196 Transom Thickness

[peteSki]

I've recently moved to a new house, and the driveway where my 97 Ski lives is sloped towards the house, so the boat sits on an angle where any rainwater that gets through the cover misses the drain hole in front of the engine and accummulates at the back of the boat. This model does not have a drain plug on the transom so I'm thinking about installing one.

I've drilled through the hull of my boat before to install the Perfect Pass and that was no problem, but I also know that boats can have transoms that are thicker than the rest of the hull. Can anyone tell me if this is the case with the 97 Ski and if so how thick is the transom? Maybe there is a good reason why Correct Craft didn't install a transom drain plug? I'd hate to learn a lesson on this the hard way by weakening the transom in a critical spot.

I'm looking at drilling a 1 inch hole level with the bottom of the exhause pipe, which will put the hole at the lowest point on the transom, just above the floor and center line.

Pete

[darrel409]

RE: 196 Transom Thickness

I drilled a hole in my 95 Ski to install a grease zerk fitting to the rudder, IMO you wont have a problem. I drilled smaller (1/2) than your proposed 1 inch but the transom should be plenty thick.

[iceman991]

196

DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DavidF]

RE: 196

I do not believe you will harm anything. The transome may be thicker than the bottom, but still no wood to worry about soaking up water on a '97. A drain plug size hole will not weaken the structure. Just seal it up well.

[M3Fan]

RE: 196

I've seen transom drain plugs on SN's. No big deal. Go ahead and install it.

[ag4ever]

RE: 196

ice, why would you say don't do it?

My SANTE has a drain on the transom, and there is not drain on the hull like the DD's have.

Most all boats have a drain on the transom, so I don't see the problem, unless you just don't like seeing it when skiing.

A drain hole can't be any worse than the hole for the xhaust.