Leak in engine compartment

[Snowgoose71]

Got a leak in engine compartment in 1998 beneteau oceanis 351. Propshaft and seal just replaced and doesnt appear to be problem. Seems to be a very slow leak below or around stern tube. Check out pics...i out plumbers putty over locations where the leak appears to be but did not help. Any ideas?

[tkeithlu]

Suggestion: Dry it off with a towel, and then immediately hold a paper towel against the surfaces around the stern tube. See where the towel gets wet first. Likely bets are the bellows to stern tube clamping and (less likely) a separation between the stern tube and the hull. Remember that water can flow along the bottom of a tube, so if you find water on the underside, then trace it uphill the same way.

If it's a crack between the stern tube and the hull, you'll have to pull the boat, dry it out, and start your repair from the outside. Let's hope that it's not that.

[Snowgoose71]

Thanks. I've kind of done that....I can at least say that it certainly isn't dripping. Seems to be running along something and pooling under shaft. But I will use the towel/napkin trick and see what I can find out.