TOPIC: What is this stuff?

I pulled the engine off the boat and the bolts were bedded in this red material in the holes in the transom.

Can anyone tell me what it is? Do I need to reapply some sort of sealant or caulking when I remount the engine?

Thanks,

Mike

It looks like some sort of caulk to keep water from seeping in through the holes around the bolts. Even if the holes are above the water line, water could seep in while launching, ect. Granted, it probably would not be much in the boat, but that would mean that the plywood on the inside of your transom would also be absorbing some which over time, as we all know, causes most of the problems with these old girls.
Bill

Thanks Bill:

It's on a 59 Dorsett. I've never seen any material like that before, it was almost like clay. I'll probably use some polysulfide or silicone when I remount the engine.

Thanks again,

Mike

Mike,
If it was me I'd get all that out of there. Use CPES or some epoxy and brush it in the holes on the plywood. Let it completely dry then use 4200. That's what I did on mine when I repowered from the Ft Fifty to the 80hp.

Bob

I'm pretty sure I know what that is. Use it as a gasket maker on sealing Harley crankcase halves, etc. Looks like "Permatex Hi-Temp RTV silicone gasket maker". Aint gonna hurt anything.

Scrape it off, and use "Boatlfe Caulk" for sealing the new bolts. 4200 OK, but I like boatlife for that.

Don't use 3M 5200 though. You'll never get it off and you won't be able to get the bolts out.

I like 3M 4000 for above the waterline caulk, 3M 4200 for under the waterline, 5200 for stuff you don't ever want to take apart.
Larry