Dealer balking at idea of epoxy plugs repower installation

C

Clewless

New member
I've been waiting since January for a Honda BF90 to replace the '86 Yamaha 90 on my '86 Angler. Today I brought it to the dealer for the install and all was going well until I mentioned that I like to over drill, fill with with epoxy and re-drill the mounting holes for the new engine. They had never heard of such a thing, and after I explained in detail the process, they still would have non of it even going so far as to say if I I filled the hole myself with the old engine removed, I'd have to sign a waiver regarding their installation. That is the short story. Where I left it with them was a firm assurance that they would use plenty of Elastomeric sealant.

This dealership is well established selling boats, (outboards only) motors, ATVs, cycles, etc.

I'd appreciate any thoughts about this and how I might handle it.
 
I'm pretty surprised they have never heard of this. As long as it is undercut and not just a plug, it should be great. Maybe they mostly deal in alloy boats?
 
Or, maybe they are somewhere between lazy and cutting corners.

I would offer them a chance to sign a contract that stipulates that if there is ever any moisture in that transom, because of their lack of craftsmanship, and responsible process, they get to repair completely at no cost to you, and to your satisfaction, whatever moisture damage is found at whatever time you deem necessary.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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I would not trust a dealer to do the job even if they said they would follow your instructions. The only person who is going to do the job right is the person who will get burned if it's done wrong. That's not the dealer, it's you.
 
hardee":n8qggqgn said:
Or, maybe they are somewhere between lazy and cutting corners. ...
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Or perhaps they are so busy that they don't want to do anything that will keep a given boat in the shop any longer than necessary. Drilling, undercutting, epoxying, redrilling, etc., will add at least a day to the process of installing a motor.
 
The thing with engine dealers is that they hang and rig engines. They are mechanics not a boatyard. Boatyard repair people would know how to do this. As clayhubler stated; if you want it done how you would like, doing it yourself is best. I handled this by taking boat into repower dealer and had old engines removed before new were delivered to dealer. I then brought the boat home with the instructions to dealer that I would return boat when engines were delivered. This gave me time to inspect and prepare the transom holes to my satisfaction. If you have the equipment, you can unbolt the new engine, swing it a few inches away, and perform transom work. Other option is a boatyard. Also, you could pull 1 bolt at a time and inspect the core. If it is good and dry then no worries.
-Jeff-
 
The thing with engine dealers is that they hang and rig engines. They are mechanics not a boatyard. Boatyard repair people would know how to do this.
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I understand that about installers. The salesman and installer were so enamored with telling me how to use "Wizards" to pimp out my boot stripe that I mistakenly thought they might be onboard to talk about the epoxy plug procedure that is apparently so thoroughly understood and accepted on this forum. Since I have been using West Marine Six10 it didn't seem like a huge ask. I couldn't have been more wrong. "It will pull out", "it will weaken the transom", "the motor will fall off," eventually leading to the salesman digging his heels in by saying if I put in epoxy plugs, I would have to sign some sort of waiver—When I was 40 (or looked it) I knew everything too.

I have already put so much work into completely replacing the splash well, installing trim tabs and drain tubes that were all compromised due to water intrusion into to balsa core that now I am regretting that I didn't have a better plan ahead for this re-power.

If you have the equipment, you can unbolt the new engine, swing it a few inches away, and perform transom work. Other option is a boatyard. Also, you could pull 1 bolt at a time and inspect the core. If it is good and dry then no worries.
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That is an excellent solution which I will most likely follow. I just don't want to fight this particular battle with them.

I really appreciate the responses and this forum
 
No surprise to me. Actually very few "dealers"--who sell boats as their primary function in life, really know a lot about the boats they sell. It is rare to to boat builders properly prepare holes for fittings. The exception is those builders who put in soldi fiberglass in the way of where a thru hull, or bolt goes.

The idea of epoxy plugs is well ingrained here, and finally in The Hull Truth.

There are surveyors who don't understand the concept--!

I agree, just go ahead, let them do their thing, and then pull the engine, and do the plug.
 
After all the fiberglass work you have done using the "West System", you should have no problem dealing with the "holes" properly! I would suggest obtaining a "bolt hole pattern" for the new Honda and after removing the old engine, see where the new holes will be located. If they are even remotely close to the old holes, you need to do the epoxy routine! And if there is any sign of moisture in, or around, where the new holes will be drilled, you need to thoroughly dry the transome "core" before proceeding! Why chance fate?
 
Your holes will line up where they were - industry standard except for some goofiness with the really large engines that had different centers.
 
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