dadiOH wrote:
Mike wrote:
I have an old Mastercraft inboard ski boat that I need some help
with fixing. Where the shaft of the prop goes through the hull
there is a
metal plate. The edges around the plate were leaking and it was
sealed with silicon. I cut out the gobs of silicon that were there
and found that the plate sits in a 1/2 inch trough in the
fiberglass hull. When the silicon was removed I can move the
plate fairly easily
by hand, even lifting it up slightly. I replaced the existing
silicon
with Goo marine sealant. I let the sealant set for 24 hours then
lowered the boat back in the water. My little leak turned into a
gusher.

How is this plate supposed to be secured to the boat? Do I just
need
to do a better job with silicone? Is there some adjustment that
needs
to be made to hold the plate on better? Should this have done over
with fiber glass?

Is there not a stuffing box? Normally there is and one tightens it
around the shaft to minimize leaking. Not so tight to impede the
shaft but tight enough so that you just get a bit of water. That
water is then removed occasionally with a bilge pump unless you get
it tweaked so that evaporation = leak.

On viewing your pix again I see you aren't talking about the shaft
itself but the gizmo with the angled tube through which the shaft
goes. Are you saying that the only thing holding that to the hull was
silicone? I'd want mechanical fasteners (bolts) with the plate in a
bed of a sealer.

--

dadiOH
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