Pod inspection plates

[spring fever]

Anyone with an outboard pod with built in flotation should have a serious look at their pods inspection plate and check it's security. I have a 24'Orca with a pod and a 9" inspection plate on the top of the pod . I had secured it and secoflexed the seams 3 years ago and haven't touched it since, I drain the pod after every trip and have never got a cup of water out of it. 7 miles off WH some way the plate came off allowing the whole pod to flood-fortunatly the boat is big enough that it could withstand a flooded pod but water was coming in the scuppers if two guys got on one side. Cut a fishing trip a little short-that plate will now be replaced with a screwed down and sealed aluminum plate. If you have the same type of pod and a smaller boat you may not be as fortunate as I was.

 

[SpringFever2359]

spring fever , was that you fueling up your boat at the shell gas station in Courtenay today?...

good info for all those running outboards,pod or no pod, this also happened to a couple buddies I know, they are running big outboards,one on a 19ft trophy, and one on his 23ftGrady White,both NO pods, they have inspection covers down in the engine well? the trophy leaks badly he's tried everything to stop it leaking,
the Grady also out offshore from Cains last year, his bilge pump was running on OT all day till he got back to the cabin,sealed it up, and was good to go the next day,
on both boats there is so much water coming in the back when off shore,its a **** poor place to put the cover if you ask me

 

[Last Chance]

For the amount of time you have to get in there, glue the thing shut. MY pod has no hatch on top, it has two through the transom inside the boat. No water.

Last Chance Fishing Adventures

www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
www.swiftsurebank.com

 

[spring fever]

Yes that was me in the Shell. A smaller boat would have been a disaster-mine was one of those "what-ifs" that got answered. But a solid aluminum screwed down plate plus an extra bilge pump with a separate power souce will be going in today. By the way a garbage bag and a half roll of duck tape did an excellent job of sealing it once we got about a 100 gallons of water out.

 

[profisher]

I had my pod made with an aluminum inspection plate that latches tight...also a drain on the bottom to easily remove any water at seasons end. I have filled mine with water just to see how badly it effected the flotation of the boat. Not much difference to the boat, but you notice the weight out of the hole, as the engine works a bit harder.

 

[spring fever]

I have thought long and hard why I lost the inspection cap and all I can think of was that the boat was stored for 10 days in an incredably hot shed. The pod had its drain plug in making it esentially air tight- the air exspanded poping the cap but because it was also silicon sealed the cap while not physically latched still looked secure. Anyway that's the theory-won't happen again-aluminum plate screwed in place with marine sealant inside and out. Nice to know that the boat still operates well if not a trifle more sluggish.

 

[Northof49]

Now you got me thinking[:0]

I just replaced the deck/inspection plate on my pod. Took the lid off to spray around inside while washing out the boat. Forgot to put it on when turning boat around to get back in the driveway and a car ran it over when it fell off the gunnel.

So I now have the original plastic circular collar that the lid screws into as a spare. Thinking after hearing this story I'll get an aluminum one made and have it welded onto my aluminum pod. Then at least I'll have only the lid to worry about. Maybe have some kind of locking pin that can be removed when lid/cap is to be removed.

 

[spring fever]

If I can make a suggestion-all I did was cut a circular piece of diamond plate aluminum 1/8 inch larger than that nylon or plastic collar-that is through screwed and sealed to the pod. I then marked on the pod all the points half way between each of the original screws. I placed a very generous ribbon of secoflex all round the plastic lid. Placed the new aluminum cap on making sure of the overlap-drilled and placed 6 stainless screws-then secoflexed the edges and on the screws. I can still get in if I need to-but will never come loose inadvertantly-can be flushed through the bottom drain hole and looks really sharp.

 

[Hoochiebob]

Redoing the seal on my plate today.Seems like it's turning into an annual thing.
I don't mean to hijack the thread,but how many of you with pods have zincs attached? Hate to drill a hole in the pod but it seems like an awful lot of bare metal to attach an outboard to.

Hooch

 

[spring fever]

Never thought of that side of the equation. My outboards are through bolted and they have anodes. The boat is trailered-is that enough? I could put it on the underside of the deck-definetly wouldn't go into the air tight portion of the pod. Hadn't thought of that and I have had the boat 8 seasons-what about it some of you metalurgists? Come on Charlie gives us your thoughts on this one?

 

[profisher]

I have my main zinc with all my bonding going to the pod. My big zinc is welded each season to 2 mounting tabs that I had welded to the bottom of the pod. Welding makes for a much better electrical contact than bolting. Bit of a pain having it welded on each spring, but no grief in between. By the way they make aluminum checker plate inspection plate with a locking latch...sold at Trotac...bit pricey, but probally cheaper than having one custom made.

 

[Island Fish Lifter]

quote:Originally posted by profisher

I have my main zinc with all my bonding going to the pod. My big zinc is welded each season to 2 mounting tabs that I had welded to the bottom of the pod. Welding makes for a much better electrical contact than bolting. Bit of a pain having it welded on each spring, but no grief in between. By the way they make aluminum checker plate inspection plate with a locking latch...sold at Trotac...bit pricey, but probally cheaper than having one custom made.

Good call Profisher, I pretty much agree with everything you post and have learned a thing or two from you. Also, I agree with spring fevers idea of having a bilge pump in the pod with an inspection plate on top.. should take the guesswork out of the equation.

Fill the dam tub!

 

[profisher]

Thank IFL..the bonding wires are attached by a stainless stud I had welded to one of the pod transom mounting bolts...it is located below deck in the bilge area, but high enough to stay dry most of the time. Did the same thing to the bronze transom drain...tapped and threaded the the inside of the drain plug to take a bolt...attach a bonding wire from there to the pod. Just have to remove the wire from the pod to remove the drain plug.
I pull my boat onto the trailer once a month, spray bleach to kill the green, rinse, change kicker oil/filter, grease the O/B pivot points, brush off the deposits on all the zincs, and take out the pod drain to empty any water. Usually get a litre or two each month.

 

[profisher]

By the way forgot to mention in case some of you didn't know...my ride is called the "Spring Fever". My present boat is the third with the same name.

 

[spring fever]

Great ideas guys- appreciate it. My rides name is Spring Fever II-second one for me by that name in 13 years. A friend told me he saw a boat by the same name a couple of years ago. Great minds think alike!!!