Sealing A Screw Hole in Transom

pilot4net

Seaman
Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
57
I have an 18.5' aluminum bass boat which I am fixing to install Mobster tabs on and I have a little problem. Right where I need to mount the tabs, as instructed by NautiJohn, is where the mounting bracket for my depth finder's transducer is mounted. It is mounted with two sheet-metal screws with a good bit of clear silicone sealant around them. I do have room to relocate the transducer, but I was wondering how to seal the holes from the transducer. I can re-use one of the holes to mount the tabs, but the other one is not in line, so I will have to find a way to seal it off. <br /><br />I considered moving the tabs to either the inside or outside of the transducer, but that would put the tabs right on top of my through-hull fittings which or at the very bottom of the "vee" of the boat. Going to the outside will put me on the extreme outside edge of the transom. John had said to put the tabs inboard about mid ways because he figured the outside most strake would be out of the water when on plane. <br /><br />So my question boils down to how do I go about sealing the holes from the transducer? Can I just remove the transducer, place the old screw back in with the silicone coating the threads and hole, and then apply a liberal coat to the screw head to ensure a leak free fix? If not, please let me know what you all think. I know I can go have the holes welded to seal them, but I don't want to do any welding which will surely destroy the surrounding paint an clear coat. <br /><br />Please, if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know what you think my best method of attack would be. Thank you.
 

djzyla1980

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 26, 2005
Messages
640
Re: Sealing A Screw Hole in Transom

Just get some JB weld... and some tape... mix and put JB in the hole.. put the tape over it to keep it from running out..
 

phantoms

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 14, 2005
Messages
246
Re: Sealing A Screw Hole in Transom

3M 5200 will do the job. You can probably find it at Walmart. Pack it in the hole, let dry and then sand flush.
 

umblecumbuz

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Sep 25, 2004
Messages
1,062
Re: Sealing A Screw Hole in Transom

To keep the finish, your suggestion of putting back the screws with a sealant around them sounds simplest - and it'll work, because it worked with the same screws before.
 

JC1933

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 31, 2003
Messages
443
Re: Sealing A Screw Hole in Transom

Pilot4net,<br /><br /> Just dril another hole in your tab ad another screw, makes your tab more secure,no hole in boat to plug. Thats what i did. Goog luck. have nice evening.----J,C, :cool:
 
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