Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacement

[jbcurt00]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Make sure you let the wood in those holes dry thoroughly before you add anything to the bare wood. Days, not hours of dry time.

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Make sure you let the wood in those holes dry thoroughly before you add anything to the bare wood. Days, not hours of dry time.

Indeed. The holes are open, and the hatches on the other side are open. Of COURSE, it POURED, day 1, but, it's been clear and sunny since then, so, a good 2 days of clear weather dry time so far, and, probably another 3 days before the parts all arrive and I get to start. Can I Lifeseal/4200/5200 (it's impossible to find a thread with agreement on which one!!) the thru-hulls to that hole, or do I need to prep that bare wood with something?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

I'd lean toward 3M 4200, it isn't as permanent as 5200, I've never seen Life Seal used so......

HD here sells the 5200 in squeeze tubes, and I think I can order it there in 'regular' caulk tubes. But I have no idea, other then online, I don't know where to get Life Seal. May be it's more readily available in NJ.

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

I'd lean toward 3M 4200, it isn't as permanent as 5200, I've never seen Life Seal used so......

HD here sells the 5200 in squeeze tubes, and I think I can order it there in 'regular' caulk tubes. But I have no idea, other then online, I don't know where to get Life Seal. May be it's more readily available in NJ.

1st off, HI. Thanks for taking the time to reply. Truthfully the issue of which to use, has eaten up more time than I wish to admit. There are so many different opinions. I can't tell you how many threads I've read, where people say to absolutely use 5200, and others say 4200 is fine. As for Life Seal, I've never seen it at a store, but it's come up in some threads as good stuff. I am likely going with 5200, since Walmart has it. My biggest concern is if I should treat the wood in the whole with anything else first.

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

I went with this hose:

Tracker Marine MPI 1 1/2 Inch Semi Rigid Softwall Exhaust Boat

Should do the trick. Will see when it comes in. =)

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Seal the holes with the 5200. Hoses are probably pre molded. Check the iBoats store. They might carry them. If not they do carry the Marine Universal Flex hose which should work fine. It IS pricey!!!

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Here are the new Thru-Hull Scupper Drains....

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Those oughta last for a few DECADES!!!!

 

[gatorfan6908]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

HAHA! Agreed WoG... I'll be looking into some of these here in the future with my Transom replacement... had nothing but plastic with what looked like regular weatherproof caulk sealing them up... Going to fix that ASAP. Anyways, best of luck to ya cerenzio. Hope it all works out for ya!

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Make sure you let the wood in those holes dry thoroughly before you add anything to the bare wood. Days, not hours of dry time.

Hi, I still have it drying.... Been over a week, and they are still somewhat wet feeling. The starboard side hole feels only a little... The port side, feels a bit more. The holes are open and still drying. I have all the parts to do the install. Should I wait more days? Should I prep the holes with anything? Expoxy, Water Seal, Wood Hardener? Should I put those new thru-hulls in? (I'm gonna use 5200), or do I have a real problem with this wet feeling hole? It's a 30 year old boat, I know it's not going to be perfect. It feels strong, not rotted.... but, definitely feels a bit wet. Just trying to figure how big a deal I need to make of that and how to proceed.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Have you core sampled the transom? Drilled "From the inside" using a 1/4" drill bit with tape at the 3/4" mark to make sure you don't drill all the way through. Drill down low in several places and check the shavings. If they are dry you're ok if they are damp and wet then the entire transom is wet and will eventually rot and need to be replaced. If it's dry then to speed things up on the holes you can Paint some acetone in the holes which will help Wick out the water. It evaporates quickly and helps PULL the water out with it. Hair Dryer and or fans would help some too.

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Seal the holes with the 5200. Hoses are probably pre molded. Check the iBoats store. They might carry them. If not they do carry the Marine Universal Flex hose which should work fine. It IS pricey!!!

I have hose on order. I went with these:

http://greatlakesskipper.com/produc...semi-rigid-softwall-exhaust-boat-hose-ft.html

I will indeed seal them with 5200. I think that is a good call.

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Those oughta last for a few DECADES!!!!

That's what I want to hear! Now, hopefully this boat came into my hands in time, and is getting the TLC needed, to save the Transom.

