Caulking/sealant around transom shield during installation?

[yvrmarc]

Good Day,

I am about to install my refurbished Bravo transom shield, complete with a brand new gasket. Mercruiser states that caulking/sealant is not necessary for installation, and there seems to be varying opinions on whether to caulk the outer transom plate or not.

My outer transom is smooth and in good shape, but am leaning towards running a bead of Sikaflex around the transom plate for secondary protection. Why is this so frowned upon? The boat will be in the water (brackish) year around.

Any insight on best practices for this would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Caulking/sealant around transom shield during installation?

It's not needed and it's just a bigger mess when you have to pull your drive again. You'll have to cut that junk off, possibly damaging your gasket and then clean the junk off the drive and transom before reinstalling... it's not worth it.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Caulking/sealant around transom shield during installation?

The seal works very well if installed according to manufactures requirements. Adding other sealants increases the space between the two surfaces and can also react with the seal thereby causing premature failure.

Old engineering saying, if it aint broke don't fix it

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Caulking/sealant around transom shield during installation?

Mercruiser states that caulking/sealant is not necessary for installation, and there seems to be varying opinions on whether to caulk the outer transom plate or not.

My $0.015: If Mercruiser thought it was a 'good' idea, they'd probably 'develop' their own brand of transom plate sealant & charge an arm & a leg for it, like most other OEM products for I/O's.....

And for the reasons Jig posted, not needed or wanted.

BTW: Caulking around the outdrive is usually a sign that all is not good w/ the transom, or the outdrive gasket is shot. Either way, it isn't a good sign....

What all's been done that you had the Bravo off?

 

[yvrmarc]

Re: Caulking/sealant around transom shield during installation?

My $0.015: If Mercruiser thought it was a 'good' idea, they'd probably 'develop' their own brand of transom plate sealant & charge an arm & a leg for it, like most other OEM products for I/O's.....

I hear that ... I just spent $6/Nut for the Bell Housing ... I am sure that they are $0.25/Nut at Home Depot but could not find the narrow thread.

What all's been done that you had the Bravo off?

Basicly everything ... new steering pin, trim cylinders, mercathode, trim senders, bellows, shift cable ... hopefully it is as good as new now!

Thanks for all of your responses ... I will trust the engineers at Mercruiser and go without the caulking. I just I am coming at it like a bathtub installation where I caulk where the tub meets tile. Can you tell I am not a marine mechanic!