Rotten transom? & check valves or stoppers for deck drain

What started as trying to address my deck drain holes letting water in when I have a lot of weight on the boat turned into a couple of shocking discoveries.

First, one of the through hulls on my transom well ('83 V20) was shot. I was checking it with my finger and it popped right out. Feeling around the inside of the hole with my finger found what can only be described as black group, certainly not wood.

Then later, when I lifted the port transom hatch and pulled out the insert, I was looking at the transom a nd discovered some failing fiberglass. An inspection with a screwdriver discovered, while mostly still rigid, a small area (1/2 inch) where it was soft.

Now, I could put a new through hull drain in the well and patch the cracked fiberglass, but you guys think I have a bigger problem? Transom still feels tuff and sturdy, but water has been in there for sure.

Also, was thinking about installing new deck drain fittings with plugs and leaving the Plugs in most of the time while running and fishing. Sound reasonable?

Finally, the forward bilge hose has come undone from the through hull fitting. Any way of getting to this from the inside?

Thanks,

Brad, aboard the Miss T

[phatdaddy]

sounds like you need to raise the motor & stand on the foot and bounce to see if you have any flex. if not, then maybe you can get by with patching the drain, if you do, search transom rebuilds. i also have an 83 and the only bilge pump i have forward is in the deck box and it goes overboard in the stern, easy to get to. maybe yours was added by a po. where is the thru hull located.

[Kracker Jack]

I have found that transoms that seem sturdy but have a breach with moisture are normally rotten. The only true way Ive found thru research is to probe the transom with a drill. What you look for is clean wood shavings if you find dark"dirt" consistency then its obviously rotten core material. good luck on your repairs and welcome to the site, there is a wealth of knowledge on here and these guys have basiclly talked me thru a whole rebuild. it seems the modo on here is ask and you shall recieve. lol!!!

[cfelton]

Welcome to the site! Kracker Jack is probably right. I'd drill small holes at various locations and see what the wood looks like that comes out. Check around the bottom drain, and any spot where the glass has a hole or has been drilled to mount anything. If its only one small spot, I'd remove the glass and expose the wet wood to let it dry. Remove as much of the decayed wood as possible. You can inject GITROT into the remainder and fill it back in with tigerhair or just cut up some matt and glass it back in. Be sure to grind or sand and wipe clean with acetone before appling fiberglass. Good Luck!