Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

[BRG25]

2000 Stingray I/O with Alpha One outdrive.<br /><br />Just installed my Smart Tabs per instructions....went flawlessly. However my last few holes I drilled have water dripping out of them!!! <br /><br />What exactly am I in for? I can't understand how this happened...boat is kept on the trailer when not in use. This is making me sick.<br /><br />I'm not even sure who to call. Do you think my insurance will cover this? Any suggestions?<br /><br />Well...screw it, I'm going out on the lake to try them out...will post back later.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Brian

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

Did you drill the holes clear through the transom? If so, you may be seeing bilge water dripping out. If not, your transom could be waterlogged.<br /><br />If it's bilge water, you'll want to thoroughly drain the bilge, let things dry out well, then reseal the holes. What comes out will go back in. If the holes are leaking the bilge water out, then you're going to get water into the bilge (and the transom) when you use the boat.<br /><br />Do you regularly drain your bilge?

 

[BRG25]

Re: Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

Nope...only drilled deep enough for the screws. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[stevens]

Re: Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

If it is just water from the bilge, this wouldn't be serious. If it comes from the inside the transom itself, you could have a lot more work cut out for you. Are you sure you didn't drill all the way through? Worth checking again before you panic....

 

[BRG25]

Re: Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

Well, I'm not completely sure but I only drilled the depth of the length of the stainless steel screws that came with the Smart Tabs (I marked the drill bit with tape). I don't think that would be enough to go through the transom?<br /><br />By the way, the tabs worked well. Might need some adjustment, I'm not sure yet.<br /><br />I just figured out that I was supposed to peel the white backing off of the top of the tab PRIOR to installation. Whoops...

 

[stevens]

Re: Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

Try to stick something longer in there (e.g. a slim screw driver, wire hanger, etc.) and see how deep you can get. My smart tab screws went straight through my transom, and I can see almost half the length of the screws on the inside.

 

[Omega-1]

Re: Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

BRG25,<br />Good advice has been given already, however, may I add this: take a light weight metal tool or hammer and gently tap along the transom on the exterior going from the base vertically and listen to the sound. If the sound is dull along a portion of the lower transom and becomes more crisp as you ascend upwards, this could be a sign of water entrapped within the transom. The next question, is your transom constructed with wood laminated with fiberglass or is the interior made with non-decaying resin or plastic material? If it is wood, then you will need to have your transom evaluated for dryrot and water retention by an expert in the repair of transoms and fiberglass. If your boat is still under mfg. warranty, then contact your dealer for an evaluation; it may be repairable under warranty. I hope this helps.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

If you suspect the water to be inside the transom, I would call the manufacturer first to see it they have suggestions on how to deal with this. Given they made the boat they would be the best source of information.

 

[BRG25]

Re: Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

I checked the inside of the transom carefully and I don't see any holes. I'm waiting on a call from Stingray now. Thanks.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

Most of the time you won't see any holes. Water gets into the transom from anything that was cut or drilled into the transom and not properly sealed (for example the cut out for the outdrive). Omega gave you the procedure for checking for rot. If you have rot you can almost trace the area with a crayon as you tap. If you have it there is no real repair other than having it redone (except if the rot is at the very top where you can get to it).

 

[BRG25]

Re: Water found in transom during Smart Tab install

Yes, I tried knocking on the hull...it does seem to change in pitch. I'll have to do some more research. Thanks for the responses.