Well yesterday was not a good day, I was checking out the bilge area on my boat and there was some sand in the bottom so I decided to clean it out real good. While I was reaching down inside I cut my finger on something so it prompted further investigation. After I cleaned it up real good I could see on the inside of the bilge on the transom where the drain plug hole is cut out it seems to be cracked / split open...not good I assume. My drain plug is the metal threaded style that goes in from the outside but it looks like on the inside there is no tube or anything just a hole in the fiberglass with the exposed wood core open? That seems like a terrible design IMHO, I would think it should be more like the drains I have on the deck that are full tubes from inside to outside.
I recently installed trim tabs and where I drilled it was fine, no wet wood. The transom seems pretty solid when yanking up and down on the motor but obviously something needs to be done to repair this.
My questions:
1 - My boat in a 1986 Chris Craft 216 SeaHawk, the only access I have to that area is via a small 10 inch deck plate just above the bilge pump. How would I get down to that area to make a repair?
2 - Do you think the whole transom is shot and needs to be replaced or can that section be patched?
Little back ground info. I bought the boat pretty much as a rehab and have put alot of man hours and $$ into her getting it ready. I am definitley a DIY'r and I will make any repairs myself. I had to rewire the entire boat, rebuild carbs, replace shift rod, throttle & shift cables, install electronics, rod boxes, seats, rebuild trailer and just about everything else on the boat. Also installed a nice fiberglass hard top, I am too deep into this thing to give up now. I want to do it and do it right.....
And here is the most important question......am I down for the season or do you think I could tackle this repair in the off-season? If I start to rip into the boat now my whole summer is shot basically. I usually go out fishing 2 times a month for 6-8 hours a day, the boat is trailered back and forth and does not stay in the water. I fish in salt water.
Should I do something like fill the area with 5200 just to get me by until I can tear into it? Or should I just call it a season ?
Any advice would be great, pictures are attached.
Thanks
Rc
I recently installed trim tabs and where I drilled it was fine, no wet wood. The transom seems pretty solid when yanking up and down on the motor but obviously something needs to be done to repair this.
My questions:
1 - My boat in a 1986 Chris Craft 216 SeaHawk, the only access I have to that area is via a small 10 inch deck plate just above the bilge pump. How would I get down to that area to make a repair?
2 - Do you think the whole transom is shot and needs to be replaced or can that section be patched?
Little back ground info. I bought the boat pretty much as a rehab and have put alot of man hours and $$ into her getting it ready. I am definitley a DIY'r and I will make any repairs myself. I had to rewire the entire boat, rebuild carbs, replace shift rod, throttle & shift cables, install electronics, rod boxes, seats, rebuild trailer and just about everything else on the boat. Also installed a nice fiberglass hard top, I am too deep into this thing to give up now. I want to do it and do it right.....
And here is the most important question......am I down for the season or do you think I could tackle this repair in the off-season? If I start to rip into the boat now my whole summer is shot basically. I usually go out fishing 2 times a month for 6-8 hours a day, the boat is trailered back and forth and does not stay in the water. I fish in salt water.
Should I do something like fill the area with 5200 just to get me by until I can tear into it? Or should I just call it a season ?
Any advice would be great, pictures are attached.
Thanks
Rc
