New to the board...and have a (new to me) boat.

Question relates to my 2002 V6 I/O in a 18'2" Crestliner Sportfish.

I have some water entering the boat through some part of the I/O. I wonder if it is the exhaust bellow. Partly because I read that the exhaust is through prop hub. When I view exhaust from rear of boat it appears to be bubbling out much higher around the upper portions of the outdrive.

Only been out twice so far....just trouble shooting the source of the water entry into the boat. Tested for leaks in the hull/transom connections and no apparent leaks. Leaning toward the motor/outdrive connections.

Any thoughts?

Some exhaust does come out around the transom plate. But, if you are getting water in it sounds like it could be a bellow.

Tilt the drive all the way up and look at the bellows. There will be small holes or slits, but anything big is an issue.

It could also be the other bellow which is a bigger concern given the cables and shafts that pass through.

Do you know the maintenance history on the boat?

As SB mentioned, it could be the bellows. If it is the bellows it can tear some stuff up so it's best to not run it until you are sure where the water is coming from.

It's not the exhaust bellows. That is how they function. Mercruiser is the same. There are exhaust "reliefs" that allow exhaust to come out before the drive.

Welcome aboard!

How much water are we talking about? Was anyone swimming? You would be surprized how much will be brought aboard by swimmers. could be your transom plug is leaking also.

Ok, so it took me a while to get back with you on your responses as learn more about my boat. Here is what I have learned. Water leak solved. Was coming from a hose on the thermostat housing.

Second. After a trip to the Lake Powell, I have confirmed that my 4.3 GXI SX is much much louder than any other I have heard...which brings me back to could the exhaust be exiting the outdrive at a higher point than the through the prop as it was designed? It ran like a top but sounded like a hot rod with raw exhaust noise while underway.

Again, I ask for your input and expertise. And I thank you in advance!!!

Maybe you have the 'Quick & Quiet' or 'Captain's Call' option to hit a switch and route exhaust to a thru hull?

You said this boat is new to you. Is it your first boat?

Boats don't have mufflers so they generally have a much meaner and louder note when underway.

Open the hatch and look for a re-routed exhause to side exhaust or rear pipes exiting at the transom.

Boats are somewhat louder when on plane due to the secondary exhaust hole of the drive being out of the water but most of the exhaust comes out through the prop hub, unless you have side exhaust.

I don't know enough about how it is routed through the drive to know if there could be an obstruction causing most of the exhaust and noise to be coming out of the upper port. When you run the boat on the trailer using muffs this port is near the bottom of the flange that attaches the drive to the transom and water and exhaust can be seen exiting there.

Is the boat loud like when it is on the trailer running on muffs?

There are 2 types of exhaust hose on the SX/ DPS drives;

1. A corrugated hose which is attached to the outdrive and the transom. This hose has relief holes on its lower side, to allow drainage and pressure relief in the event of a blockage. This is the quiet type (which I had on my '99 boat).

2. A straight pipe attached only to the transom. Quietish at idle, but once underway and on the plane with any degree of tilt, the end of that tube is exposed and it is a lot more noisy than #1. I have this type on my '04 boat. If the boat has this type and an ESP, the noise can reverberate under the ESP.

I am seriously considering retrofitting type 1 to my boat.

Graham