Front motor mount lag bolts loose, stripped?!?!? *Newbie*

midweste

Hi All, 

Just finished winterizing my boat and noticed that one of the motor mount lag bolts was loose and had worked itself out about two threads. I tightened it up and felt like it was stripped. The other front motor mount lag bolt was the same way. 

This leads me to a few important questions:

1. Does my boat have an all fiberglass transom? Or is it also made with wood?

 I backed out both front motor mount lag bolts and did not see wood or sawdust on the ends. My proposed fix; drilling out slightly larger holes, using strong epoxy to permanently glue some HD concrete anchors in place to catch the lags? 

2. What is the best way to check for transom rot?

Many thanks for your replies. 

Midweste

midweste

Thanks Al ! 

I'll give it a shot in the morning. 

Midweste 

212rowboat

I'm thinking some 5200 on the threads before you cram them in there is a good idea, too.. no sense on giving water a place to hide between layers of ply.

Dream_Inn

I wouldn't use 5200 on anything that might need to come out someday.

Black_Diamond

Caulk would work much better. 5200 is a one-way trip. Good point Dream!

212rowboat

Really? I just took 5200 off of gel coat replacing skimmer on the pool... It seems anything less would react to heat or petroleum.. I trust you fellas, though.. I just didn't realize it was permanent.

Black_Diamond

5200 is like death glue. It can peel the gelcoat right off..and more. At least 4000/4200 is removeable, still a mess to use.

212rowboat

Good to know!!

mvn

Think of 5200 like red Loctite!

 

Mark

midweste

Hi guys!

Thanks for all the help.

The bigger lags worked and I've used the 4200.

TikiHut2

MW, Welcome to the site and congrats on the fix.

Heat slays 5200. Actually 5200 will yield with a heat gun and turn to silly putty just before it gets too hot on your gelcoat. It's not as permanent as epoxy nor as hard as liquid steel type adhesives.

Most guys are bedding fittings/lags with butyl tape anyway. Engine lags....I don't know if I'd want anymore than the top edge sealed anyway, with the threads getting a good direct bite on the stringer. Just sayin'.

prgrod01

Alswagg said:

no need to drill out,  Locate some 1/2" Stainless steel lags,  These will usully tighten up fine.  Rinker used 3/8" lags.   The motor mount is set for up to 1/2" bolts.  Yes, the stringers and transom are pressure treated kiln dried multi ply wood.  Al  

Old post but I'm doing a transom assembly replacement and have gotten many of my questions answered simply by searching this forum. One of my lag bolts was also rather loose and had a short lived panic attack about how much this find may cost... but @Alswagg to the rescue once again. Great forum, and thanks Al for all the input and advice.

Black_Diamond

My 342 engine mounts were stripped out too. Found by accident when removing the engines for other work. Redrilled oversize, epoxy filled, redrilled. 

PickleRick

Thickened epoxy is your friend!