Re: Replacing Transom Boot (seal)
I've done it twice. It IS a pain, but as the previous poster said it's nothing like taking the outdrive off!<br /><br />Hints: Do it on the trailer, not hanging from a hoist in your boathouse with you standing waist-deep in 40-degree water!<br /><br />A replacement boot is around 70 bucks.<br /><br />You CANNOT replace the metal plate that goes on the outside of the boot, it won't fit over the outdrive. Use the old one. Just wiggle the new boot through the old plate, nothing to it.<br /><br />You'll have to stretch the new boot a little to get it over the outdrive, but it's not too hard. The boot is pretty tough! Spray some WD-40 on the inside if you want.<br /><br />Make sure you use a good marine sealant, but not a permament one! You may need to change the boot again sometime. Make sure whatever you use doesn't cure too fast!! It'll take 30+ minutes to get the new boot secured. I used 3M 4200 last time, seems to work fine.<br /><br />Adjust the tilt so the outdrive is more-or-less centered in the tansom hole.<br /><br />Don't use too much sealant, either on the transom or the flange on the outdrive. Too much will make a heck of a mess. Maybe a 1/4" bead on the transon, 1/8 on the flange on the outdrive.<br /><br />Obviously you attach the boot to the outdrive first with that giant hose clamp. You kinda pull the boot inside-out and get it on the flange (put the sealant on the flange first), Rotate it back and forth a little to smooth out the sealant, then line it up as best you can (with the screw holes in the transom), and tighten the clamp. <br /><br />Best hint I can give you: When you are screwing the boot to the transom, before you put on the sealant, stretch the new boot over the metal frame and line up the screw holes. The lip on the new boot will hold the plate in place. If you don't it's heck to get all the holes to line up, especially with sealant all over the place. Put the screws in loosley at first until you have them all started, then tighten them evenly. Do not overtighten! it's easy to deform the boot. Take 3-4 passes on all the screws, a little tighter each time.<br /><br />Use a power drill or a power screwdriver, there are bunch of them screws and your hand will be REALLY tired if you do them all manually.<br /><br />Go slowly, it's really not too hard as boat maintenance goes!<br /><br />Tom