Hey guys, I'm not a mechanic so I don't know much about engine parts. I can generally replace small things here and there if it's not too much work, but that's the extent of my ability. I was hoping someone could tell me what part of the motor this is and what water spraying out around one of those bolts, which is loose and won't tighten, is.

Exhaust cover plate. http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Merc2/Force/150%20H.P.%20%281992-1994%29/0E000001%20THRU%200E093699/EXHAUST%20MANIFOLD%20AND%20COVER/parts.html

Yes, it is. Thank you. Any idea why water might be coming out around one of the bolts?

Found some info on another site, looks like I need to replace the gaskets. Hope I can find them, it's an late 80's Force motor.

Need to pull off clean the gaskets and install new one and tighten bolts, it should stop leaking

What about that bolt that won't tighten?

Yeah, gonna need re-threading. Decided to take it to a mechanic so I don't have to deal with it. There are two bolts down below the lip of the housing there that I can't get to easily.

yup, will prolly need a heli-coil.....maybe more by the time the plate is removed.

I had one of those force 5 cyl 150hp... bought the boat new back in 1990. had two recalls on flywheels and then crankshafts. So they wound up putting a new short block on it. But they re-used that exhaust cover. put it in the water and went thru the break in process again. Came home and found water leaking out of the same bolts as yours. And guess what, they were stripped as well. The thread depth of those holes in the block must be short, or the "meat" around the bolt hole (with the threads) is thin and cracks open when the bolt is tightened. Their fix was to put jb weld on the bolts and shove them back in and let it set up. I was pissed when I figured out what they did (found traces of grey jb weld around the bolt heads). I took it back and they refused to do anything. I then went to US Marine and tried to get it fixed. They said if it's not leaking, its not a problem. So I was stuck.

Rather than trying to get the bolts out (and heli-coil it) and possibly breaking the thin 1/4-20 bolt off (and causing a worse leak) I swallowed my pride and just let it be. If it started leaking again I would have to fix it anyway. 5years later I sold the boat and it was still not leaking. I see the guy I sold it to occasionally and he still has the ole girl. He said it has never leaked.

So....... As long as the exhaust cover plate gasket itself is not leaking (around it's outer permiter) and only leaking around the bolts... See if you can get them out, clean the holes carefully with brake cleaner, dry well, and do as they did with JB weld.

Best case you fix it yourself and save a few dollars, worse case you have to pull the exhaust cover off anyway to put in the heli-coil.