Water in bilge...ZR409

[Infinity]

Was helping a friend Saturday night get his new to him, 2014 SV233 launched (with ZR409 engine). He did not realize it had a center drain plug and dropped it in the water. Soon as we saw bilge kick on a couple mins later, I opened back and saw water rushing in....he pulled vehicle back down and we got it on the trailer pretty quick. Water did get about 12" deep in bilge, just over v-drive connection.

I checked v-drive trans, red ATF fluid and no water in that....but I heard that the trans has a vent that water can get into it. What is best process to make sure there are no issues? Its the ZR409 engine with powerplus trans....so no dipstick and it has (according to my manual) the Mobiltrans 50 oil that is supposed to be "maintenance free", it does have the 2 square plugs you can remove and assume we need to remove and make sure fluid does not appear "milky" and if it does...what is exact process? Drain and re-fill....then do you run boat a little and repeat process again, or just repeat the process without running boat... I figure boat needs to run to make sure any milky fluid in lines comes back out so it can be sucked up on 2nd drain/re-fill, right?

After checking everything and draining last night, got boat running and it all appeared pretty good (ran fans in engine bay that night and sprayed with anti-corrosion spray on engine to help prevent issues).

1 other issue I noticed:

I have a 2014 SV244 with all electronic Livorsi control, but throttle is different on his boat. Its still a Livorsi throttle, BUT it has a cable (cable is blue and runs just over the v-drive in engine space). The throttle/cable seems pretty stiff on that boat, especially getting it into forward/reverse (could partly be that I am so used to my throttle action tho). Is this more normal for that throttle and maybe it just needs to be lubed and serviced to act smoother, or could it be that there is another issue. Boat had ECM read done on it when he bought it since they checked it out for him.....and it said 640hrs. Boat needs some love/TLC, but he got a good deal so putting some money into it is expected to bring it back to the BA boat it is.

Thanks

[charlesml3]

Should be fine, really. The water didn't sit and have time to really get soaked through the starter. I think you've done everything you need to do.

Almost every boater has dropped a boat in the water without the plug. Once. It's one of those lessons you REALLY remember.

-Charles

[Infinity]

Yea, I did not cross my mind to even ask him if he installed the center plug since my boat does not have one. Being the same year, I just assumed they were the same but have noticed a couple differences, one being the difference in the throttle...mine being all electronic and his having a cable. Kindof stumps me considering we have the same engine too.
Any thoughts on the stiff throttle, especially when "clicking" into forward or reverse? Should I just lube it everywhere possible and see if that helps?

I plan to spend a day with him in next week or 2 and go thru entire boat checking/changing all fluids, impeller, fuel filters, etc and want to service everything I can for him during that time.

[Evening Shade]

You are referring to the V-drive. The two square plugs are the dip sticks. Remove them and check the oil to make sure it’s not milky. MobilTrans 50 should look like vegetable cooking oil when new. About the only place you can get it is Nautique Parts and maybe Skidim and it’s pretty expensive. About $35/quart IIRC. The tranny will have a dipstick and that fluid should be red Dexron IV.

Hope all checks out well.

[Infinity]

You are referring to the V-drive. The two square plugs are the dip sticks. Remove them and check the oil to make sure it’s not milky. MobilTrans 50 should look like vegetable cooking oil when new. About the only place you can get it is Nautique Parts and maybe Skidim and it’s pretty expensive. About $35/quart IIRC. The tranny will have a dipstick and that fluid should be red Dexron IV.

Hope all checks out well.

Yes, exactly. I did order the Mobiltrans 50 fluid from Nautique Parts this weekend and it should be there this week.....just in case it did get water in there. Figured if he does not need it, I may just go ahead and replace the fluid for my boat just cause I am OCD. I know its designed to be maintenance free but I would rather replace and be on safe side since I am approaching 300hrs on my boat this summer. I checked my fluid and it looks exactly right so I may leave it alone for this year and make that part of one of my winter items (if we dont need to replace his fluid....tho I would think since his boat has over 600hrs, may be better to go ahead and replace it regardless).