Taking in Water!!!-gctid363111

[Guest]

Hello all,

Since my last post regarding the issue with taking in sea water,I have now identified the problem.

The boat is taking in water from around the bilge plug. I hope I can explain this well.....the threaded barrel that takes the bilge plug (screw) seems to have some movement and is not 100% flush to the fiber glass. I have reconfirmed my suspicions by filling the bilge with water with the plug in and witnessed water tricle from behind the seal of the barrel.

I was hoping to get some solutions from you guys. Has anyone had this issue before? I was planning to sand around it,and apply a heavy duty marine epoxy glue and paint. Is this feasable or do I need a fibre glass specialist?

Any help greatly appreciated

[Guest]

I would be slightly concerned with rot around that if water has been flowing for a while. I think removing the plug itself and inspecting the core around it is necessary. If all looks good slap some 5200 in and make sure it fits flush with the transom. Just my thoughts, if it was my boat.

[Go Aweigh2452]

You may have bigger problems... If water is in fact leaking from around the bronze insert in the transom, IE. between the bronze and the fiberglass, you may have water in the transom itself which can/may lead to a major rebuild of the transom to get rid of that water soaked wood between the fiberglass of the transom...

[Guest]

What I would do:

• Remove the drain plug and its outer sleeve.
• Check for moisture in the core. If it's soaked, the fix is a whole 'nother topic.
• Assuming it's not sopping wet in the core, mix up a small batch of good epoxy and paint the core area and fibreglass edges with a thin coat of epoxy. Let cure.
• Dry-fit the sleeve into the epoxied hole, to make sure it still fits with the added epoxy. If it's too tight, gently sand or file some epoxy until the sleeve will press in.
• Apply 3M 5200 or Bostik 920 (or 920 fast set) to the exterior of the sleeve and the interior of the hole. Masking the area first can help save clean-up and mess.
• Let cure overnight minimum.
• Re-install the drain plug - being sure not to overtighten it.

[Guest]

whiskywizard wrote:
What I would do:

• Remove the drain plug and its outer sleeve.
• Check for moisture in the core. If it's soaked, the fix is a whole 'nother topic.
• Assuming it's not sopping wet in the core, mix up a small batch of good epoxy and paint the core area and fibreglass edges with a thin coat of epoxy. Let cure.
• Dry-fit the sleeve into the epoxied hole, to make sure it still fits with the added epoxy. If it's too tight, gently sand or file some epoxy until the sleeve will press in.
• Apply 3M 5200 or Bostik 920 (or 920 fast set) to the exterior of the sleeve and the interior of the hole. Masking the area first can help save clean-up and mess.
• Let cure overnight minimum.
• Re-install the drain plug - being sure not to overtighten it.

X2 also check the bilge area of the plug. A lot of times this happens from people over tightening the plug and excessive removal and tightening. Good luck

Thunder

[Guest]

Thanks for your input guys! Going down first thing to inspect the situation with moisture and hoping to GOD its an easy fix. It's a fairly new problem so not sure if its been long enough for something as serious as rot to have set in but let's see

[bhawes]

Assuming that you have a transducer, or something else mounted to the lower transom area, back one of their fasteners out and see if any moisture comes out of the screw hole. If you store your boat wet, and the bung is loose now, I'd be concerned that the moisture has spread across the bottom of the transom. In the past, I've drilled small holes about halfway through the transom FROM THE INTERIOR, and used a moisture meter to check for problems. If there aren't any, just use a bit of 4500 to plug the holes, and count yourself fortunate.

[dmcb]

If you remove the fitting (not the plug) I think you will find one of the fasteners is a nut and bolt. There will be a wire attached on the inside. It is a ground and should be replaced. It is under the engine and will be difficult to reach. A trained long armed monkey would do well here but you need to get it back on.

So don't be surprised if you can't back out one of the screws as it won't be a screw.

You might try taking a picture of the inside under the engine to see if this is true.

Doug

[Guest]

dmcb wrote:
If you remove the fitting (not the plug) I think you will find one of the fasteners is a nut and bolt. There will be a wire attached on the inside. It is a ground and should be replaced. It is under the engine and will be difficult to reach.

Doug, can you explain why there is a ground on that screw? I'm working on my transom and wondered about that wire. It seems there are other grounds like this that attach to other pieces of isolated metal around the boat. I noticed another by the port side of the transom up almost by the gunwales.

Greg

[Guest]

Greg,

Your age of boat may not have a ground wire to the brass fitting.

If all three screws look the same, take them out and it should drop off. If not, then you'll know.

I recently did our 2755 (no ground wire). Once off, I lightly sanded down the area and inspected the wood for rot. No rot. I then filled in the holes with epoxy and let dry. Pre drilled new holes, filled the holes with 5200 and a ring of 5200 around the new fitting and installed with new screws.

Not sure if this was a good method I choose, however she's water tight.