Jackplate - Transom Problem ???

[GT]

After fishing in rough water last Sat. noticed that the jackplate on one side was not flush with the transom about 1/4in. gap on top right side. Found that the bolt was loose. Now to the fixing part. I have not tightened it because on the inside of the boat the washer appears to be eating into the fiberglass of the transom. It has embeded into the fiberglass. Not deep but has started sinking in. I am afraid if I take the load from motor off transom to tighten I will pull bolt, washer and all through transom wall. Any ideas on how to fix this problem? I inspected the transom and have no visible cracks or indentions.

[Vyper202]

Do you have a stiffener plate on the inside of the transom that the washers and nuts go on top of??

[GT]

Vyper,

Talked to my dealer and he is ordering one for me. Is this plate something that should have been factory installed? It looks like when it was installed at the factory they may have torqued it to much and the washer was pulled into the fiberglass. When installing the plate does all the weight from the motor need to be taken off the jackplate? Thanks.

[Blazer63]

My '01 came from the factory with stiffener plates on the upper & lower mounting bolts. They have the Blazer logo on them. The plates are in most marine catalogs and are relatively inexpensive. Grade 8 stainless steel bolts, stainless steel washers & poly lok nuts is cheap insurance!

[BlazerSC]

Hey Arthur does Blazer sell these plates? I'd like to have at least the top one for my 202.

[Vyper202]

Mine was rigged at my dealer, that installed the plates, they have Blazer on them. But you can buy the plates from T&H also, same plate, just differant logo. I had one of my thru transom bolts snap the head off and the other three bent. I replaced all four with 1/2 inch, all threaded, S.S bolts, washers and nylock nuts.
Just trim the engine down on your transom saver, pull off the top two inside nuts, place the stiffiner on the bolts, put the nuts and washers back on.....

[Blazer63]

Randy,
Call the 800 number ask for Tim in the parts dept. at the plant. He ought to be able to send one out to you.

[Fear-This]

I got Custom ones made at Pit Stop My rig did the same thing.

[GT]

I am a little confused!! Does the stiffner plate go on the outside of the hull or the inside? My dealer said to place the stiffner plate on the inside. The right side washer is pulling into the fiberglass on the inside of the hull. That is inside the storage area were the batteries are stored. You can see some of the fiberglass has splinters around the washer. Should I use a foam sealer to fill the area before reinstalling stiffner plate and then washer and nuts?

[BEEZER]

Get a piece of 1/4" plate steel cut 27" by 4" at a machine shop. Use PC 7, marine tec, or 5200 3m sealant to fill in the indentions in the fiberglass. Put the plate on top of the filler and bolt it down. Oh yea! you have to drill the holes for the bolts. I had the plate on my boat that you have ordered and it to sunk down in the fiberglass also. I've had no problems with the larger plate. Be sure you paint it before you install.