Wildcat with exhaust leak, maybe
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22209
Printed Date: November-20-2024 at 12:33am
Topic: Wildcat with exhaust leak, maybe
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Subject: Wildcat with exhaust leak, maybe
Date Posted: June-21-2011 at 2:00pm
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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 ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Replies:
Posted By: Keeganino
Date Posted: June-21-2011 at 10:40pm
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I am not familiar with the Wildcat model but here is what I know about other newer models. Usually after the rubber hose passes under the floor it is attached to a straight rigid tube that will stop a few inches short of the transom, where rubber hose will make the connection to the exhaust ports. The rigid tube is most likely made of fiberglass, copper or stainless. I would assume that once you cut the floor open it will look more or less like this. I doubt the exhaust is bedded in foam since it is sandwiched between the main and secondary stringers. The rubber hose could be cracked or if you have the fiberglass tubes, they are notorious for leaking.
Hope this helps and that I am not too off base. Sounds like a cool boat. How bout some pics!  ------------- "working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4897" rel="nofollow - 1973 Skier |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 3:04am
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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
------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: Ed
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 3:28am
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Frank,
you shouldn't have to cut anything. Remove your motor box from the boat, and you should be able to access the tubes from your floor board directly behind your motor box. When you remove the motor box, you will see the stringers, follow that line all the way back and you should be able to find the screws that hold the floor board in place(the floor board should attach to the stingers all the way back). More than likely, you have a hose leak either all the way in the back, or coming off of the exhaust riser. |
Posted By: Ed
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 3:32am
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Keeganino,
Nice looking Skier!! That red is classy!! |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 4:09am
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Ed, is there a narrow strip of floor running over the exhaust? I get what you are saying about finding the screws on the stringer, but what about on the other side of the exhaust tube? Will I be pulling the floor all of the way to the side of the boat, or just over the pipe/tube? ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 12:50pm
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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. ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 12:59pm
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Frank, what is your floor made out of? In the late 60's, CC was commonly installing glass over foam, sometimes vinyl covered ply on top of that, with foamed in exhaust cavities. It would be very obvious from up top if thats the configuration you have. You may be lucky as CC was still building foam-less boats in the mid 60's. The floors were ply. This is how ReidP's '65 Tournament Skier was built, which has the same hull as your Wildcat. If youve got a foam-less boat, then I *think* the ply floor panels may be removeable. Look around the edges for screws.
Ed, in case you didnt know, in the early-mid 70's, CC changed the width of that rear panel. The newer versions cover the exhaust cavities, while the old ones did not. ------------- |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 1:09pm
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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/ ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 1:18pm
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TRBenj, I want to say it is plywood with fiberglass over it but I haven't pulled up the carpet. I know it has at least some foam in it from small areas where it is visible under the back seat frames. It also felt like there was foam around the exhaust when I probed aorund the hole in the stringer where the water was leaking in to the bilge area. So, does that mean I am unlucky? ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 1:27pm
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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. ------------- |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 1:47pm
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http://s1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa392/fesser1/66%20Wildcat/%20 - Frank's photobucket link
Frank, Cool boat!!! Make sure you get the info submitted for the diaries. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Ed
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 2:17pm
| Thanks Tim, you're right. I looked at mine when I got home from work. |
Posted By: Ed
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 2:23pm
| Thanks Pete. I should have it in the water in a couple of weeks. |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-22-2011 at 4:40pm
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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. ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-23-2011 at 1:18am
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Okay, pulled the boat out into daylight and started the annual cleaning. It is a foam boat for sure. The exhaust tubing has obviously been replaced and looks new. This makes sense since the engine was rebuilt by the previous owner. There is a different colored foam around the tube. I can't find any evidence that the floor over the exhaust tube was disturbed when the tube was replaced. Sooo, I am thinking that the tube was replaced with the floor left intact. If the tube is good, where am I most likely to have a leak? I am guessing that it would be where the tube meets the hardware that goes through the hull. If I could see pictures or diagrams of what parts are there, I might actually be able to fix my leak. I posted pictures to the same photbucket site I mentioned a few posts up. Again, I appreciate any help. ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: June-23-2011 at 2:36am
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.
 ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: Ed
Date Posted: June-23-2011 at 2:50am
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Frank,
You're on the right track. Expose all of the exhaust you possibly can and put a hose on it in your driveway. Run it and see if you can pin point the leak. It looks as if you have a lot of rust on the transition from your risers to the exhaust hose in the floor. The first place I would look when you run it. If you dont see a leak anywhere on the exhaust, adjust the paking gland on your shaft log and rudder stuffing box. To do that, break the retaining nut loose and back the packing gland off a few turns. Then tighten the packing gland by hand only. Pull the retaining nut tight. You should get about seven drips a minute when you're in the water. Do the same for the stuffing box on your rudder. You may also need to replace the packing which you can get at SKIDIM.com. Should be 1/4" for the shaft and 3/16" for the rudder. You might want to leave as much of the bilge exposed and put it in the water before your trip if you have a chance. By the way, how much water are you seeing in the bilge when you use it? |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-23-2011 at 12:23pm
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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. ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-23-2011 at 12:24pm
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Thanks Gary. I plan to pull those rings again too. Nice color on your boat. ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: June-23-2011 at 12:57pm
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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? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: JoeinNY
Date Posted: June-23-2011 at 1:53pm
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Pete that wouldnt give him 4-5 inches of water while floating for a few hours. I would expect the exhaust, and I would expect the hose. It is not uncommon for it to crack around a bend point. Expose the heck out of it and look for leaks, it doesnt sound like your going to be jumping to do a foam and stringer replacement anytime soon so you better act quick to limit the amount of water you are taking into this thing. Sitting around with a bilge full of water is not going to help this boat out.
------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1477 - 1983 Ski Nautique 2001 1967 Mustang 302 "Decoy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5MkcBXBBs - Holeshot Video |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-23-2011 at 2:08pm
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.
 ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: June-23-2011 at 2:40pm
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Frank,
Thanks to joe clearing up the problem by stating it's taking on water while moored, then it's not the speedo pitot tubing or dampener. Sorry I mised that. You sying the speedo does work tell me it's not the problem as well. The pulsation dampner is a hollow cylinder in line with the pitot tubing mounted on the transom. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-23-2011 at 6:46pm
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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. ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-24-2011 at 12:01am
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Well, if you are really bored and still reading this, I added some pictures to the photobucket site. Pulled the rear seat. Pulled the gas tank. Pulled everything the gas tank used to sit on. Gutted some foam around the stern end of the port exhaust. It was pretty damp around the transom and where it met the hull. Moving toward the engine it isn't getting drier. Sooo...now I am going back out, with a jigsaw and sawzall and I am going to cut the flooring up just outside of the area where the tube runs. I am not thrilled but I can't stop myself. On a different note, there isn't much room between the inner and outer stringers. I can't see where the foam would make it that much stronger. I am tempted to leave it out upon reassembly. Should I? This is a 66 hull and it seems pretty stout. ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: Keeganino
Date Posted: June-24-2011 at 6:58pm
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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. ------------- "working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4897" rel="nofollow - 1973 Skier |
Posted By: Keeganino
Date Posted: June-24-2011 at 7:20pm
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Just saw the new pics. What a beauty! That is a real gem. Once you pinpoint the intrusion it should be a pretty easy fix. Are you planning on re-glassing the floor that you removed? This is not the time of year you really want to start a stringer job, but you are already elbow deep. I would fix the leak, get the floor back together just enough to run it for the rest of the season and dig in come fall if that is warranted. Since you have been a site member so long I am sure you already know what a great community this is, and all the help you need is a click away. ------------- "working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4897" rel="nofollow - 1973 Skier |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-24-2011 at 8:01pm
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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 ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: June-24-2011 at 9:28pm
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Take lots of pics throughout the tear down so you remember what it looks like later. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-25-2011 at 1:06am
