Engine pulled out = an opportunity to do......what?

Michael T

x

Pam

Finally I got the holding tank out of the boat. As it turned out the area marked red in previous photo is nothing but a thin layer of fibre glass and polyester bridging the shelf to the transom. No structural importance.  So I just drilled a few ½ inch holes in it and the water gently game out through the drain holes, marked yellow in the previous photo. Works grate. There are no additional stuctures under the shelf.

As water that enters the engine compartment between the holding tank and the hull, probably through the vents, stays trapped there due to the boat slightly leaning towards starboard I have had problems with moist entering the storage area, starboard side, in the mid ship berth. I just found out why. 

The passage for cables and pipes from the engine compartment and forward is mad exactly on the same level as the shelf under the holding tank. Not even the slightest barrier to prevent water flow. What were they thinking? On the port side it is a bit better. The passage is made ¼ inch higher there. I have now sealed of the lower portion of the passages with fibre glass and polyester and I can strongly advise anyone having the opportunity to access these areas to inspect it and take action if as poorly manufactured as mine.

Alongside the shelf and the hull the lamination process left a few cavities that lets water stay put. I levelled these out with polyester. 

In the following pictures you´ll find the unfortunate pipe-passage as well as my remedy for it. Later on it will, along whit the rest of the engine compartment, be treated with Internationals Danboline.

craigswardmtb

If you are using the boat in salt water I would definitely change the upper steering swivel shaft while the engine is out. It is only a matter of time, and at 350 hours it's probably sooner than later, that the shaft seal degrades from the rusted out factory steel swivel shaft and you develop a leak. Replace with new bushing, seal and Stainless swivel shaft. I spent yesterday changing mine from the outside of the boat using the JR Marine repair kit. Although the repair really wasn't bad I would have assumed not to have cut a hole in my gimbal housing. While the engine is out you have perfect access from in the engine bay.