Motor Mounts Classic 27

[tranmkp]

Short story. Collasped mount, also needed to change timing belt. Pulled motor (mechanics request). Additionally, investigated a funky smell coming from starboard rear locker - it was rotted, and water had been collecting back there for years - ripped it all out and reglassed and replace covers with G4 - ($$$)

Motor is back in and is performing very well BUT BUT BUT, I have this: 6 months after installation. Look closely and there is water there. in and around the bolt head. This was NOT the old motor mount that need to be replaced, that was port rear - this is starboard rear.

I cleaned it up and patted dry with paper towels. Only to watch water very slowly leech out from under the washer. WHAT?

So my question is, how is that possible? What is under that glass in the frame rail? I'm scratching my head on this one

 

[tranmkp]

Ill ask another question - WHAT IS INSIDE THE ENGINE BED STRINGERS? WOOD? SOLID GLASS? ANY IDEAS?

 

[tranmkp]

one possibility that occurred to me is that there could be water upstream of the bed - that trickles down under the foot of the mount. But, going UP and leaking out ?

 

[Newf]

Ill ask another question - WHAT IS INSIDE THE ENGINE BED STRINGERS? WOOD? SOLID GLASS? ANY IDEAS?

Not sure what is under yours but on mine (R21-EC) I was told that it is wood that is glassed in. From an inspection port it looks like it would be about 1" thick. For a bigger boat, bigger engine I would think that it would be something thicker on yours.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

pretty sure its wood stringers. very likely water has entered the wood - its an example of the cost cutting by this brand at manufacturer time.

 

[tranmkp]

update

I cleaned the stringers - patted dry the top of the stud - sprinkled talc all around but not on the mount. Was expecting to see some sort of trail... Next day I returned and nope.... but a few cc's of water was on the washer under the stud.

The stringer/mount has never done this - it has only occurred since the original mounts were removed. now WTH - HOW did water get into the stringer? Remember, I can dab dry the water and watch it very slowly seep out. WTH??

 

[BB marine]

The water was probably in the stringer before the mounts were removed. The original stringer lag bolts were sealed. The water entered the stringers over the years and was trapped. I do not see sealant now. The water is seeping out around the lag bolt threads. It is unfortunate that the stringer design " Grid system" was not installed properly to allow for water drainage. This was a common issue with many of the builds. Rotten wood and mold in storage lockers and engine stringers. The design had limber holes or tubes to drain the compartments to the center bilge through the "grid system". There are PVC tubes for drainage, good idea if they are sized properly and confirmed clean and draining properly after the build. I believe the issue was the ID of the drainage tubes were not large enough and plugged easily. Many were plugged when the boats left the factory. This should be a yearly preventative maintenance item ( cleaning the tubes and confirming proper drainage.

That is my opinion of how the moisture and water is saturated in the hull. It is a shame that these boats of 10 years are having stringer and wood rot caused from water saturation and poor ventilation . It would be the last thing boat owners should be worried about in a 10 year old boat. I was worried right after I purchased my boat after I figured out the deficiencies in the build. With preventative maintenance measures and knowledge of the construction and installation of a good ventilation system I had no issues. I did remove all lag engine bolts and inspected for water, epoxy and dowel rod each hole and drilled new holes. My engine was not installed properly and I needed to move it to get a proper alignment.

If I owned your boat I would cut a 2" core plug with a hole saw about 4" to 6" aft of the mount. This will give you access to remove the closed cell foam in the stringer and access how much water is in the stringer and remove it. Make up a cover or purchase a 2" expandable plug to seal it so water can not enter the hole. Do inspections weekly until you find the water intrusion is gone. Clean and inspect each limber hole to make sure there is proper drainage.

I don't participate in this forum often because I don't know the build of the newer boats. I was familiar with the build of the 2008 to 2020 builds. I posted what I experienced and my thoughts on the builds. I give credit to Fluid Motion management. They did not sensor my experiences or opinions. I tried to keep my comments factual based on my experiences. I sold my C26 in 2021 and never looked back. We enjoyed our Cutwater and being part of the Ranger Tug /Cutwater community.

 

[Capt Rob]

I am in the process of buying a 2016 Ranger 27. Should I be concerned with this issue of stringer water saturation? Are there other issues I need to check out?

I have been told that the Volvo Penta 200 HP Diesel inboards can have part problems. Has that been any other boatowners experience, I noticed that Ranger has gone to outboard engines is that why?

 

[tranmkp]

Thanks BB

So let me get this straight - the water intrusion into the stringer is caused by limber holes? I can't understand how that happens.

 

[tranmkp]

the D3's just need to be maintained and run strong. It is a pain to change a timing belt but not a deal killer

 

[BB marine]

So let me get this straight - the water intrusion into the stringer is caused by limber holes? I can't understand how that happens.

The limber holes are PVC tubing or pipe that is glassed into the grid system. The tubes are to allow water to drain from the outboards sides of the grid to the center of the hull and from the bow of the boat to the aft section of the boat where the bilge pumps are located. The battery compartment storage compartments, generator compartment and aft section of the hull where the rudder box is located and bow section of the hull can trap water. The only way the water can drain from theses areas is the limber holes. (PVC pipes or tubing). If the tubes are plugged and water can not drain the water is trapped. There can be areas that the grid is not 100% glued or sealed to the hull, If water is trapped on the outside areas of the grid it can possibly leak or seep under the grid and get trapped in the grid. . There is a better chance of this not happening if the limber holes are draining properly. I posted a photo of the grid. If water is trapped outside the grid and the is any voids between the hull and the grid water will then be trapped in between the hull and the grid. I suspect that there is water sitting between the hull and the engine bed stringer leaking in from either the aft section of the grid or outboard section of the grid. The fact that all the wood was rotted from trapped water that had been trapped for years as you stated that water is also trapped in the grid and is now leaking out around the unsealed lag bolts that are fastening the motor mount.

 

[tranmkp]

Thanks for the reply BB - to not be hysterical - the amount of water leaking from around the lag bolt has not been more than a few cc's. Ive run a fish through all the limber holes and have not had any issues at all. Is it still possible to have water (below the grid) and not have the ability to escape?

 

[BB marine]

Thanks for the reply BB - to not be hysterical - the amount of water leaking from around the lag bolt has not been more than a few cc's. Ive run a fish through all the limber holes and have not had any issues at all. Is it still possible to have water (below the grid) and not have the ability to escape?

"There can be areas that the grid is not 100% glued or sealed to the hull, If water is trapped on the outside areas of the grid it can possibly leak or seep under the grid and get trapped in the grid."

Yes I believe that is what has happened.

If I owned your boat I would cut a 2" core plug with a hole saw about 4" to 6" aft of the mount. This will give you access to remove the closed cell foam in the stringer and access how much water is in the stringer and remove it. Make up a cover or purchase a 2" expandable plug to seal it so water can not enter the hole. Do inspections weekly until you find the water intrusion is gone. Clean and inspect each limber hole to make sure there is proper drainage.
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