So I bought a boat off of Craigslist and made the mistake of not putting it on the water to test it.
Now I am stuck with it.
It is a 14 ft Lowe flat bottom Jon. The motor is a 9.9 Honda long shaft. There is an extension plate on the transom that I assume was added so the long shaft motor wouldn't sit so low in the water.
It took a while to get a title for the trailer so I didn't put it on the water right away. When I finally did get to the lake, the boat started to fill up immediately. I went home and gave it a thorough cleaning and noticed some "silicone-like" substance in the rear of the boat. Upon removal, I saw that there were slits in the bottom of the boat near the transom.
I put JB weld over the slits and let it dry. Then I filled the boat with water and let it sit overnight. It didn't leak a drop, so I tossed the motor back on t and went back to the lake. It still took on water, but at a slower rate. It keeps getting worse each time I transport it.
So I think the weight on the transom extender is too much for the boat to take when it is bouncing down the highway.
I bought this boat with the hope of adding a deck to the front, but now I am afraid to stick any time or money into it.
I have considered trying to sell the long motor and buying a short one, then having the boat welded.
I also thought about having the boat welded and adding some bracing to the transom to lessen the pressure on the area where the slits are.
Any other suggestions or advice?
Now I am stuck with it.
It is a 14 ft Lowe flat bottom Jon. The motor is a 9.9 Honda long shaft. There is an extension plate on the transom that I assume was added so the long shaft motor wouldn't sit so low in the water.
It took a while to get a title for the trailer so I didn't put it on the water right away. When I finally did get to the lake, the boat started to fill up immediately. I went home and gave it a thorough cleaning and noticed some "silicone-like" substance in the rear of the boat. Upon removal, I saw that there were slits in the bottom of the boat near the transom.
I put JB weld over the slits and let it dry. Then I filled the boat with water and let it sit overnight. It didn't leak a drop, so I tossed the motor back on t and went back to the lake. It still took on water, but at a slower rate. It keeps getting worse each time I transport it.
So I think the weight on the transom extender is too much for the boat to take when it is bouncing down the highway.
I bought this boat with the hope of adding a deck to the front, but now I am afraid to stick any time or money into it.
I have considered trying to sell the long motor and buying a short one, then having the boat welded.
I also thought about having the boat welded and adding some bracing to the transom to lessen the pressure on the area where the slits are.
Any other suggestions or advice?