Bullet Owners
 

I have an 88 Bullet that I am now on my 4th season that has constantly collected water on the INSIDE face of the transom, usually after about 45 MPH. You can see a swirl of exhaust and water just behind the sun pad, that apparently is being sucked into the engine compartment vent that runs above the transom. The motors are 509/500HP, and I am running exhaust tips that are cut on a 45deg angle.

If I open the engine hatch just 1/4", problem goes away (all dry). Every Bullet I have seen has basically the same vents, and there are many with larger engines than mine. Can't figure why I would have a problem.

Anyone experience this?

Never had that problem when I had mine....I had "scoops" though that may have forced enough air through to stop it.

Do you run with your blowers on or off.

I never had that problem. I have the "shotgun" exhaust tips on mine.
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Carter - I run with the blowers off as they are drawing air out of the engine compartment (maybe I need another pair of blowers wired to blow into the engine compartment:cool-smiley-011:).

JSP- The exhaust tips are about as long as your "shotguns". I was thinking about cutting the angled tips so they would accept the Salisbury (sp?) type of external exhaust flapper - maybe that will knock down the spray and allow the back vent to breath without drawing in water vapor?

I just think the whole thing is strange because I know others do not have this problem.

mine never leaked from the vents but old school told me his did. could it be the way you are coming off plane? i always come off gradually out of habit.

Steve - I always come off plane gradually myself as well.

This problem is when I am above about 40-45 MPH. Just a constant swirl of wet exhaust at the top of the transom being sucked into the engine compartment. Looks like a fog behind the engine cover.

If Old School had a similar problem, wonder what exhaust tips he was running? I am thinking about cutting off my angled tips and installing external exhaust flappers. Maybe that will knock the wet exhaust down and eliminate the swirling.

Wonder how the Bullet would look with a rear spoiler?:evilb:

If it is pulling air in from the back i would add more air in from the front.....It should flow threw the engine compartment front to back.....They have done a lot of air testing in engine compartments to get proper positive air flow...It sounds like you would fix two problems with one solution....

i wonder if it has to do with a notched/straight transom or maybe what props your using?

mine was a straight transom and old style mirage 3 blades.

drive showers maybe. mine didnt have them.

mine also had the same tips are yours.

I had the Salsbury flaps and drive showers 89 notched...If any of this helps........

Steve - my 88 is without the notched transom - running 3 blade mirage plus (25P).

welp im no help.:rolleyes: maybe old school can..

I have an 88 Bullet with straight transom. I do not have that problem as well. Maybe you can post some pics. A pic tells a thousand words.

Every time that I finished running my Bullet the inside of the transom would be wet. If you get someone to take pictures or video of you running, you will see that the water spray from the exhaust tends to "curl up" behind the boat and enter through the rear vents up top. It never bothered me, but make sure that you have all of the old screw holes filled in with 5200 or I would imagine that it could lead to a soft transom!!

My old Bullet was an '88 without a notch. It had 502's that made a little over 600HP. Tube exhaust and the tips that had an air pump that would close the flaps (I NEVER) used them!!:drink: It did have drive showers, but I doubt that they have anything to do with it. I'll look and see if I have any pictures to post.



Craig

Here is a picture of a Bullet not doing it. Maybe it's the angle of the tips???

Here are some pictures of my ex Bullet running. You can see what I'm talking about. Maybe there is some kind of screen that would let air out but not let water in??? Sorry that I couldn't give you a straight answer, but I honestly don't know!

OldSchool - THAT IS EXACTLY MY PROBLEM!

I started to investigate when I noticed that I was collecting condensate (small drops of water) in the top half of the MPI intake plunums. Then I started to see some salt deposit on both #7 spark plugs, and I have had trouble with valves sticking.

Run with the hatch up just 1/4" and the transom is dry and so far the plugs look good.

Maybe the boats without the notch have this issue?

Don

Don,

I suggest you sell the Bullet and buy a Cafe Racer(but not necessarily in that order---buy the Cafe first...). That will definitley solve your problem, and i know where you can find an excetionally clean one... :) :)

Seriously, I have nothing to offer on your problem, but FYI, the PRA event is on the 26th... same plan as last year? Meet at Bug Light?

Sean

Are there any other vents for the engine compartment?
I'm not that familiar w/ the bullets.

I have had what I thought was condesation when I run alot at faster speeds, but after looking at some action pics of my boat, it does look like the exhaust is swirling up around the transom. Mine's an 88 with no notch.

I do have another theory though. Could it be the swim platform is changing the aerodynamics of the boat? I wouldn't think the speeds we're talking here would matter?

Does everyone that have this problem have a swim platform?

Don does not have a swim platform.

My thought is that the rear vents create a vacuum.
Once you crack the hatch, the vacuum it is eliminated and the air would flow out of those rear vents.
You could install vents on the sides of the hatch, which would do the same as opening the hatch.

Stormrider is correct. The inlet scoops on the front port and starboard sides of the hatch are not letting enough air in. You have to open up the fron intake to allow the air to flow better, front to back.

You may want to check out some of the hatches pantera has been doing w/ built in recessed vents. You'd have to do a new sunpad though.

Sean - PRA event on the 26th of July or August? Either way, we'll be there.

Back to my problem, I would guess that if I cut additional vents into the sides of the upper deck of the engine compartment that would help. Just trying to figure why only some Bullets have this problem.

Hate to change the look of the boat.:rolleyes:

Here is a shot of a Bullet with additional side vents.

I have the salisbury flappers and do not have this problem. You may need to do what you have mentioned.

I just cut the anged tips off and shortened the tip to 3". Added the Salisbury flappers and so far, seems to be almost NO water coming down the inside of the transom. May still try to put small bumbers (spacers) under the hatch so just a littel more air gets into the engine compartment.

Don