93 Mariah engine mount

Pmt133

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I'll add that before I gutted mine I always had a pull in the steering wheel when coming up on plane. Always assumed it was prop steer. After the rebuild (and seeing how far gone most of the structure was) that no longer happens. Keep that in mind that meant the whole boat was twisting.
 

Mariah212

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Oct 15, 2025
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Well, this continues to go sideways..The entire RH stringer is wet up till the fuel tank..That is as far as I got.. This looks like it just uses one 3/4" board for the stringer and they box it in a lot from the side...Not real impressed with the construction...There is no resin on stringer, steel staples...just plywood..What is the best way to check the transom? I have tapped it around and it seems solid..If I drill a hole then where? I'm not a quitter, but I'm getting close to my breaking point here...This side went bad from a crack in the glass and the LH side is currently fine..If I fix the RH side am I just gonna to keep having issues with stuff like this? Thank you..
 

alldodge

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What is the best way to check the transom?
Same way stringer was tested, just put tap on the drill bit 1/2 inch from tip. Start a few inches from the bottom and see if wood is blond (which is good), if dark it's wet

After seeing stringer issues I wouldn't even bother. Water comes in from transom and works it's way forward. Forward is wet, the rest is also
 

MikeSchinlaub

Chief Petty Officer
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Jan 14, 2025
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492
This is all typical of wood core fiberglass boats. If you did the RH (starboard) side, you would need to do the LH (port) side too.

It might sound like double the work for nothing, but you would need to cut the floor out from the hull side to the opposite stringer. Then you have half new wood, half old, and all new carpet/vinyl and it's just asking for a bad time. So to do one, you're actually already doing more than half the work, materials, and time of doing the whole thing.
 

Mariah212

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Oct 15, 2025
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Thanks guys, my can do attitude is quickly wearing away....:mad: Who makes an open bow runabout that doesn't contain wood? These wood core boats are POS..I don't know how Columbus got over here on boat made entirely of wood...
 

Mariah212

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Oct 15, 2025
Messages
12
Same way stringer was tested, just put tap on the drill bit 1/2 inch from tip. Start a few inches from the bottom and see if wood is blond (which is good), if dark it's wet

After seeing stringer issues I wouldn't even bother. Water comes in from transom and works it's way forward. Forward is wet, the rest is also
Top RH corner of the pic where the glass is cracked...Is that de lamination from water from the transom? It's pretty darn wet in the rear and glass is coming off....
 

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MikeSchinlaub

Chief Petty Officer
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Jan 14, 2025
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Buddy, this boat's wood is done. Either commit to a full tear down or cut your losses.

It sucks, I feel for you, but the more you dig the more it's gonna stress you out and make you mad. Get yourself a little aluminum jon boat with a few bench seats. Room for a few poles and a cooler, just a calm day out on the water.
 

Mariah212

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Oct 15, 2025
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Mad isn't the right emotion here..More disgusted...I didn't want a boat with wood for this reason and I'm getting kicked in the nuts..I'm gonna cut around a little more in the AM..I can do a stringer job I'm pretty sure...A transom is out of my skill level and my patience level...At the end of day..It's a boat..not a liver or kidney...I'll just go get another one with no F-ing wood...Thx...
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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alldodge

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Only light in all this, is if you did rebuild eve with wood again, it would be around longer than you
 
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