what to fill old holes with

[reelcatch]

I am changing from a johnson to a suzuki and figure I will have to boar new
holes in the transom. My question is what do I fill the old holes with and how
do I keep water from coming in around the bolts on the new engine. thaks for your help

 

[JB]

Re: what to fill old holes with

Cut pieces of 1/2" dowel so that when you epoxy them into the old holes there is about 1/8" to 1/4" gap at each end. Fill those gaps with epoxy.

When you install the new bolts, seal them with 5200 sealant.

 

[sturdavj]

Re: what to fill old holes with

Last spring I removed a 1988 Johnson 28HP SPL and installed a 1983 Suzuki DT50 on my aluminum hulled-plywood transom Klamath.

Followed the directions JB provided. I used Gorilla glue, that?s what I had on the shelf? sealed everything with 3M 5200 sealant. It?s hard to beat the stuff.

 

[reelcatch]

Re: what to fill old holes with

Thanks guys for all you help, I will do it just as you said

 

[James R]

Re: what to fill old holes with

I am sorry but I would not trust Gorilla glue for anything except in the garbage bin.
I am a little fussy about plugging holes. I had a tiny pin hole in the hull of a Regal Cuddy that let water in so fast it was amazing. I carry hard wood dowel of various diameters. Very often the old bolt has allowed some rot around the holes. If you have a wood transom between two sheets of fiber glass then you might consider opening the holes to clear the rot. Use a drill of your dowel size but stop short of drilling right through the inner fiber glass. Cut the dowel short so that it will make contact with the inner fiber glass and be a little more than 1/8 inch below the outer wall surface. Coat the inside of the holes with epoxy and the dowels and tap the dowells into the holes untill contact with the inner wall. wipe away any excess inside and out. Let it set up.
I use an Evercoat Gel coat kit to match the color and fill the cavities with gel coat. That Gel will set up rock hard and finish the sealing job.

 

[sturdavj]

Re: what to fill old holes with

That's OK

I wouldn?t trust a fiberglass boat for anything other than a flower bed? no offence intended.