Lower transome plate/anode bolts loose

[Lwarden]

I hate to admit this but the other day we took the boat out and while pulling it out of the water I happen to leave the outdrive down and drug it accross the pavement for a few feet. Now needless to say the 2 anode bolts are loose, I can take the anode cap off and wiggle the bolts in the hole. I know the transome is a little soft about six inches up off the bottom and Im hoping its still solid enough to get these bolts to tighten back up because I think its the source of my water leak into the bilge. My problem is I cant seem to get down to those nuts on the inside to tighten them..Its a 1987 Sea Sprite SSB 225 with a 5.7 260 mercruiser and an alpha 1 outdrive... please advise on how to get at the inside nuts to tighten them up please...Thanks..Lee

 

[Lwarden]

Re: Lower transome plate/anode bolts loose

 

[Lwarden]

Re: Lower transome plate/anode bolts loose

A pic of the 2 loose anode boltrs and the source of my water leak into the bilge I think.

 

[84EdH]

Re: Lower transome plate/anode bolts loose

sounds like more trouble than two loose bolts. if your transom is soft as you say, just tightening those bolts wont help. a soft transom will flex under power and not seal correctly. it can actually be dangerous. the nuts those bolts go to are behind the exhaust pipes. they are lock nuts and are torqued to a spec. they should never be loose.

 

[Lwarden]

Re: Lower transome plate/anode bolts loose

sounds like more trouble than two loose bolts. if your transom is soft as you say, just tightening those bolts wont help. a soft transom will flex under power and not seal correctly. it can actually be dangerous. the nuts those bolts go to are behind the exhaust pipes. they are lock nuts and are torqued to a spec. they should never be loose.

Ive poked around down there with an ice pick and can find some soft spots but only about 4"-6" off the bottom of the V the reat is hard as a rock. I wont deny that its gonna need a new transome this winter but what can I do for the rest of this season just to keep her afloat and not take on excessive water???

 

[four winns 214]

Re: Lower transome plate/anode bolts loose

I certainly am no expert, but if you can wiggle the bolts to which those mushroom anodes screw on to, you've got larger problems.

 

[Lwarden]

Re: Lower transome plate/anode bolts loose

OK then whats my next step to fixing the problem? is the boat not safe for the water? Ive had it out since I found the bolts loose it takes on about a gal an hour and thats if I dont run the bilge pump. Sould I write it off for this season and tear into it and start on the transome? What say you??

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower transome plate/anode bolts loose

Put in a couple of new bolts and seal them for the rest of the summer.

 

[Lwarden]

Re: Lower transome plate/anode bolts loose

That sounds like a great idea but how do I get to the inside nuts to take them off? or are they threaded into the transome plate? from the looks of the ones Ive seen on line it looks to me as though these bolts have a square collar that doesnt allow then to turn from the outside unless their backed out enough to allow that square collar to turn, meaning the inside nunts need to be loosened up first.. I cant turn them from the outside Ive tried. But they are loose enough to sort of wiggle and move in and out.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Lower transome plate/anode bolts loose

That sounds like a great idea but how do I get to the inside nuts to take them off? or are they threaded into the transome plate? from the looks of the ones Ive seen on line it looks to me as though these bolts have a square collar that doesnt allow then to turn from the outside unless their backed out enough to allow that square collar to turn, meaning the inside nunts need to be loosened up first.. I cant turn them from the outside Ive tried. But they are loose enough to sort of wiggle and move in and out.

Ayuh,.... They're an aluminum stud,... bust it off, 'n drive out the remains...

Or,... grind off what's Outside, 'n drive 'em into the bilge...