Ok, I got a 'free' (we all know how that goes) 17' fiberform boat...
I spent $250 to get it running, and put it in the water yesterday...
Result was (A) it does run properly, and (B) I noticed a small/slow leak coming from the motor-mount area... Specifically, from the lower edge of a thick aluminum plate (which the lower two mounting bolts attached to) that had been caulked/RTVed to the transom...
Further investigation revealed the following:
1) The boat apparently had a U-shaped piece of plywood (cut to fit the outline of the lower transom, excluding the splash-well - eg if the screws were removed and the glass cut, it should lift right out without even removing the motor (just removing the bottom 2 mount bolts)) screwed to the original transom (I am assuming this is not OEM), and apparently glassed to the floor (eg fiberglass at the bottom only, painted wood the rest of the way)... Holes were drilled to extend the motor mounts & the transom drain (eg the tubes 'stop', then there is a hole drilled in the plywood to match the tube), the aluminum plate was attached (there is a similar plate for the upper mounts - none of the motor mount nuts actually touch wood or fiberglass), and the motor re-mounted...
Given the size of the motor that was on it when I got it (100HP StarFlite) I have a feeling that whoever came up with that engine/boat combination wanted to reinforce his transom (100hp on such a small boat)... Either that, or I am looking at a really BAD patch job...
2) This U-shaped (eg transom-shaped) piece of plywood is rotten over a large area - a screwdriver easily punches into it...
3) I do not have access to the original transom (assuming the U-shaped plywood is NOT OEM) behind the plywood, and cannot tell if it is in good condition or not... There is no flex or other notable signs of weakness in the exterior hull...
So, what should I do? Rip out the 'extra' plywood and see what's behind it? Any idea what the chances are that I will have no further damage?
Or should I expect to have to un-mount the motor & rip out multiple layers of bad plywood & fiberglass?
I spent $250 to get it running, and put it in the water yesterday...
Result was (A) it does run properly, and (B) I noticed a small/slow leak coming from the motor-mount area... Specifically, from the lower edge of a thick aluminum plate (which the lower two mounting bolts attached to) that had been caulked/RTVed to the transom...
Further investigation revealed the following:
1) The boat apparently had a U-shaped piece of plywood (cut to fit the outline of the lower transom, excluding the splash-well - eg if the screws were removed and the glass cut, it should lift right out without even removing the motor (just removing the bottom 2 mount bolts)) screwed to the original transom (I am assuming this is not OEM), and apparently glassed to the floor (eg fiberglass at the bottom only, painted wood the rest of the way)... Holes were drilled to extend the motor mounts & the transom drain (eg the tubes 'stop', then there is a hole drilled in the plywood to match the tube), the aluminum plate was attached (there is a similar plate for the upper mounts - none of the motor mount nuts actually touch wood or fiberglass), and the motor re-mounted...
Given the size of the motor that was on it when I got it (100HP StarFlite) I have a feeling that whoever came up with that engine/boat combination wanted to reinforce his transom (100hp on such a small boat)... Either that, or I am looking at a really BAD patch job...
2) This U-shaped (eg transom-shaped) piece of plywood is rotten over a large area - a screwdriver easily punches into it...
3) I do not have access to the original transom (assuming the U-shaped plywood is NOT OEM) behind the plywood, and cannot tell if it is in good condition or not... There is no flex or other notable signs of weakness in the exterior hull...
So, what should I do? Rip out the 'extra' plywood and see what's behind it? Any idea what the chances are that I will have no further damage?
Or should I expect to have to un-mount the motor & rip out multiple layers of bad plywood & fiberglass?
