Boat Flooded, serious issue...

[muskokamarc]

Hi Everyone,

A little backstory to how this issue below has happened... Our boat (1987 SeaRay Monaco 230hp) sits up on our boat port out of the water during the winter due to the ice that forms up north in Canada's lakes. The boat was winterized and not ran at all last year. This spring, we had record high water levels. My plugs were not in the boat or the stern drive motor and the boat was not accessible for us to move it. Essentially, water was able to get into the boat somehow, because one of the shorter battery tray's (2 inch high) had some water in it, however, the taller one (8-9 inches high) did not have water in it.

I went to go check the oil this weekend as the water as finally returned to normal levels. Oil was reading above 4 times over the full amount... I was shocked, so I began to extract the fluid and i got about 9 litres of water through the oil dipstick... Didn't extract the remaining oil yet but it looks extremely gunky and dirty.

I'm concerned about the engine and how in the world 9 LITRES of water would have gotten into a sealed oil pan. Not really sure what to do at this point other than extract the remaining oil. Should i extract all oil put fresh oil and try starting? Or is there likely issues elsewhere, and if i try turning the boat over, it will damage it.

Pictures below will help show you how our boat is stored during the winter and during the flood.

If you guys have seen this before or have any recommendations, i appreciate your help...

 

[Bt Doctur]

for that to happen the water level would have had to be this high

 

[Bt Doctur]

drain all the oil and replace with fresh, starter may have to be replaced , can you actuall verify by staining how high the water got inside the boat?
were the bateries removed, and is the battery switch if used in the off position

 

[muskokamarc]

drain all the oil and replace with fresh, starter may have to be replaced , can you actuall verify by staining how high the water got inside the boat?
were the bateries removed, and is the battery switch if used in the off position

I don't think the water was above the floor level because I didn't see any stains.

Batteries were removed and factory battery switch was in off position.

 

[muskokamarc]

for that to happen the water level would have had to be this high

The water was likely very close to that level, or just below. This was highest water levels in the past 70+ years or since they've begun recording.

So the water would have gone in through exhaust and then into oil you think?

 

[muskokamarc]

drain all the oil and replace with fresh, starter may have to be replaced , can you actuall verify by staining how high the water got inside the boat?
were the bateries removed, and is the battery switch if used in the off position

How will i know if starter needs to be replaced?

 

[Little Ducky]

I'm not a mechanic but I would definitely seek ones guidance before trying to start.

I think a bit of marvel mystery oil through each spark plug hole and tuning over w/o spark plugs in would be a good start. Just to make sure everything is freed up and nothing rusted together.

 

[Jeff42899]

Make sure the plugs are out before you turn it over the first time! I would drain everything, refill oil, pull the plugs, roll it over several revolutions (water will likely shoot everywhere in the bilge, try not to be down there when that happens), install the plugs, try to start it. If it starts, only run it a short time before draining the oil again and repeat. You'll want to do this sooner rather than later, the clock is ticking for that thing to be rusting from the inside out.

 

[Espos4]

Water cannot enter the exhaust and then get immediately into the oil pan.

It may have flooded the cylinders through the exhaust and slowly leaked past the piston rings to fill the crank case. It may have also gotten high enough to enter through a valve cover breather.

Check your seat cushions. If they are water logged, that may give an indication as to how High the water was.

 

[Golfman25]

IDK, call the insurance company? Looks like you got a "sunk" boat.

 

[dwna1a]

Did you say the plugs were out? Spark or freeze plugs? Drain plug was in?

Is there any damage to the top of the boat? My thoughts are a bit different. The water and ice got high enough to push the boat upwards until she was pressed against the ceiling of the boat house. As the water continued to rise it flooded the engine thru the exshust. Snow loads and ice might have even helped by pushing the dock under and the freezing to hold it there.

Just thinking outside the box

 

[muskokamarc]

Make sure the plugs are out before you turn it over the first time! I would drain everything, refill oil, pull the plugs, roll it over several revolutions (water will likely shoot everywhere in the bilge, try not to be down there when that happens), install the plugs, try to start it. If it starts, only run it a short time before draining the oil again and repeat. You'll want to do this sooner rather than later, the clock is ticking for that thing to be rusting from the inside out.

When you said repeat, do you mean to drain everything, refill oil, pull the plugs, roll it over several revolutions and then finally refill oil and put plugs back in?

 

[muskokamarc]

Did you say the plugs were out? Spark or freeze plugs? Drain plug was in?

Is there any damage to the top of the boat? My thoughts are a bit different. The water and ice got high enough to push the boat upwards until she was pressed against the ceiling of the boat house. As the water continued to rise it flooded the engine thru the exshust. Snow loads and ice might have even helped by pushing the dock under and the freezing to hold it there.

Just thinking outside the box

It's very likely boat was hitting roof of boat house and the water was high enough to get in through the exhaust. What should my next steps be, if this is the case?

 

[fwebster]

Water likely leaked into the oil pan thru the pan to block gasket.

Drain the oil, refill with fresh oil and when you start the engine be prepared to run it at operating temps for 1/2 hour or more.

 

[Jeff42899]

When you said repeat, do you mean to drain everything, refill oil, pull the plugs, roll it over several revolutions and then finally refill oil and put plugs back in?

You'll only need to remove the plugs once to get any water out of the cylinders. The repeat was drain the oil and run it to temp a few times until there's no more water in it.

 

[muskokamarc]

Water cannot enter the exhaust and then get immediately into the oil pan.

It may have flooded the cylinders through the exhaust and slowly leaked past the piston rings to fill the crank case. It may have also gotten high enough to enter through a valve cover breather.

Check your seat cushions. If they are water logged, that may give an indication as to how High the water was.

I think it flooded the cylinders through exhaust and slowly leaked through pistons to fill crank case, like you said. Seat cushions are all ok and no water damage in boat. It had to have come from below is what i'm thinking.

 

[Creekwood]

Before you start messing around, contact your insurance company to see if you have coverage. If you do, they will help you out with what to do and will involve a marine mechanic.

 

[Bt Doctur]

You will want to get the boat on land asap to remove the drive. Water entering the engine also enters the bellow thru the vent holes . there are 2 of them 12 and 6 on the clock above and below the input shaft

 

[muskokamarc]

You will want to get the boat on land asap to remove the drive. Water entering the engine also enters the bellow thru the vent holes . there are 2 of them 12 and 6 on the clock above and below the input shaft

Boat is being towed to the marina in the water Thursday morning and they will begin taking a look at problems. Unfortunately nothing else I can do at this point. It is still sitting up out of the water on the boat port.

 

[Express 390]

If the plugs were out water had to go in from there and through an open valve i would say I wood try loading the Cylinders up with oil , let sit for a couple days then try to turn over by hand so you don't bend a pushrod