Swim platform problems, need help
 

My 242 had a little exhaust leak up the center between the platform and transom. My new donuts came in today so I pulled the platform off to redo the gaskets. After it was off it's clear that it has been leaking for some time. The top cavity of the platform looks like it has burned through and the gel coat on the transom is blistered from the heat. It looks like this happened before on the opposite side and had a repair attempt, the new-er glass is blown out as well.

Any ideas?

Will I run a risk of the transom catching fire if I just get a thicker outer perimeter gasket to contain the exhaust?

I was contemplating running longer tips straight through the platform bottom side.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...8D856D78CA.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...8D6DB8B6E7.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...8D63DA5558.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...8D405AF210.jpg

You need a professional to deal with that. You probably have damage elsewhere you aren't aware of.

Find Glass Dave on this site and have him take a look at these pics...looks scary to me.

It has been a while since I have taken mine off and when I did my transom was fine but the backside of the platform was rotted like yours. Could it just be that the platform was holding so much moisture it did some gel damage just a guess.

Let us know how you make out.

Would the transom rot where the gel coat cracked and exposed the fiberglass below? I'm curious...

So far there I haven't felt any soft spots. The current plan is to run longer tips from the stern straight through the ST platform with some rubber flappers on the end. I may run around with 4 exhaust ports for a while.

Update! With the exception of some trim rings the platform is complete. Transom damage was all cosmetic. Sanded the blisters down then resealed with resin. The old tips were sold and then glassed in. It may be a bit too loud for me so we will see what the future brings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fAoxA07PJo

I like it! nice job and good thinking!

NICE.. i want to do the same thing to mine.. what was involved in doing it? what parts did you use? have any pics of the contstruction

Sorry, I didnt take pics throughout the whole process. It is fairly straight forward though.

Remove platform
remove stock tips
glass in holes from stock tips
Cut holes in platform for new tips
Repaint lower portion of platform (rubrail down)
Buy hardin marine long tips and install
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...7EA3B85388.jpg
Reinstall platform
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48...7EC93537F4.jpg

Great job sounds nice

Thanks for all the compliments!

:cool-smiley-011:

Been in water yet?.. how does it sound ?

We had her in the water Sat, tried Sunday but got towed back due to MSD burning up, and Monday after a new MSD and GM HEI unit set up as a spare to get us home when the MSD goes again were installed. The pipes weren't annoyingly loud but still had a tough sound. She even took the cabin cruiser wakes great. Managed to get 60.8 gps mph with a full fuel tank and 4 passengers. I'm sure there is a couple more mph in there when I learn to drive better though. All in all, we love the boat so far!

I have gps mine at 64mph with 3/4 tank and 2 people. i run 502 with a cam, bravo 1 with 23 pitch mirage plus

Im pretty sure mine is stock. There was no documentation on the motor other than a receipt when a marina installed a jasper 502. Maybe someone that knows more than me could chime in and let me know if the idle sounds like a stock cam or not. It does have a stock intake manifold but an edelbrock 750 cfm carb. Im not even sure if that carb is the ideal one for a 502. It is a bowtie block though, casting # 11051107.

Where did you get the new gasket materal to re-install the platform to seal it to the transom?

As weird as this seems, the new gasket that most resembles the old gasket was neoprene weatherstripping found at home depot.