Need some transom help

[mercury97]

I have a 97 javelin 389 that has some water in the transom. I found this after removing screws from a transducer that had been mounted by the previous owner of the boat. I drilled with a very small bit a series of about 6 holes across the bottom of the transom and about 10 or so drops total came of out of the holes. The water wasn't brown.....it was clear

I checked the upper portion of the transom(from the bottom of the jackplate to the top of the transom) and it is dry and fine.

I have been doing reading about folks drilling the transom and injecting westmarine system epoxy after the wet areas are dried out.

Does anyone here have any experience doing this little project? Thanks, Cliff

[mercury97]

TTT

[Sumo]

Let me start off by do not get alarmed if water comes out after you remove screws that are at the bottom of the transom it happens quite frequently water seems to find holes here and there when your sump gets water in it or water splashes over the transom from the top where there is sometimes small places for it to seep in. I just recently went through the panic but unfortunately I found that the hole that was drilled to pull the speedo was leaking and has been for some time and an area of about a 12 inch diameter got wet. I tapped around both sides of the transom on each side of the Jack Plate and one side was different sounding from the other. I opened the hole up and stuck a screwdriver in there and out came some wet sawdust looking stuff. To make a long story short I call West Systems and talked the expert on transoms and he did not feel that I had a major problem so he explained to me in great detail what I needed to do and how to do it with what products. I do not think I have a problem at this point and have sealed everything up. My glass had a slight separation from the wood so I drilled a few holes and dried out the moisture as best as I could and shot the epoxy into them and it is solid again. I think after the season I will pull everything out and drill a few more holes and do a good drying and fill them with some more epoxy just to be the safe side. It was pretty interesting, when I went to fill in the speedo hole there was a sheet of epoxy blocking the hole and since I was covering it up anyway I just filled right over it. If you do end up doing this just make sure you mix the hardner as close as possible to the mix ratio.

[Sumo]

Those holes that the screws were in could be below the transom and in the sump area, check it out from the inside if you have a bit of water at the bottom of the sump area that is probably all you are getting out of those screw holes. I do suggest whatever the case may be to shoot all those holes you drilled with expoxy or marine tex and put a piece of box tape over each hole until it hardens. That will insure a tight seal.

[marinesashore]

Dang Merc97! I sure am glad you ask that, I have the EXACT same thing going on with my BassCat Pantera and was going to post it for answers. It sure makes me feel better and now I kinda know what to do about it. Thank you guys! Mike