Transom plate

[Jack O'Brien]

Mostly I post on a subgroup of Sea Ray 450 owners but I also have a 1988 Sea Ray Sorrento 25. This summer experienced some water intrusion, mostly while underway. Ruled out water leaking from the engine by thorough inspection. Couple weeks ago on return from use, bilge pump was operating frequently. Actually heard the water so was able to contort myself enough to see water coming in a couple inches below the coupler. Now on a trailer, having the out-drive pulled to inspect the bellows. Meanwhile, I see lower left transom plate bolt missing. Perhaps a water source. I understand these two bottom plate bolts are aluminum with a mushroom anode cap. I don't want to pull the motor and y-pipe to access the bilge side of the bolt. I'ld rather close the hole with a SS bolt and epoxy. Transom does not appear or with tap testing to have entrapped rot. Image upside down, sorry. Thoughts?

 

[scoflaw]

Looks rough, somebody put a bead of caulking around the TA, probably chasing that same leak. My guess is that whole thing is going to have to come apart.

 

[Jack O'Brien]

Thanks for reply. Agreed. Plan is to put water in the bilge. Leak could be a number of sources:
Shifter bellows, gimble boot, loose y-pipe, missing transom plates bolt, plate itself. The plate caulk bead was applied when a new engine and out-drive was installed 5 yrs ago. Most of it peeled off and hanging loose. Shop didn't feel it necessary to remove/reseal the plate at that time. I should have insisted. But, I can't detect any gaps around it's perimeter. The sudden volume of water intrusion pouring in suggests bellows failure. Anything else suggests pulling the motor to deal with the plate and y-pipe.

 

[Jack O'Brien]

Water inserted into bilge identified sole source of water intrusion. Port side bottom transom plate bolt hole. Fix is epoxy seal and SS bolt. Considered no warranty temporary fix but avoiding pulling the engine at this time. Caught the bolt fail right away, got boat up on a trailer. Transom appears sound. Out-drive removal, check bellows, replace impeller, replace lower unit lube. Should be good a few more years.