Transom Question

[Hillfisher]

I recently bought a new depthfinder and the transducer mounting bracket required 2 holes be drilled about 3 inches lower on transom than the old transducer. When I removed the screws from the old bracket, water was dripping out of the holes. Some if it was brownish colored from the wood. When I drilled the new holes more water came out. Some was clear some was brown. I have a 2000 Polar 1700V Fiberglass CC. Is this cause for concern and what can be done about it. I'm now worried that my transom may be rotting from water infiltration. Also what is the best way to repair the old screw holes?

 

[crab bait]

Re: Transom Question

sorry to say,, but your worst fear is a reality.. it is rottin' wood... the cause of the brown water..<br /><br />there's not an easy fix..but to replace what is rottin'.. <br /><br />so you replace the transome,, a very big job.. o k ,, now what about the stringers..??<br /><br />so you can see .. it's never endin'..<br />thats because boat manufactors don't care if'n a boat lasts pass it's payment book.. in that polyester resin & wood don't mix..<br /><br />just patch the old holes with marine tex putty available at any marine center..<br /><br />epoxy a piece of 'star board' composite available also at marine centers..<br />or a piece of mohogany ,or teak ,or even a piece of your kitchen cuttin' board to the transome .. than screw to that .. just don't go all he way thu it... <br /><br />just enjoy your boat.. it's not that old.. most boats out there are worst than yours.. it'll take years for it to go real bad.. just wear your pfd's

 

[BillP]

Re: Transom Question

First, have you determined that the transom is actually wood and not composite material? If composite then drain the holes and seal them off.<br />If wood, check to see if the wood Polar used is PT. Many of the companies are using PT so getting wet won't make it rot.<br /><br />If not pt wood...I have seen a few and it can take years for a wet transom to get rotted badly. With luck (since the boat is so new) your problems are just at the beginning stages. Core drilling a few places can determine how bad it is. Chances are you will find a lot of good wood. If not too bad you may be able to inject a liquid rot killer (maybe antifreeze)into the transom and inhibit rot growth. I would drill 1/4"dia holes from the top all the way down to the bottom and fill. Salt also stops rot...freshwater and high temps make spores grow.

 

[blifsey]

Re: Transom Question

I wonder where (how) the water is getting into such a new boat. Did the original transducer screws appear to be well sealed? Are there other "things" attached that might not be sealed well? Also, what is warrenty period and was original transducer factory or dealer installed?

 

[ICEMAN]

Re: Transom Question

You definitely need to check into the source water problem. If there is a defect, I'd check into the hull warranty, a lot of boat companies have a 5 year hull warranty. If they do, the squeeky wheel gets the grease. I'd start sqeaking. If this was caused by someone drilling and not properly sealing the hole, then it's not a defect.

 

[Hillfisher]

Re: Transom Question

I installed the original transducer myself and used RTV sealant on the screw holes. I probably caused the problem myself by not properly sealing the holes so its not a defect. This is my first fiberglass boat and in hindsight I should have asked my mechanic's advice on sealing the holes or used a transducer plate. My problem now is determining the extent of the problem and doing whatever I need to do to minimize the damage. How would you suggest I seal the screw holes for the new transducer? I won't be putting the boat in the water for another 2 months. Apparantly RTV is not doing the job.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Transom Question

like it said.. epoxy on a piece of 'star board' or teak or mahogany or a piece of your kitchen cuttin' board..

 

[Solittle]

Re: Transom Question

Hillfisher - My guess is that the water did not get into the transom from what you did. From what I have seen rot begins via the through the transom holes that the mounting bolts for your motor are. The idiots who punch those holes often do not use any sealer at all or use stuff that you would not use in your bathroom. The other common source is the top cap of the transom.<br /><br />To seal the holes use Marine Tex. It is an epoxy type substance and is harder than steel when cured. Some folks use 5200. Both are available at your local boat place.<br /><br />To check the extent of the rot, take a mallet or hammer and tap the transom from the inside. You should be able to identify the area fairly easily. When you think you have pinned down where the rot is you can test by drilling a few 1/4" holes FROM THE INSIDE of the transom.<br /><br />To fix or not to fix and how depends on what you find and what you want to do about it.

 

[SeaNile]

Re: Transom Question

Here's what I did on my boat. First I found the rotted areas by poking the inner transom and drilling holes to pump resin in. I first mixed up the right quanity of resin and hardener then hit it with 1/3 of acetone. I then used an old lower unit oil pump to pump the resin into the transom. Its as hard as new now.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Transom Question

good idea.. but try mixin'up some epoxy & addin' in some acetone & see if'n it hardens up right ,, not to soft ,, not to brittle.. <br />not all epoxies are the same...<br /><br />everthin' i ever read about epoxy says not to change the mix ratio & never add any other chemicals to the mix...<br /><br />also,, would only work [ if it does] on DRY wood.. cause if'n soaked 100 % with water then it can't soak nuthin' else up..

 

[Captn Dave]

Re: Transom Question

This is just my opinion and take it as such.<br />I have owned many fiberglass boats and most had water soaked wood transoms or stringers or both.<br />That's why some boat manufacturers have done away with using wood and others have taken steps to make sure the wood is sealed. But one little screw hole below the water line and there goes the seal. Having said that, I never did anything to repair the wood on my boats. <br />But back to your problem.<br />First, just because the wood and water coming out is brown, does not mean it's rotten, or at least the whole transom is rotten. For wood to rot, it requires oxygen. Wet wood that is sealed, can remain stable for a long time. It will be heavier but the structual strength will remain close to dry wood. <br />If your transom is not flexing and shows no sign of degradation on the outside, I would not worry about it. <br />If I were you, I'd drill a small hole at that bottom of the transom and see if any water comes out. If it does, let it drain. If you're not using the boat over the winter, I'd let it drain all that time. When you get ready to fill the hole, I'd counter sink the hole and install a SS wood screw with some 3M polysufide sealer. The same with the transducer holes. I would also check all other fittings and bolts to make sure they are well sealed.<br />My present boat has some stringers that are wet. I'm not sure about the transom. The boat is a 1978 and is still going strong.<br />Just my thoughts and suggestions. Good luck.

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: Transom Question

Hillfisher, try this web site for advice/help. http://www.rotdoctor.com/

 

[flashback]

Re: Transom Question

I have repaired small locallized areas of rot by drilling about a half inch hole in the inner skin of the transom, then putting a 1/4 inch allen wrench in my drill and then work the allen wrench into the half inch hole and work it around until it chews out as much of the rotten wood it can reach. (about a 2 inch diameter area can be expected..) do this as many times as it takes until you start hitting good wood. hang on tight to the drill motor cause when that allen wrench hits good wood its gonna jump....after you finish chewing out all the rotted wood, put tape over all but the lowest and highest holes, then get an empty caulking tube, fill with epoxy mixed with a high strength filler, put the mixture in the caulk tube and inject it into the lower hole until the mixture comes out the top hole, tape off the bottom hole and your done....... by the way, west system epoxy sells all the products you need including the empty caulk tubes, and use a slow setting mix so you can fill the voids completely ...........

 

[Bear]

Re: Transom Question

I would do as Wave suggest. I would also drill a hole below the transducer holes and some more down to the lowest part of the transom, about 2 inches apart from each other. I would just drill trough the glassfibre not the wood. The I would feel with a small screwdriver if it is soft. Maybe there is more water coming out that way. <br />Depending of what you will find drill more holes and let it dry. To fill all these holes is a lot easier than doing this: <br /> http://www.used-boat-stuff.com/razorback5.htm