1983 Cobalt 18'

[andymoler58]

I just purchased a restored Cobalt yesterday from someone up in Iowa.

I left the boat in the water overnight and they said that there is water coming into the hull area right in the ski locker area. Enough to trigger the auto bilge pump to come on.

I spoke to a couple mechanics who said it could be a boot problem or a transom problem. We rode the boat around yesterday and it ran well and I didn't notice any water in the engine area afterwards.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I hope I didn't get ripped off and hope it's not the transom.

[Big Block Power]

Prob bad bellows.

[Lockey14s]

I just purchased a restored Cobalt yesterday from someone up in Iowa.

I left the boat in the water overnight and they said that there is water coming into the hull area right in the ski locker area. Enough to trigger the auto bilge pump to come on.

I spoke to a couple mechanics who said it could be a boot problem or a transom problem. We rode the boat around yesterday and it ran well and I didn't notice any water in the engine area afterwards.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I hope I didn't get ripped off and hope it's not the transom.

could be the bellows, or a couple of other things. What type of drive system does it have? Merc, volvo, OMC? if OMC it might be the large boot. transom could be rotted and allowing water in also.

you can start taking a look around the engine and see where the water might be coming in. run the engine and just make sure there are no leaks as well.