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Good advice BuffaloBFN. I've been taking pictures when I remember to. I've been adding them to the photobucket site here
http://s1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa392/fesser1/66%20Wildcat/ I would link them to here but it takes me so long to figure out what I am doing that it seems like time wasted. With the assistance of my youngest daughter, I was able to at least find the biggest leak. If you look at the photos you will see a simple splice or junction of the two straight exhaust tubes, with two stainless hose clamps. When I put a hose into the exhaust outlet, water trickled in at this coupling. I was surprised because I expected it to come from the elbow that is just below the exhaust manifold outlet. The elbow is rusty and ugly, but, with water in the exhaust tube, the coupling in the middle leaked and the elbow didn't. That said, if I make it through the week that I really need the boat, I would like to replace the elbows and the parts that pass through the transom. Is this hardware readily available? Sorry for the long posts, but if it wasn't for this site, I would be trying to reinvent the wheel on everything I do with this boat. Frank ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: June-25-2011 at 9:47am
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http://s1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa392/fesser1/66%20Wildcat/ - link to Frank's photobucket
Frank, Glad you found the problem. It looks like a PO ran out of hose and did the splice. Ether that or he couldn't read the tape measure!!! Actually, I feel it may have been a repair job without pulling the floor - just using the available space in the cavity and sliding the exhaust fore and aft. BTW, all hose connections below the waterline should be double clamped. That's what the USCG tells us!!! ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-25-2011 at 12:55pm
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I think you are right Peter. I found a weird combination of stuff that looked really old and stuff that looked pretty fresh. The starboard side is even stranger. The tube is definitely older and the through hull fitting has some copper that is crusty looking but that side is dry. I should have real fun today since I have all day to work on it. Frank
------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-25-2011 at 9:10pm
This is what it looks like when dumb people are allowed to work on old boats. This piece of galvanized tube that they used as a splice or coupler, is thinner than the rain gutters on my house. I wasted a 2 hour round trip to the closest Westmarine store thinking they would have exhaust components. Apparently shopping online makes more sense.  ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-25-2011 at 9:16pm
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My temporary solution was found at a muffler shop. The guy sold me a six inch section of 3 inch tailpipe for 6 bucks. I can get it to fit in the exhaust tubes which are 2 7/8. I am going to double clamp everything as Peter mentioned. Plan to foam around the exhaust and put the floor back temporarily. When we get back form the lake, the fun will start...gut interior, pull up floors, see what uglies are living down there. I am so glad I didn't just live with the leak one more time. ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-25-2011 at 9:18pm
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...and one more thing, thanks Pete for fixing the link to the boat pictures. Very helpful of you! Frank ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: June-25-2011 at 10:03pm
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Frank,
Forget the foam! As mentioned, you may decide to go no foam after spending some time reading some of the threads about it. I happen to be a no foam person but there are other opinions as well. OK, never shop at West - they are nothing but whores when it comes down to price. You can do better by simply doing on line searches. I happen to like go2marine.com. The local muffler shop helped out but you do know it's temporary!! Even if they sold you SS tube, it's 400 series "muffler" stainless and it's junk!!! We all want you to do a total at seasons end! we'll be witing and be around for any help you need!  ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: June-26-2011 at 12:51am
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Very nice ride; well worth the effort!
On those pics, take all sorts of angles and under and behind anything you can get to. The ones that make your neighbors wonder might be the most valuable in the end.  ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2331&sort=&pagenum=12&yrstart=1986&yrend=1990" rel="nofollow - 1988 BFN-sold "It's a Livin' Thing...What a Terrible Thing to Lose" ELO |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-26-2011 at 3:33am
Pete, I put some foam in there before I checked in here. There were lots of crescent shaped passageways through the inner and outer stringers and the cross braces. I posted pictures of those areas as best I could. The pictures are actually what I was looking for before I started ripping the floor apart. It almost looks like the boat was designed not to have foam since there were so many passageways built into the stringers and crossmembers. Frank  ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |
Posted By: 66Wildcat
Date Posted: June-26-2011 at 3:36am
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BuffaloBFN, I am sticking the camera everywhere. Good advice. Frank ------------- 66 Wildcat, 401ci Buick |