Transom seal replacement

[martyh]

I bought a 98 Seaswirl with a dead 3.0. I have removed the engine to rebuild and the outdrive needed to be removed to be put back together. (shop didn?t put it back together correctly) I was wondering if I should remove the transom mounting brackets to replace the seal/s involved. The boat does have evidence of saltwater usage.

 

[Don S]

Re: Transom seal replacement

I doubt the transom seal is leaking, if it was, you probably have a rotted transom.
It does look like some rusty oily water as been coming out the hole for the propshaft. That would indicate a bad bellows, which is a lot more common than a transom shield.
You could put the outdrive back on the boat (without the engine) plug the exhaust tube and back the boat down in the water to see what leaks. Have done that on a lot of different leaks on boats.