Wildcat with exhaust leak, maybe

I think my 66 Wildcat is leaking water into the boat from the left side exhaust, under the floor. Last year (when I last used it) I found that the boat would take on a lot of water when parked at the dock. I found a steady trickle coming into the bilge from a hole that passes through the left stringer all the way in the back, near the transom. I checked the outer exhaust ring on the outside of the hull. Didin't see any problems and temporarily sealed it against the hull with a silicone based product (we were at Medicine Lake, CA) since that was all that was available. I suspect the exhaust tube that runs under ther floor may be leaking. It takes on very little water when under power. So here are my questions.
1. Does anyone have any pictures of what a Wildcat hull looks like under the floor? I hate to cut things up blindly.
2. Am I correct in thinking that at least some of the floor is going to have to come up to check and/or fix the leak.
3. Would the exhaust tube be encased in foam? If not could I get away with cutting smaller sections of floor and snaking the tube under the floor?

Would really appreciate any help and any pictures. I was just informed that we are supposed to go back to the lake in early July and I really hate pulling the boat out every night but can't risk leaving it in the water. Frank

That does help. Any chance the solid tube slides out through the hull? I have no idea how to attach pics. I've been lurking here since I bought the boat but am still a newbie as far as how to actively participate. Frank

Keeganino,
Nice looking Skier!! That red is classy!!

Ed, We may be thinking two different things here. I can and have removed the floor section which runs from stringer to stringer directly behind the engine cover before. I need to remove flooring on the outside of the stringers because the exhaust runs on the outside.

This is an attempt to link to pictures. Forgive me if it doesn't work because I usually get my kids to do this stuff.

http://s1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa392/fesser1/66%20Wildcat/

If youve seen some signs of foam, then yes, your probably unlucky. The no-foam boats tend to resist rotting a little better since air can circulate everywhere. Take a picture of where the exhaust enters the floor and we should be able to tell you for sure.

Ive never seen or heard of an original CC that had an entire floor made out of ply and then covered in glass. On foamed boats, certain areas of the floor have wood in them, but theyre primarily glass right over foam- and you probably wouldnt know the wood was there by looking at it. I wonder if youre talking about the wood floor installed on top of the glass? Or perhaps your boat has had the floor replaced? Again, pictures would be helpful.

Thanks Tim, you're right. I looked at mine when I got home from work.

Tim, I'll look at it this afternoon when I get home and will attempt to get some useful pictures. Assuming it is foamed in, is there a second set of stringers on the opposite side of the exhaust? I'm thinking of cutting just enough floor to fix the leak, and then fixing it properly after we get back from Medicine Lake. My kids won't let me hear the end of it if we are at the lake for a week without the boat.
Pete, thanks very much for the help with linking to my photos. The link didn't work for me however. I don't know if it is just me though. The pictures are of the boat the day I bought it. The interior could use help again.

Frank,I don't have any pictures than this,but if it's like mine,basically they took an approx 6" long tube and stuck it thru the back of the boat.They reinforced the area with wood encapsulated in the fiberglass.The tube is then sealed in place and the chrome ring is just for looks. pull off the rings and check if you can see if it's leaking there.I'm sure there is a good pic in some of the stringer threads.

Thanks Ed. I agree with you about the rusty transition tube. We did the packings last year when I first found the leak. It was after that that I saw it coming through the stringer on the port side. I plan to run it tonight but am not too optimistic. Last year it didn't leak noticeably while in use. Once it was shut down the water would start coming in. I assume the exhaust blew the water out fast enough under power. The leak was a good, steady trickle. If left to sit for a 3-5 hours it would have about 4-5 inches of water at the bilge pump.

Frank,
I don't think anyone's mentioned a leak in the speedo pitot tubing or a rutured pulsation dampner as a possible source of water. Have you checked? Does your speedo work?

Peter, The speedo does work. I'm not sure what or where the dampner is but if it is part of the driveline I am going to rule it out. I can see where the water is coming in to the bilge (through a hole in the stringer) but I can't see where the water is getting into the hull because of the floor.

Thanks Joe and Peter. I think I am going to start digging out what I can from around the tube tonight. If it gets bad enough the boat will just stay home. Everyone's input has been a big help.

The more you dig the more wet stuff you are going to find. There are only 2 kinds of boats from this era. Those that have been rebuilt and those that need to be. Lots of people have cut the floor out, pulled the foam, dried it out and put it back together with no foam. You will be fine without the foam.

Keeganino, I think I am going to do what you suggested. Thanks for the comments. She actually looks better in the pictures than in person. Since those photos much of the vinyl has begun to deteriorate, and there are lots of fine cracks in the gelcoat on the flat surfaces. She still shines up nice and always draws lots of attention at the dock or on the water. Sounds cooler than any boat I've ever owned too. Now if I can just keep her from sinking. Frank