Carver 406 - All leaks found repaired - Dry Bilge

[kgarguilo]

I have a few posts that I have replied to over time and thought all of these would be helpful in one place.

When I purchased this boat in December of 22 every Bilge had water in it including those that didn't lead to a pump in the limber holes. Like under the black water tank in the master state room. These are the areas where I found leaks and repaired or replaced the parts and now have a completely dry hull:

Engines - On the port engine there was a leaky elbow on the bottom of the exhaust manifold for winterization. I purchased a new elbow and blue plug to fix that problem. On the flip side of the engine, there was another bad blue winterization plug that needed to be replaced. Since we live in in Georgia, I am pretty sure they will not be used as there are three bilge heaters on board. Same found on the starboard engine on the starboard side a leaky blue freeze plug.

Gray water pump - while underway I would consistently get water in the front bilge area. As it turns out on the Gray water pump out station in that bilge, there was a damaged check valve on the pump. The water was back feeding from outside and the lake water would fill it up to a point where it would overflow out the overflow hole on that unit. This was a crazy one and would have never thought this would be a problem, but I replaced the pump and the issue gone.

Water Heater - This leak was hard to find, I found a leak inside the water heater and not showing outside except for straight out the bottom through the wood an finding its way through the Linder? holes to the section behind the engine room and under the floor of the state room under the Black water tank. The boat has now been dry for four weeks but sitting in the slip. Now operating on Dock and or house water and the bilge is dry as a bone. I found this leak by sticking my hands below the wood sub floor with my camera and happened to see a single drop in the video. Further videos revealed many drips nonstop. Advice let the recording go when looking I missed this leak twice looking here allow for take extra time and let the camera capture a bit of time that's how I found one drop, which turned into multiples in a small area. Replaced leaking original Water heater from Model S1100 to the new S1200 Whale Seaward 11 Gallon Hot Water Heater W/Rear Heat Exchanger - Stainless Steel - 120v - 1500w Replace damaged wood and paint with Rustoleum Topside paint battleship gray gloss.

Rudders – Packing dripping. Found another small leak that would accumulate over time. The rudder packing gland.

Mufflers - on the 6" Exhaust hose going into the muffler on the outside of the boat dripping was taking place and falling where it was not hitting under the engine. Turns out both mufflers have cracks in the 6" entry flange. Awaiting replacement mufflers on order. They arrived on Monday this week and were installed along with new exhaust hose piping. The boat is slightly louder but dry as a bone.

Test run – Took the boat out 3 times this weekend for over an hour of cruise time and all speeds checking after each run everywhere. We also stayed out on our first overnight on the hook with this boat. It appears we only have water on the outside of our boat now. Dang that was many years of leaks.
Side note: a friend of mine on a 95 390 recently had his boat pulled for a myriad of issues but he took apart and re sealed the exhaust as it exited the boat. This fixed his water in his bilge.

Link to my pictures. https://1drv.ms/f/s!AsUXzq27eR2fgrVh-c3 ... Q?e=Ay0FZB I will leave this folder up forever and no password needed to view all pics and videos

Hope this is helpful.

[Midnightsun]

Thanks for posting this, will surely help many in the future.

Those blue plugs!!! They do get brittle and eventually fail, had this issue on my previous boats with mercruiser engines. Finally understood the issue and replaced all of them with these. https://www.hardin-marine.com/p-81080-s ... -pack.aspx

I know they fit Mercruiser however may want to look into the thread to make sure they fit your application. Looking at you vide I was able to see the same part number on the ones you installed compared to the Hardin Stainless ones.

[km1125]

That new water heater looks pretty nice!!

Great pics overall and great info. Thanks for posting it, and I'm sure some member will benefit!

Also, not sure if those were all "after" pics on the rudder stuffing, but one of those still had the locknut loose in the pic. Hopefully that was tightened down after the pic was taken.

[kgarguilo]

It was before. Good catch All tight and dry now.

[Jay Fusaro]

Outstanding detective work!

[kgarguilo]

Those blue plugs!!! They do get brittle and eventually fail, had this issue on my previous boats with mercruiser engines. Finally understood the issue and replaced all of them with these. https://www.hardin-marine.com/p-81080-s ... -pack.aspx

Midnightsun, I also found these and am trying one. Look like they will last.

https://www.westmarine.com/sierra-cylin ... 1_507.html

Made by Sierra Model # P006_180_011_507