1977 Aristocraft Nineteen leaking at transom

[jacko137]

MCM 120, number 1 outdrive--all original to 1977, 19 foot boat.

I launched my winer project on Saturday, and it was a quick trip. Actually, I didn't even get it off the trailer before I noticed water coming in at the transom, and coming in to the tune of about 3 gallons inside of 5 minutes.

In pre-launch testing, I'd put the nose in the air and filled it with water to see if it leaked out and it didn't, so it was a bit of a suprise, but there are little spider line cracks around the drain hole so I knew it might have been wet and expanded at some point.

So, a couple quesions:
1. Artisto's were known for foam/fiberglass only--no wood stringers. But, I assume there was still wood in the transom, yes?
2. Do I pull the engine and cut out old wood from inside to repair or
3. Do you cut fiberglass shell from outside and worry about re-glass after replacing wood?

I'm at a loss on this one--don't even know where to start. I hate to consider giving up, but perhaps I need to start considering that route.

Thanks guys.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: 1977 Aristocraft Nineteen leaking at transom

Your transom may be bad, buts that's not the problem you just discribed, three gallons in five minutes is not from a few cracks around the drain plug.

If the I/O is original, then it's long over due to have the bellows and other related items changed.

 

[jacko137]

Re: 1977 Aristocraft Nineteen leaking at transom

Your transom may be bad, buts that's not the problem you just discribed, three gallons in five minutes is not from a few cracks around the drain plug.

If the I/O is original, then it's long over due to have the bellows and other related items changed.

No, I'm not thinking the cracks are source of leak, rather they are sign of wet transom wood that expanded during freeze. I'd love it if it were bellows and or a gasket problem, but there is also a little play in the outdrive when I pull up and it sounds hollow as I knock closer to the outdrive from inside.

any suggestions as to how to rebuild the transom on a i/o? Or is this just a part out?

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1977 Aristocraft Nineteen leaking at transom

could ya see where the water was coming in from? i'd think ya need to find out where the leak is prior to scrapping the project.....
did ya check the bellows like mentioned? if there's a hole in them, it's just open to seawater and would be a big leak....

I assume there was still wood in the transom, yes?

i don't know. i'd give aristocraft a call. www.aristocraftboats.com they've been most helpful when i've called...... if ya find out the answer to yer question. let us know. i have the same question......

 

[ondarvr]

Re: 1977 Aristocraft Nineteen leaking at transom

There's a great deal of information here on this type of repair, do a search on "transom repair" or "rotten transom" and you should have a few days worth of reading. After that you'll have some questions that will be specific to your boat.

 

[jacko137]

Re: 1977 Aristocraft Nineteen leaking at transom

I was unable to find the "search" function, but I'm on it now. Good lord, I do have my reading to do! Thanks for the tip.

Also, Ziggy--the good guys at Aristo told me it DOES have a small piece of wood about 3" larger than the outdrive notch out. It is actually three pieces of 1/2" plywood sandwiched together more or less as a spacer. It sounds pretty easy to pull out once the engine is pulled:redface

I'm not much of a mechanic, but I'm going to give it a try. I guess I'll try to replace all the bellows, gasket and gimble bearing while I have everything pulled apart, eh?

I have a book, no shame regarding screw ups and a limited budget, so I have to make this work. All I can say is thank god for the crew on iboats!!!

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1977 Aristocraft Nineteen leaking at transom

ya didn't say what service manual ya had. here a link to where ya can get the real macoy if ya ain't got it. #2 it looks like.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=251571

thanks for the info on the wood in the transom. interesting..... had my boat at my local fiberglass boat repair shop a while back. he contened that it had wood in it too. said he could see it where the drive shaft passes thru the hull. anyways, good confirmation. thanks.

i went out and pulled up on my drive to see if it had movement, it does. the transom didn't flex though. that's what i'd think ya'd be looking for....... if it does, i'd think it could leak thru the transom shield seal. have ya checked the bellows or ever had them replaced. it is a doable job for the diy with the help of the folks here on iboats for sure.....

 

[jacko137]

Re: 1977 Aristocraft Nineteen leaking at transom

Yeah, my transom didn't flex when I pulled up on the outdrive, but the water that was in the boat (I left the plug in so I could check) DID come out through the space between outdrive and the plate, so I'm thinking it is rotten. Could it be bellows and a gasket you think, even with play in the outdrive like that? I guess my final test will be to poke around where the wood should be and see if I easily puncture with a screw driver.

Pulling the engine, outdrive and outdrive assembly sounds like the hardest part of the job, but I can't stop now.

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1977 Aristocraft Nineteen leaking at transom

but the water that was in the boat (I left the plug in so I could check) DID come out through the space between outdrive and the plate, so I'm thinking it is rotten.

from yer discription, i agree, yer probe will confirm i think... hope not though........

when ya splashed it, could ya see where the water was coming from.... before ya pull anything that prevents it from floating. i'd still think ya'd want to confirm where the leak is at..........

 

[jacko137]

Re: 1977 Aristocraft Nineteen leaking at transom

UPDATE:

I pulled the engine and outdrive this past weekend in prep for my transom wood removal. As I started looking over the job ahead of me for the plate removal from the inside I noticed a three of the four main plate securing bolt washers just hanging behind the bolts They weren't event hand tight. So I bolted everything down and they tightened up well. Not stripped and transom wood didn't "give" with decent torque.

I KNOW my shift bellow was leaking in--clear to see with the engine removed. So my next step is to replace all the bellows, put outdrive back on and get her in the water without the engine. This way I can see if there is water leaking any longer.

I may not have a rotten transom after all. But WHY would all the bolts have been loosened to that degree I wonder?

I'm I taking the right approach here guys?