When it rains it pours (Transom Assembly leak)
J3ff
Member Posts: 4,112 ✭✭✭✭✭
I'm at a fork in the road here.
After spending the $ to bring the boat to the keys it is seriously hampering that relaxation and rest thing that is supposed to be indicative of living there.
Since getting here
- 2000 dollar bill for damage fiber glass repair from unloading it off of a trailer on a super steep ramp (whoops)
- 4100 dollar bill for replacement of gimball bearing, some gears in the out drive and a new prop shaft seal.
I thought I was home free and could finally focus on the leak from the top deck. However, after a week of being at the dock I stepped on the boat and the bilge pump immediately kicks on. This is a boat that hasn't had that happen in three years of ownership (assuming there hasn't been any rain, which there has not). First thought "Oh ****".
After countless attempts of finding the leak, it seemed like it might have been the bilge plug housing (because what yard could mess up screwing in a plug right?) Took the boat 25 mins to the closest marina (original marina that did the work is 75 mins away) and for 200 bucks they took it out, cleaned it out and put in a bilge plug housing and new plug. Here's where the real kick in the *** comes.
The boat of course was dry when they put it back in. However after the ride back and 2 hours at the dock, it had 5 gallons of water in it again!!!
Spent a couple hours last night rigging up a second bilge pump and trying to find where it may be coming in. It's hard to swallow that it may be the transom assembly, but that's my best guess. This Transom assembly was replaced 3 years ago to the tune of $3000 + labor.
This is where I can see water coming in, this is on the inside transom looking towards the stern... I've got a video of it where it's clear as day. It wasn't this defined the first time I did the get in the engine bay and swear all evening routine. However now it is.
So the fork in the road is - sell it/trade in (at a heavy discount advertising the problem 100% truthful) or after all these issues, get it fixed?
Just as a reminder, the motor and transom assembly were replaced to the tune of $20,000 the first month I owned it, 3 years ago. Is there any other possible resolution to this problem other than needing a new transom assembly?
Keep in mind that the gimball bearing went bad prematurely and water was found in the main bellow when they did the service a few weeks ago. So maybe it's been leaking the whole time and only gotten worse after the trip down... who knows. Looking for any thoughts and guidance. This morning I'm trying to find someone to come pick it up and put it in a dry stack anywhere so I'm not pulling my hair out 1500 miles away over Thanksgiving.
After spending the $ to bring the boat to the keys it is seriously hampering that relaxation and rest thing that is supposed to be indicative of living there.
Since getting here
- 2000 dollar bill for damage fiber glass repair from unloading it off of a trailer on a super steep ramp (whoops)
- 4100 dollar bill for replacement of gimball bearing, some gears in the out drive and a new prop shaft seal.
I thought I was home free and could finally focus on the leak from the top deck. However, after a week of being at the dock I stepped on the boat and the bilge pump immediately kicks on. This is a boat that hasn't had that happen in three years of ownership (assuming there hasn't been any rain, which there has not). First thought "Oh ****".
After countless attempts of finding the leak, it seemed like it might have been the bilge plug housing (because what yard could mess up screwing in a plug right?) Took the boat 25 mins to the closest marina (original marina that did the work is 75 mins away) and for 200 bucks they took it out, cleaned it out and put in a bilge plug housing and new plug. Here's where the real kick in the *** comes.
The boat of course was dry when they put it back in. However after the ride back and 2 hours at the dock, it had 5 gallons of water in it again!!!
Spent a couple hours last night rigging up a second bilge pump and trying to find where it may be coming in. It's hard to swallow that it may be the transom assembly, but that's my best guess. This Transom assembly was replaced 3 years ago to the tune of $3000 + labor.
This is where I can see water coming in, this is on the inside transom looking towards the stern... I've got a video of it where it's clear as day. It wasn't this defined the first time I did the get in the engine bay and swear all evening routine. However now it is.
So the fork in the road is - sell it/trade in (at a heavy discount advertising the problem 100% truthful) or after all these issues, get it fixed?
Just as a reminder, the motor and transom assembly were replaced to the tune of $20,000 the first month I owned it, 3 years ago. Is there any other possible resolution to this problem other than needing a new transom assembly?
