Transom leak. 4.3l mercruiser with alpha one gen2

[Tmakaro]

I think I may have caused this leak a short while ago. I was lowering my leg in shallow water and ended up lifting the back of the boat.
What do I do now? Any way to live with it for 2.5 months until the season is over for me? Perhaps put sika-flex around it to keep the water out? bellows look fine.
here is a pic of the leak after if filled the bilge with a garden house.

 

[Bt Doctur]

If you dislodged /damaged the transom seal silly putty is not a fix. Can lead to a rotted transom

 

[ESGWheel]

In the pic is also what looks like a crack, perhaps just gel coat but given the circumstances, who knows. While we can all appreciate the desire to finish out the season, a leaking boat is no joke and should not be taken out. Next year the missing the rest of this season will only be a faded memory. If you continue to use it this season that memory may last a lifetime if disaster happens. Do not do it. Please fix it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

That crack showing in the gel isn't good. That's an indicator of a soft transom

Filling the boat with water was not a good idea a you now forced water into all the flotation boxes, etc. it also submerged your starter, so you now need to pull the starter apart to save it. If the water got high enough, it now is in the U-joint bellows

 

[Tmakaro]

That crack showing in the gel isn't good. That's an indicator of a soft transom

Filling the boat with water was not a good idea a you now forced water into all the flotation boxes, etc. it also submerged your starter, so you now need to pull the starter apart to save it. If the water got high enough, it now is in the U-joint bellows

The water wasn’t that high and stayed in the bilge area So I am good there. I just want to get out 5 to 7 more times. With a small leak like this, I figured id just put sika flex around it to last me a couple of months. Should seal up tight shouldn’t it. I know it is only temporary but I plan on pulling it a part in October

 

[Tmakaro]

In the pic is also what looks like a crack, perhaps just gel coat but given the circumstances, who knows. While we can all appreciate the desire to finish out the season, a leaking boat is no joke and should not be taken out. Next year the missing the rest of this season will only be a faded memory. If you continue to use it this season that memory may last a lifetime if disaster happens. Do not do it. Please fix it.

I think it now leaks at the seal not the crack. I know it needs a proper repair but I keep my boat out of water so I figured if I put sika flex on it, that would be water tight for a few more boating trips. I should have mentioned I take my 2010 bayliner 192 out of water every time.

 

[Tmakaro]

If you dislodged /damaged the transom seal silly putty is not a fix. Can lead to a rotted transom

Granted but i take the boat out of the water every time. I would like to do a proper repair in October. Also, sika flex is some pretty sticky silly putty I bet that would seal it perfectly for the few times more that I want to use it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Good luck, I would pull the drive and motor to get the transom shield off.

 

[ESGWheel]

I was not suggesting it was leaking thru the crack. Raher it is an indicator of a more serious issue. It seems as if your mind is already made up, but I will try once more. Imagine the worst case for a minute: that as you throttle up to get up on plane the transom lets go and now you are flooding with no chance of recovery. Farfetched? Yes. Worth a few more outings? Not in my book.

 

[Tmakaro]

I was not suggesting it was leaking thru the crack. Raher it is an indicator of a more serious issue. It seems as if your mind is already made up, but I will try once more. Imagine the worst case for a minute: that as you throttle up to get up on plane the transom lets go and now you are flooding with no chance of recovery. Farfetched? Yes. Worth a few more outings? Not in my book.

I get it and no, my mind is not made up yet. Although I will say I doubt my transom is rotted. I believe this problem showed up a couple days ago because I accidentally lowered the leg(while stationary and not running) in shallow water and lifted my boat up.

 

[Scott Danforth]

With a good transom, you can hang the boat from the outdrive or let the whole thing stand on the outdrive and never have an issue.

The fact the gel is cracked around the transom shield means the transom "squished" enough to crack the gel

Good transoms do not squish

 

[Drivewayboater2]

It’s not about your transom being rotted or not. It’s about your transom being compromised due to the stress crack in the pic. Heed Scotts #11 post.
if it’s fails and your outdrive falls off, your boat is gonna sink.

just my 2 cents. Good luck