Old boat wanting more money spent on her! Grady White

[LX Kid]

Some will recognize me from the "Boat Restoration Forum" on my '82 Grady White. Seems like I have a transom leak somewhere around the out-drive. I noticed the last couple of times out that I had about a gallon or so of water in the bilge. I don't know if I should just live with it and keep an eye on it or fix it. I just know that if I pull the out-drive, which probably means I'll have to pull the engine, it's going to get expensive. I have a gut feeling that the transom is going to have some rot about the 1/4 from the bottom going up. If that's the case then what the heck to do? Seacast, cut it out from the inside and re-fiberglass or what????? If I stand on the out-drive I get no flex in the transom but I do have a small amount of gimbal ring play. Looking for suggestions on possible options. Taking it somewhere and having it done is not an option.

 

[oops!]

Re: Old boat wanting more money spent on her! Grady White

hi buddy. um er.....first...lets find out where you are leaking from....im not sure if you have a merc.....it sounds like you do.

that much water is unusual for a bad transom. i would look at the shift bellows. you can see it from the out side.

right now.....im going to go over your thread and read up up on what you have done. ( i have forgotten....lol...sorry...im following about 60 threads on here.)

there is a way to repair the transom cheaply.......it is not recomended.....but it will work for an unknown amount of time.... guys selling boats with a bad transom do it often.

but before i pm you the details.....lets look at other possible causes. ......keep your chin up.....we can do this without too much cost or work on your part.

 

[LX Kid]

Re: Old boat wanting more money spent on her! Grady White

hi buddy. um er.....first...lets find out where you are leaking from....im not sure if you have a merc.....it sounds like you do. that much water is unusual for a bad transom. i would look at the shift bellows. you can see it from the out side. right now.....im going to go over your thread and read up up on what you have done. ( i have forgotten....lol...sorry...im following about 60 threads on here.)there is a way to repair the transom cheaply.......it is not recomended.....but it will work for an unknown amount of time.... guys selling boats with a bad transom do it often. but before i pm you the details.....lets look at other possible causes. ......keep your chin up.....we can do this without too much cost or work on your part.

Hi Oops! how was your winter?
Still haven't done anything about it yet. Doesn't seem to be repetitive from trip to trip so I've just been using the boat as is. The bilge never comes on, and it does work, so I quit worrying and just "fish!"