80HP 2-stroke water in bottom cylinder

[fishfun83]

I have a 1996 or 1997 C80TLRV Yamaha outboard. The engine would not turn over so I removed the plugs and found the bottom plug rusted. Removed the cylinder head and found rust on the bore of the bottom cylinder. Trying to figure out how water could have gotten in the cylinder and wondering if water could possibly come from the outer exhaust jacket? Is there a passage where water could be coming from there? I am going to purchase a new head for the engine but I don't want to do that only to find that the water was getting into the cylinder from the outer exhaust jacket.

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I'd look real close at the head gasket itself and especially the HEAD for corrosion/leakage.

If the head was still on, a leak down test would have helped pin point the issue.