gets.. the quicker it gets.

Don't go out with it like that

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

What he said :rolleyes:

It's bad enough when things happen out on the water, But you don't go out if you know you already have a problem!

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

So it turns out the water is coming in thru an exhaust hole on left side of the engine. Turns out previous owner could not get parts for the yamaha outdrive and so put on a different one and shop that worked on it says when engine was put back in, what probably happened is the seals...gaskets...were not lined up correctly, letting a hole from the exhaust directly into the boat. He says we can fill it with spray foam the stuff that expands if it bothers us, or a caulking, use the boat till winter then take it in to have it taken apart and put back together correctly. He says it can't hurt nothing because any that comes out other side will just go into engine cavity. HOwever, there is some exhaust coming out of that hole, too. Know this because when we hook up with muffs and run, exhaust and water come out of hole on either side of outdrive as well as the prop. Know this because we tried using a clear caulking first and probably did not let it cure long enough, and when run engine on land (with muffs) it popped the silicone out. So it seems the seal must be on partially right.
Any thoughts? And, we also are having trouble with engine, owner left old gas in it. What forum is best to run through what we have done so far and ask for any suggestions?

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

First off I'd be finding another mechanic!:eek_animated:
Any mechanic that would suggest a fix like that ought to be hung by his...........well you get the idea!
He gonna buy you a new boat when it sinks?
Fix it right , or pull it from the water for the rest of the season and fix it this winter!:rolleyes:
Why in the hell would you risk your boat going to the bottom for a extra week or two on the water , much less your life or someone elses?

JMO , Guess I look at things different.:confused:

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

Sounds like your Mechanic(and I use the term mechanic loosely) wants to cob job it. It's not like you are dealing with a $300 lawn mower! Take it off the water for the season and get it fixed properly. You will be much further ahead in the long run. Next season you will be glad you did it the right way.

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

I'm not seeing the problem here?
If you've got someone on the job who knows what he's doing.
Lift the motor, fix the problem and have the motor back in should only take a day....
Weekend at most :wink_thumbup:
At worst you'll not have the boat for a week. So why the panic about your season being over?

Re: Bilge pump runs a lot!
 

just like ANYTHING that you do that you have to pay for whether its a new furnace , windows, roof car or boat please always get a second opinion. i used a mechanic who replaced the water pump in the outdrive. i put about 5 hours on it till it stopped drawing water to the engine. so instead of wasting my time towing the boat back over there i bought a mercruiser book , figured it out myself , i realized that i was charged 100 dollars for a impeller , when it was supposed to be the entire water pump housing with a new impeller (according to the bill)instead of a impeller shoved into a melted housing. there are alot of lazy people out there. keep that in mind. if it means ending the season early to do it right it beats sinking and like everyone else says here, endangering others including yourself.