Disturbing new discovery?
 

General information
It's my first post since joining and I hate to make such an appeal for assistance, but here goes. I just bought a year 2000 model 204 Jubilee. I bought it for $4k expecting the owner was selling me a boat with a few problems that I'd need to spend money on. The upholstery is rotted, but the floor appears to be solid, I can find no softness except the panel above the fuel tank, which has some minor flex to it. This weekend I will have my mechanic pull and service the outdrive, as well as check the motor out. The boat has 320 hours. All of this is fine, and I'm prepared for the worst when it comes to the mechanicals, and have a good upholstery guy. HOWEVER.

Specific observation
I noticed that water was still coming out of the bilge 2 days after my test drive. Upon closer inspection, (three words that are never good, right?) which consisted of sticking my finger into the threaded brass transom drain fitting (that the plug goes into), I found 'junk' was partially plugging the hole. I will go back today to further examine as it was dark and starting to rain when I made this discovery. (The boat is well covered, now, but who knows about the prior owner).

In any case, I stuck my finger as far inside the fitting and up and around inside as I could with my fat short fingers. There was softness and fiberglass material that I could extract with my finger immediately inside and around the fitting. I tapped with a screwdriver handle all around the transom and can't hear any hollow sounds. I am going back tonight after work to try and get as much material as I can out of the bilge, what's come out so far is a couple of balls of dog hair, sand, and there's something else that's saturated and squishy which I pushed up further into the bilge that I'll try to pull out with a set of needle nose this evening.

MY TWO QUESTIONS ARE; How can I determine if there is any rot in the transom of this boat? And, how can I access this aft portion of the bilge to inspect it or at least flush it out? Yes, you can call me dumb for not doing this before buying the boat, but I think horrified is an adequate description of my state of mind and I'd appreciate any guidance the forum could provide me.

Thanks in advance for your advice. I think I'm going to need it.
Matt

Re: Disturbing new discovery?
 

Hmm mine drips water for a day or two after getting out of the water. I didn't think much about it. When I pump out the bilge there's maybe a gallon of water that comes out.

Re: Disturbing new discovery?
 

It seems you have a bit of 'crud' buildup around the bilge drain which isn't unusual at all. Despite the best efforts of your bilge pump it wont get everything and a bit of water can remain there for quite a while. The crud is something i clean out a couple of times a year & just before i put the boat away for the winter. When i park mine on the trailer i always take out the plug just to help things drain. I dont suspect you've got transom rot at this point.

Re: Disturbing new discovery?
 

I agree with MikeyT. I don't think you've got signs of rot. The bilge which you see under the engine, isn't the true bottom of the boat. It's a fiberglass subfloor that sits a little ways above the true bottom of the hull. Water and things will collect in between there, it's normal.

However if you wanted to be sure, you could have a marine surveyor check the moisture levels in the hull and that'd give you a definitive answer. It'll just cost you. :)