Possible to fill through hull engine bolt holes?

[BoatFisho]

My boat has a professionally installed through hull engine. Im wondering is it possible to remove then engine and fill the holes so the hull can be used with a standard outboard engine on the transom plates which are still there? Its a 13' RIB.

Transom appears as solid as the day it was made. Id just like to know if I can keep the engine if I wanted to move onto a different hull and sell the hull separately.

 

[jigngrub]

You can mix up a batch of epoxy filler and fill them no problem, then paint over the patches if you want.

Home Depot has a few different small epoxy kits.

 

[Watermann]

So you have a inboard or inboard outboard through the transom? If it's a inboard, then the transom will have to be reworked to use an outboard.

 

[jigngrub]

So you have a inboard or inboard outboard through the transom? If it's a inboard, then the transom will have to be reworked to use an outboard.

He has a 13' rigid inflatable boat with an outboard motor.

... or at least that's the way I read it.

 

[Bondo]

My boat has a professionally installed through hull engine.

Ayuh,.... What the 'ell is a through hull engine,..??..??

Especially in a RiB,..??

 

[kcassells]

Send a pic. That would be very helpful.

 

[GA_Boater]

Yes - He has a 13' inflatable. Why fill the holes if you remove the motor to sell the boat. The new owner will be drilling new holes in the same location most likely.

 

[BoatFisho]

The engine mounting is done with bolts through the hull, ie not the little thumb clamps. It is a pro job done per manufacturer specification. Its not important why, I just want to know if its possible to fill holes in a transom and retain structural rigidity.

Thanks GA, you are onto it. I suspect most will want to use the likes of a removeable 30hp outboard with the thumb clamps on the outboard metal plate on the transom (all of which is still there, I should buff that up ;-p). But you could be right. Its a long shaft transom so they could quite well just want to do the same thing.

I just dont want to let go of my beloved 09 engine. Perhaps its easier too, but its like letting go of a fine love, ever so dramatic.

 

[GA_Boater]

If you want to fill the holes. get some hardwood dowel that match the hole size, epoxy in place and epoxy over the dowel. That would work and won't affect transom integrity.

 

[Watermann]

Thanks for clearing that up, you have an OB mounted with bolts through the transom. I wouldn't bother filling in the mounting holes when sell your RIB without the OB motor

There are a TON on RIBs that are IO, probably a bit bigger than yours though. Like this one, that's why the original post was confusing...

 

[BoatFisho]

And people rip the engines and out and just sell the hulls with an IO? I imagine thats a much bigger hole than my 4 bolts hehe