What product should I use when hanging a motor?

[v12mac]

I had to remove a 90 HP Johnson to fix a severely stuck and corroded steering system. Now that everything is repaired I need to remount the engine on the boat.<br />What is the correct product to keep water out of the transom mounting holes? I have had several conflicting opinions. Some say Marine grade silicone others say 5200. <br />Any ideas?<br /><br />Mac

 

[JasonJ]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

3M 5200.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

hello<br /> use the 3m-5200. silly cone wont stick long and will leak. sometimes I think silly cone should be banned . but I make a lot of money off of its misuses so I dont cry to much <br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[kd6nem]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

I will have to do this for the first time soon. I had been thinking of epoxy or marine resin. Actually I think I'll end up packing the holes with marine tex afterwards, since the Bearcat looks to have different mount hole locations than the Johnny. What do you guys think? Is the 3m sealer better for some reason?

 

[radsrh]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

I just did this job this past spring, 3m 5200 is the way to go I let it sit to cure and not a single leak. I also go some on the drive and after it cured I still am not able to get it off, if it holds that well I should have not problems with the motor.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

Bearcat, I had an old early 60s boat with a Homelite 55 (good motor, but I wanted more power) and I replaced it with a Merc. I just put bolts heavily coated with 5200 in the Homelite holes and sealed the new Merc holes with 5200 and never had a leak. 5200 seals good because it is designed to bond to just about anything, but it stays soft so you can have some flex but still maintain a seal.

 

[mvining]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

Guys, I respect your opinions about engines, but move out of the way. 3M 5200 is a marine sealant and adhesive. You need to move just down the aisle from the 5200.<br /><br />If the hull is made of wood or glass, go to your local marine store and get a West System repair kit from Gougeon Brothers. It's a two part epoxy system including INSTRUCTIONS for marine repairs small or large. Also look at their web site. They have special prepackaged kits including rubber gloves wood stir'rs all the stuff you need, PLUS instructions on how to do it right. Marine Tex is good for the cosmetic repair after.<br /><br />BTW, I'm a sailor not a fisherman. You guys are in my area of repairs. There, I admitted it.

 

[radsrh]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

Why would you need epoxy to fill in mounting holes if you are going to reuse the same holes? All you need to do is seal the bolts and holes well so there are no leaks.

 

[mvining]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

radsrh, he said he needed new holes. <br /><br />The West System is great for filling up old holes and if you read the West System DIRECTIONS, even with new holes you use the epoxy. Just without any filler. It soaks into the wood core and seals it. So even if you get a leak, it just weeps water into the boat and not into the wood core, so it’s a minor problem that's easy to fix with just a little 3M 5200 sealant. I don't sell the stuff, just use it.<br /><br />If new boat builders used the stuff to seal the wood every time they drilled a hole through the core, there would be a lot less repairs out there. It eliminates the possibilty of water damage.<br /><br />I'll bet Rodbolt knows about this stuff. He just doesn't want to give away all of his secrets.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

Commodore, your advice is sound, and I repair most of my holes with epoxy and cloth, dishing out the hole and laying in layers of cloth and all that jazz (I did the bolts slathered in 5200 bit because that works, and I may have wanted to put the homelite 55 back on at a later date), but not everyone wants to go through that. Unless I am mistaken, your reply has a hint of arrogance to it, and it can be seen as offensive to some. There is not one right way of doing things, its a matter of how much work a person wants to put into a project. Just want to make sure you don't alienate anyone. If you have good info, we all want to hear it, but not in a manner that is demeaning...

 

[radsrh]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

Sorry I was going back to the original post, to fix the steering and remount the same motor or a motor with the same bolt pattern.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

Most marine grade silicones will say not for use below waterline.<br /><br />5200 is almost permanent and not recommended for mounting motors according to the Johnson-Evinrude rigging guide. Not only that but it needs a clean dry surface to adhere to, and a used boat will almost always have some moisture in the transom. Your best bet is to use Boat-Life Life-Calk that is available almost everywhere. It does not glue things together permanently like 5200 and it cures in damp or wet conditions. It is a true "bedding compound" and is easy to work with.

 

[roscoe]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

seahorse, please elaborate on "available almost everywhere".<br /><br />I can't even get 5200 around here, so any source you may know of would be appreciated.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

Any boat or motor dealer either stocks or can get it from a distributor. West Marine, Boaters World, etc. carry it. I even saw it at either WalMart or Kmart a long time ago.<br /><br />You can also contact them at:<br /> http://www.boatlife.com/

 

[radsrh]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

roscoe I get mine at the local ACE hardware store, they have a little boat section and they stock it year round.

 

[mvining]

Re: What product should I use when hanging a motor?

Seahorse, I agree BoatLife makes some excellent products. Lots of sealing and caulk stuff. They make silly cone also. All of the on-line stores carry their products in addition to the 3M stuff. Just take the time and read the package for applications and then follow the DIRECTIONS.<br /><br />I still really like using the epoxy to seal any hull penetrations where core wood is exposed. Call me crazy, but I removed all the hardware from a boat that was mounted where wood core might be exposed, and drilled out the holes bigger (Also removed any bad core at the same time.) Then I sealed all the holes with epoxy and redrilled the hole thru the epoxy plug leaving a dougnut of epoxy. Then I rebedded all the hardware with either 5200 of Boatlfe life caulk depending on the application. When there was a leak after, (There always is some day) I knew it was just a failure of the caulk and didn't have to worry too much.<br /><br />I've never done it to another boat. Not so much time on my hands any more. But, when I drill a hole myself for some new gadget, I always do it that way the first time now. <br /><br />If I bought a boat, I would certainly consider taking the time to do it to all penetrations below the waterline. If it was a brand new boat, I'd talk about the warranty with my dealer of course first, mabe I could pay them to do it and still keep the warranty. (I'm drooling over a Carolina 28 that is a little out of reach at the moment.)