Water coming in from stern tube?? Help!

[Dufour4800-175]

Hello,

I recently saw that there was a little water coming in the boat and that it seemed to come from around the stern tube. I always get a little rusty water underneath my shaft and pss. Im pretty sure its not the pss. When i looked back at the pict i took before putting the boat in water, i remarked a rusty color, same color as I was getting in the boat under the shaft. Im wondering what could it be, and what should I do? When I hauled the boat out of the water the water I had inside disapeard...

 

[Dufour4800-175]

Here is a better pict from the rust color at the base of the stern tube...

 

[JoeWhite]

If it is not to expensive - remove the shaft and look at the shaft.

 

[petersea]

Hello,

I always get a little rusty water underneath my shaft and pss. Im pretty sure its not the pss. View attachment 68781

Make sure it is not the pss . How old is it ? Was the boot ever replaced ? Clamps tight ? There is a maintance kit available. Manufacture suggest every 7 years if I remember correctly. Are the carbon disk and metal disk sealing ? If it is not the pss then it is the tube itself leaking. It will require repair or replacement if it is. As far as the water disappearing after you pulled the boat out it leaked out because it leaked in when in the water. How much water are we talking about here ounces or gallons ? Not very common that the tube has problems but not unheard of. Could be something as easy as resealing tube with a bead of caulk from the inside and outside. Good Luck and keep us posted on what you find.

 

[Merlin Clark]

The tube needs to be sealed to the hull. If this is your problem, chiseling a v in the fiberglass around the tube and 5200 to seal it should work.
One of the VERY few places I'd use 5200.

 

[Dufour4800-175]

Were talking about only a little water, I would have a hard time to say how much exactly because its linked to the bilge... I can say that I once dried it completely and looked at it, and not even a drop came in in 10 minutes. I often leave the boat for a week or two at the time and when I come back there is always this rusty water beneath the pss. I think the pss must be due for a maintenance, so might as well do it while im playin' in that area. All hose clamps are tight, the ceramic is water tight too. More investigation to come.

Sorry for my ignorance but what is 5200?

Thanks
Alex

 

[Dufour4800-175]

I googled the 5200. Indeed it sounds like a bit like a plaster!

 

[Captn TJ]

Were talking about only a little water, I would have a hard time to say how much exactly because its linked to the bilge... I can say that I once dried it completely and looked at it, and not even a drop came in in 10 minutes. I often leave the boat for a week or two at the time and when I come back there is always this rusty water beneath the pss. I think the pss must be due for a maintenance, so might as well do it while im playin' in that area. All hose clamps are tigh, the ceramic is water tight too. More investigation to come. Sorry for my ignorance but what is 5200? Thanks Alex

my concern in sealing up the tube is that you haven't solved the rust problem. Identify where it's coming from , fix it and then seal the tube. I sealed mine (beneteau 423) with an identical skeg last year. Tip use 'fast cure' 5200. It will sag but not nearly as much as regular 5200. BTW 5200 should be available at any ships store. The medium size tube should be plenty

 

[Merlin Clark]

5200 is a VERY strong adhesive sealant that works well on anything that is to be permanently installed, as it is tough to remove an item after it has been bedded with this product.
Not good for bedding items that may require removal like deck hardware, trim or thru hulls.

 

[Captn TJ]

5200 is a VERY strong adhesive sealant that works well on anything that is to be permanently installed, as it is tough to remove an item after it has been bedded with this product. Not good for bedding items that may require removal like deck hardware, trim or thru hulls.

In this case you're gluing the shaft tube to the skeg - if you have to remove the tube you have a much bigger problem. I'd still recommend fast cure 5200

 

[Dufour4800-175]

A closeup view! Im planning on grinding the paint/glass and see what we have here!
I also included a view from inside where you can see the rusty water! I was suprised to see that some water was remaining inside and no drip was seen on the outside... Maybe it needs to have a certain amount of pressure for water to come in/out...

 

[klemsaba]

On my S2 8.0 I had this problem last summer and fixed it with 5200. I didn't have one leak all season! Unfortunately this Summer I thought the fix was still good but the minute I launched my boat the leak had returned. The boat is still in the water and not leaking right now but it always starts leaking after running the engine. It eventually stops during leaking during the week. It is the strangest problem. I'll be pulling the boat in a couple of months and anxious to see what's up with my 5200 fix.

 

[Dufour4800-175]

Thanks for the reply and the pict! Can you just paint 5200 with your bottom paint?

Let me know what happened with your fix!!

 

[Stephen Trapani]

Hate to be the chicken little guy, but your stern tube could be ready to bust out. Worst case scenario a huge hole busts out in your boat all of a sudden and it sinks. You need to thoroughly inspect the stern tube and make sure it's sound.

 

[Dufour4800-175]

Ok! And how do you suggest I inspect the stern tube?? Grind it down to metal? How is it attached to the hull?

Thanks
Alex

 

[tommays]

This last picture shows a more serious problem than i would have thought as All the other boats i have seen had a naval bronze or glass tube and yours does appear to me to some type of metal that is in fact rusting badly

Rather than guess i would contact DUFOUR and confirm the material used

I have changed my sterntube and it is in fact a difficult job but i don't see how you have any choice

 

[Dufour4800-175]

Thanks, I will indeed investigate the question and solve the problem before putting her back in water! I will keep you posted!

 

[Merlin Clark]

Manufacturers, I would hope and pray, wouldn't use metal underwater but who knows what a previous owner did to "repair" a problem!
You should be able to scrape a bit of paint off and see what the material is but it does look like corroded metal from the pic that Tom pointed out.

 

[klemsaba]

Thanks for the reply and the pict! Can you just paint 5200 with your bottom paint?

Let me know what happened with your fix!!

I pulled my boat a few weeks ago and the 5200 fix was all mush and I peeled it right off. I have a new problem as I can rotate my stern tube by hand. I have a fun project for the Spring! Good luck with yours.

 

[DougM]

Odd that there would be red oxide showing up in the stern tube area. One picture appears that the tube is completely rusted through. My boat, when new, appeared to have caulking around the outside of the tube as in the photo of the 5200 application. I have just been in the habit of replacing the caulking with the black boat life type that is supposed to be good for underwater application when I paint the bottom. Fortunately, the caulking has has held up, and I have not experienced and water encroachment.
The caveat here is that I have to haul out every fall anyway, I cannot leave the boat in the water which tends to solidify for a few months this time of year.