Question for the bracket experts

Bigtalljv · 20 July 2015, 00:00

Ok, I have a new problem. My outboard bracket is leaking. I didn't check after every outing but after two or three outings I have 4 gallons of water in the bracket. I have no idea how it's getting in there.

I tried a plastic drain plug drilled a hole and hooked the air compressor up to it, pressurized the bracket, and hit everything with soapy water. There was nothing extraordinary. When I pulled the airline it hissed out, the bracket was holding pressure. ????

My next plan might be to just replace one of the access covers on top with a plexiglass one so I can just see in.

Any other suggestions?

Both times I have drained and measured I got almost exactly 4 gallons. This time it was after at least 60 miles of boating. All the bolts holes seems tight, same for the seal between the hull. I was thinking it could be shooting up between hull and bracket but then I should have lots more after high speed trips. I inspected it while diving and everything looks solid.

If the drain plug was leaking wouldn't it leak back out?

Jason

cgoing · 20 July 2015, 02:29

What about the lower bolts for the motor? I've seen numerous boats where that was the culprit.

Bigtalljv · 20 July 2015, 04:10

They look all sealed up. I guess my only option is to pop it open and start revealing all the bolts.

Brian · 20 July 2015, 08:06

If I understand this correctly ????? then I think it will be the drain plug.
No matter what "the book" says, you need to fit a long brass drain plug. ALL the others leak!

Bigtalljv · 20 July 2015, 15:46

The drain plug is a 1" stainless threaded plug. I've tried with Teflon tape, no Teflon tape and it doesn't seem to matter. Also it doesn't leak back out the plug.

Brian · 20 July 2015, 17:17

Well mine never leaked out of the plug either.
I found that no matter which brand of plug I used, they all leaked water in.
Nobody I knew ever found out how or why.
Eventually I just accepted the fact and bought myself a long plug ( about 5inches), made of brass and it stopped immediately.
Not saying this is true in your case, just saying it was true in mine.

Goog luck with finding ( or curing!) the leak.

Bigtalljv · 20 July 2015, 17:31

ok, so you mean a longer threaded brass version of my plug?

Brian · 21 July 2015, 08:58

Yes. This is what I meant to say. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Wightdiver · 21 July 2015, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtalljv

Ok, I have a new problem. My outboard bracket is leaking. I didn't check after every outing but after two or three outings I have 4 gallons of water in the bracket. I have no idea how it's getting in there.

I tried a plastic drain plug drilled a hole and hooked the air compressor up to it, pressurized the bracket, and hit everything with soapy water. There was nothing extraordinary. When I pulled the airline it hissed out, the bracket was holding pressure. ????

My next plan might be to just replace one of the access covers on top with a plexiglass one so I can just see in.

Any other suggestions?

Both times I have drained and measured I got almost exactly 4 gallons. This time it was after at least 60 miles of boating. All the bolts holes seems tight, same for the seal between the hull. I was thinking it could be shooting up between hull and bracket but then I should have lots more after high speed trips. I inspected it while diving and everything looks solid.

If the drain plug was leaking wouldn't it leak back out?

Jason

Sorry to be a bit thick here but what exactly do you mean by outboard bracket?

1eyedjim · 21 July 2015, 15:10

I took it as transom

If there are inspection hole to see in the hull have you checked these

jyasaki · 21 July 2015, 15:21

Jason, are you trailering the boat?

If you have access to the bracket interior, place some towels on the bottom of the bracket, and tape wads of newspaper over the likely leak areas, then take it for a brief spin. The newspaper should give you an indication of where the leak(s) is/are. The towels will help prevent the leaks from showing up places where they aren't (if that makes any sense.) Only works if you can get to it though.

jky

Bigtalljv · 21 July 2015, 15:55

For those asking, on the 7m Zodiac/Wiliards they use a big hull extension/engine bracket. It's fully buoyant to offset the weight of the outboard.

Yes, I'm trailering it. Have access just don't want to start pulling hatches

Have no choice though.

Jason

Wightdiver · 21 July 2015, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtalljv

For those asking, on the 7m Zodiac/Wiliards they use a big hull extension/engine bracket. It's fully buoyant to offset the weight of the outboard.

Yes, I'm trailering it. Have access just don't want to start pulling hatches

Have no choice though.

Jason

Thanks, understand what you mean now.

C-NUMB · 21 July 2015, 19:44

Water will find its way, always tricky to locate ... Is the bracket welded? Any chance that under way, due to dynamic forces, a seam i leaking but on trailer, stationary, its keeping tight?

Another thing came to my mind. What i You fill the space with water when on trailer, then should be easy to sea the leak place? If no leak can be found, its possible the hatches that are leaking? Good luck!

jyasaki · 22 July 2015, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-NUMB

What i You fill the space with water when on trailer, then should be easy to sea the leak place?

Need to be a bit careful doing this. It is possible to fill it with enough water to overload the trailer (that's also true of filling even small inflatables to find leaks.) Granted the bracket shouldn't be a huge volume of water (a lot less than, say, filling the hull), but it will all be at the back of the rig.

jky

Bigtalljv · 22 July 2015, 17:24

Yeah, I thought about both options and had the same concern. The bracket is big and the water weight would be a concern.

As for a crack the bracket is newly painted so if there was a crack that big I would expect to be able to see it in the paint. I've inspected it when it's floating too but obviously not underway.

I think I'll got with a plexiglass hatch cover. I think i can do that. Then I'll be able to see. Maybe stick my gopro back there to look in.

Jason

C-NUMB · 22 July 2015, 19:31

Putting a jack and some wood to distribute the load beneath the bracket should take the additional load of the the water(subject to securing the trailer in place first).

Long time a go i had a boat with a similar issue, that time my solution was to fill the void by high quality 2k PU foam. Modern Epoxy foam will not suck any water, still think its better to find the leak as first priority.

scubaqua · 23 July 2015, 08:57

And place a big balloon (or anything else with less weight and big volume) in the bracket before filling it up with water.
Than you need less water to fill the bracket, thus also less weight..