Issue with replacing transom transducer
 

I have had Lowrance on my boat for the last few years. When I went to change the transducer for my new Garmin, I encountered water coming out the screw holes when I backed out the screws. The screws were set in silicon caulk when I first installed it. I hadn't touched them in 7 years.
After a week the holes are still weeping. Is this normal? Should I be concerned? I tried to caulk the old holes but the caulk just melted out with the water weeping.

What can be done to verify I don't have a significant amount of water in the hole now?
Can I get all the water out?

I used west system to create a solid hole to pre drill into for the new transducer so leakage shouldn't be an issue with the new one.

Bill

gotta dry the holes out to re-seal them.

reccomend when drilling holes to oversize/drill too deep then as you did... fill with west.

If you have any plywood in that transom you had better get it checked and make sure it's completely dry before you seal it up.

I ran into this though they were just a little damp, not weeping. My transom was done a few years ago but not sealed up as well as it could have been. For small holes like the transducer drill them out larger then the screw size hole, and let it dry for a day, you can also brush in a solvent like acetone which can help induce some extra evaopration. The main thing is that it has to be completely dry. Next (and at least a day after acetone) take a shop vac and using thicker plastic sheet taped to the hull and taped around the vac hose so that there is a real good seal, run the vaccum to suck even more moisture out. Sometimes this can take a while so it is a good idea to pick up a cheap working "disposable" shop vac at a yard sale in case you burn it out. Get a long dowel from Home Depot or whatever that will somewhat slide into the hole with some friction. Cut a couple pieces of dowel that fit a bit flush. Now rough up the hole a little and apply West System epoxy around the inside of the hole (especially way up inside), epoxy on the dowel and hammer it in with a rubber mallet, wiping off the excess. Once it is fully cured use a Forstner (or similar) bit to counter sink the hole down to a good level where you can fill with a cabosil / epoxy mixture, rough up once dry, gelcoat over the epoxy (see instructions for removing amamine blush from expoxy before gelcoat).

Good as new ;)

It's a maritime skiff I do not believe it is plywood.
I will drill out the others tonight and try the vacuum bag approach it.
Thank you all.

Bill

John's trick works...
dowels and west system.
I have done it in a few spots on the r/v and we're no worse for the wear.
Instead of drilling though I cut them 1/2" short and counter sunk it 1/4", then filled to the gelcoat

Find out what it is then first. I believe all composite transoms should not soak up water...