Keep in mind that the gimball bearing went bad prematurely and water was found in the main bellow when they did the service a few weeks ago. So maybe it's been leaking the whole time and only gotten worse after the trip down... who knows. Looking for any thoughts and guidance. This morning I'm trying to find someone to come pick it up and put it in a dry stack anywhere so I'm not pulling my hair out 1500 miles away over Thanksgiving.
Comments
If its the between the 2 halves and she's wood cored she needs disassembly and dried out for a good while, the Florida heat is good for that but the Florida humidity is not. Is indoor temp controlled storage an option? Is covered storage an option? Just using a humidifier and enclosing the engine bay with painters tape, painters plastic could do the trick. If this is not wood cored none of this is relevant.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aYJaQtXXoAbWHuvD6
PC BYC, Holland, MI
Who wants a 2004 270 with a 383 stroker w/ 150 hours on it and a 1 week old rebuilt outdrive and bellows that has some kind of leak from the exhaust (that requires engine removal to fix) and a leak from one of the port windows for 10k? Make me an offer. I'll even leave Diggin's custom table steps and lights. That's how angry this makes me right now.
I'm concerned you have a new transom asy and yet you have already replaced a gimbal bearing? That should not be. Would sound like the motor was not aligned - it's a pretty simple set up really.
So where can it be leaking?
If you have a new transom asy then I would assume you have a new steering pin and seal so you can kind of rule that out. That area is visible to inspect. You can sprinkle the area with powder and see if you see anything.
How about your speedometer tube where it comes through the transom? Another area you can visually inspect and see, try a little powder again.
Further down the transom asy it's kind of hard to see. When I put mine back together, I could not get the boot for the shift cable to stay on for crap! I used the bellows adhesive and Everytime I tried to tighten the clamp it would just work itself off. There should be a lip on the casting for the gimbal and shift cable boots for the clamp to secure against. The exhaust bellows itself will not cause a leak but there is a seal on the y pipe that could be leaking if it was not tourqued properly. And lastly, you have the bellows for the gimbal which sounds like a recent repair. With the out drive in the trailer position you can get a pretty good look at all the bellows which do sound like the are all new so a tear should not be an issue but if they are not secured properly, they will leak. The last thing I can think of is the seal on the out side of the transom is kind of hard to keep in place while getting the two half's together. But , it's been months since all the other repairs were done so I would really look at the boots on the out side and see if one may have worked itself off a bit. You also have a manifold where are your trim hoses meet on the bottom of your out drive- if that was not sealed properly there is another spot.
For me, I could never afford our boat ( and saying I can afford it under any circumstances sounds silly) if I took it to the shop. You sound like a pretty handy fellow and if not this boat, another could have similar issues...you have a new motor, a new transom asy and perhaps a rebuilt out drive- you have a new boat. Get that thing out of the water and look. Run a bead of sealant around the transom asy on the outside- start ruling out where it is leaking man!
The main problem with doing this myself is I am in an apartment on the water, with no trailer. A truck wouldn't be a problem, but the trailer would, nobody seems to "rent" trailers and I could buy one, but then I'd have to pay to store it...which I'd prefer not to.
Up North this was simple and cheaper..can you believe it? May the boat went in, Nov the boat came out. Plenty of space anywhere you wanted to go... not much cheaper but not crazy like it is here! (600 for a month in a dry stack??!?)..
Either way, thank you for your words, I'll report back after chatting w/ the mechanic tomorrow.
Good luck, I feel for ya!
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
1. Dry storage for a couple weeks to find a mechanic.
2. Fix whatever this leak is in the engine room (and as you said, replace anything that you can while you're in there).
3. Fix the top side leak thats getting the carpet wet.
4. Deep clean, fix anything that's broken.
5. Sell in the spring.
Then go find an outboard powered boat with a cuddy I guess. If there's one out there that has A/C.
Also, plenty of room to mount and a/c below deck at the expense of storage/bait well or cooler.
Tons of trophies and such posting to for sale with trailer this time of year in my area for less than 10k, single ob. Although an alpha 1 gen 2 with a carbed 350 on a 23 to 25 footer would be hard to turn down. An entire sei outdrive with 3 yr warranty is what...1400 and a long block 5.7 vortec from gm is @ 3,000