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

HAHA! Agreed WoG... I'll be looking into some of these here in the future with my Transom replacement... had nothing but plastic with what looked like regular weatherproof caulk sealing them up... Going to fix that ASAP. Anyways, best of luck to ya cerenzio. Hope it all works out for ya!

Thank you Sir! Best of luck to you as well. I think these Bronze Thru-Hulls are a sure bet. I put some serious time in, studying this stuff.... Marelon and Bronze look to be the way to go. I feel better with Bronze. These things are heavy and feel strong as he$$!

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Have you core sampled the transom? Drilled "From the inside" using a 1/4" drill bit with tape at the 3/4" mark to make sure you don't drill all the way through. Drill down low in several places and check the shavings. If they are dry you're ok if they are damp and wet then the entire transom is wet and will eventually rot and need to be replaced. If it's dry then to speed things up on the holes you can Paint some acetone in the holes which will help Wick out the water. It evaporates quickly and helps PULL the water out with it. Hair Dryer and or fans would help some too.

Hi, thanks for checking in on this. I've got a small personal heater blowing on it...

I haven't done any drilling, but, it's something that I keep seeing.... I have been hoping to do this without having it become a big to-do, and to avoid having to drill, fill, etc.... but, I think you're right and I may need to do that.. I've read some methods regarding many small holes, to dry it, then fill them with Epoxy (or something to that idea), but, there are so many varying opinions and methods. I'll have to proceed carefully.... I read many places that say Acetone is bad. I am going to avoid that for now.

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

OK, so, it get's better. While doing this, I checked out the LIVE WELL intake and drain... Both of which look like plastic fittings.... though neither have appeared to be leaking. Here is the problem. Looks like huge holes were drilled out, and then small fittings installed. The huge hole, has exposed wood... If you reach in and feel it, it feels wet and slimy. So, I feel like I need to remove these, let them dry for, like, EVER, and replace them with Bronze. Agree? I have removed BOTH, and have a smaller heater in front of them. When I replace them, What do I protect the exposed wood with? Do I put some Thompson Water Seal, do I Epoxy them, do I "Glass" Them (Please explain that one), do I cover the exposed would with 4200, or something? (I'll likely do the fitting with 5200). Seams like these can't be left like this..... inviting water into the transom for Cocktails.. no?

I used a Soldering Iron to melt the Flange into tabs, and broke them off, then, pushed the fittings out. Pics included.

The Other 2 Thru-Hulls actually seam to be drying nice. Maybe I'm saved!! Now I need to see what the bottom is like, now that those are out, and able to dry..... hopefully.

I bet that bottom one (And likely both) should have a SeaCock on it...

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

With all these leaking fittings, I'm really skeptical that your transom is sound. As I stated before a wet transom WILL eventually decay and rot and become unsafe. A wet transom now, does not mean it's unsafe now, but it eventually will be.

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Only 1 actually leaked. How WET is WET? The 2 Thru-Hull drains, are drying.... they feel a LITTLE wet, but not a lot. These 2 other ones, JUST came out, so, I'll know what they are like after they sit for a bit. But, how wet is a concern, and how wet is, let it dry? I know this isn't a black and white solution, but, just curious how to gauge what I see and feel, and how concerned to be.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Like I said before, I'd drill core samples at various other places along the bottom of the transom and check the transom. If it's dry then what you are doing will extend the life of the transom for several years. But again, since you have no idea how long these fittings have been leaking and how long the wood has been saturated it's hard to say how much damage has been done. Core sample will help tell you how far the wetness has traveled. This is a common practice and will NOT negatively effect your transom in any way. You can fill the sample holes with 5200 if they are dry holes. If they are all wet then I'd recommend replacing the entire transom. Just my opinion.

 

[cerenzio]

Re: Boat had leaking PLASTIC below water Transom Drains. Can't find proper replacemen

Like I said before, I'd drill core samples at various other places along the bottom of the transom and check the transom. If it's dry then what you are doing will extend the life of the transom for several years. But again, since you have no idea how long these fittings have been leaking and how long the wood has been saturated it's hard to say how much damage has been done. Core sample will help tell you how far the wetness has traveled. This is a common practice and will NOT negatively effect your transom in any way. You can fill the sample holes with 5200 if they are dry holes. If they are all wet then I'd recommend replacing the entire transom. Just my opinion.

OK, let's say it's dry.... How should I prep those holes before the new fittings, to protect from water