Motor Mounts

[thunder219]

As I was trying to get my boat ready for this summer I keep running into problems. My latest one is the lag bolts that hold the motor mount in the hull, I have one stripped on each side out of the four that hold the mount. I took a screwdriver and poked in the hole and the wood is solid inside the hole. It looks like when the boat was built however they could get the impact gun on the bolt thats how it went in. I noticed they were all cocked last year so I am curious to how long (if always) it has been like this. Prob not smart (but was new to owning a boat) I ran it all last summer and didnt have any problems with it but it will bug me now knowing its not right. Which leads to my question of how to fix it. Some of the things I was thinking was to fill the hole with fiberglass resin and re-drilling, re-drill and
1/2 -1 longer bolt, or re-drill and go up to a 5/8 lag. I think the third one will be iffy because of the actual motor mount hole.
I appreciate any help on this.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Motor Mounts

Fill the holes with epoxy then drill. Fiberglass resin would end up being too brittle and does not have the strength.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Motor Mounts

And an Inch Longer Bolt would Probably go Right Thru the Hull.........

 

[Robj]

Re: Motor Mounts

I agree with Bob VT, make sure the wood in the mount is dry, then fill with epoxy. You may need to keep adding epoxy as it is absorbed into the wood. Then drill, use some sealant and install the mount.

 

[thunder219]

Re: Motor Mounts

I checked the wood thicness and it is close to 6" and the lag bolts are 3" long. That was the only reason I was thinking about going longer. I think I will try epoxy. Is this something common in boats?

 

[salty87]

Re: Motor Mounts

i bought my boat without a trailer. i didn't see the bottom until i bought one and pulled her out for the first time. i had been using the previous owners' lift until i found a trailer. sure enough, there was a lag bolt from an engine mount sticking out the bottom of the hull.

a few of my engine bolts are also ****-eyed. the guy i bought from said he only had it a while and didn't know what the owner before him was up to. he said he was selling only because it was too long for his slip, which was true. someone had obviously messed with the engine mounts though.