Water in transom

[dirtyoldman]

Yesterday I was swapping out my pitot tube for the speedo I broke a few weeks ago. When I pulled the screw off water started coming out if the hole. It was maybe only a tablespoon, but it was pretty disconcerting. I trailer my boat so it only rarely sits in the water overnight.

My transom was replaced last year by a reputable shop in the area. I'll call them Monday, but what needs to be done here?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Water in transom

Wouldn't that be water in your bilge? Was your plug out?

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Water in transom

Wouldn't that be water in your bilge? Was your plug out?

Plug was out and on the trailer. This was NOT bilge water.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Water in transom

What you describe potentially ain't good - - water comming out of holes in the transom points to water in the sandwich core. If the core is wood that points to rot.

See what your dealer says and post back and with pictures if possible. If he offers to plug the hole and nothing more - - that will just seal the water in. At a minimum I would inject automotive anti freeze into the hole with a hypodermic needle. Antifreeze kills fungus which results in rot. Then seal the hole.

Another thing you can do - though since the transom was replaced a year ago I would doubt wide spread rot - - with a hammer lightly tap the area around the hole from the inside of the transom. A thud sound will indicate rot - a sharp rap sound will indicate no rot - - - yet.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Water in transom

That's not at all good. If the people who replaced your transom also mounted the pitot I'd be raising total hell with them because it obviously wasn't sealed properly (reputable my a$%). Your transom is now wet and will eventually rot, period. Just to see what kind of condition it's in poke around in the screw hole with an ice pick or something similar.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Water in transom

Take it back to the shop that did the work, and politely ask them for reccomendations. If they won't fix it on their dime, then ratchet up the pressure. Best to start out on their good side though.

 

[rbh]

Re: Water in transom

I would be PO'ed if that was mine!

But, if you want it done right, do it your self kinda comes to mind, which is to bad seeing as you spent X $ on having it done right.
remove all the screws from outside and let dry out (maybe a shop vac to pull out that little extra amount)
and reseal the screw hole properly.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Water in transom

I would be PO'ed if that was mine!

But, if you want it done right, do it your self kinda comes to mind, which is to bad seeing as you spent X $ on having it done right.
remove all the screws from outside and let dry out (maybe a shop vac to pull out that little extra amount)
and reseal the screw hole properly.

I have done some research and determined that I need to get some ethelyne glycol in there to kill the organisms causing wood rot and then vacuum it with a vacuum pump to dry it, then reseal it.

I called the shop this morning and talked to him. He seemed to think it wasn't a very big deal, it needed dried and then resealed. This was before he knew that it was his work that had the problem. After I told him it was his he told me to bring it in so he can look at it. So, he hasn't commited to anything but is going to look at it.

I don't care about the problem, it just want it fixed. I realize transoms have a life on them, but I didn' fix this so it could rot away after two or three years. I'll just have to put my faith in him that he will take care of it. He was recommended by nearly every marine shop in the area, and is one of two big fiberglass shops in the kansas city area. This is all he does, fiberglass work to boats and RV's.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Water in transom

I personally would drill another hole or 2 and see if I got wet or dry shavings then plug them with a marine epoxy... but that's probably just me.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Water in transom

For those who read this who need to have their transom redone because of wood rot - Do not let the shop use plywood for the new core. Have them use coosa. It is a fiberglqass product that will never rot and is used on race boats.