TOPIC: Water leaks at stern

I seem to be getting water in from somewhere between bottom and floor deck my Edinboro. Where it comes from is driving me crazy. Do I really need a drain hole for the tween decks? Does the deck to joint seam ever leak? Would trim tabs keep water away from that joint?

Please post some clear pictures. Hard to even try to tell without them.

What year is your Edinboro? Wood or fiberglass floor.

What usually happens is water intrusion into the the fiberglass layers in the transom causes the inner plywood to completely rot out. My 1962 Edinboro was a complete mess before restoration.

Once the wood rots, there is no structural strength whatsoever and the weight of the attached outboard just destroys the whole transom fiberglass skins. A telltale sign is to find a boat with a piece of metal, usually aluminum, attached under the outboard clamps. Then you know you have a big repair job.

MFG used no sealants at the top aluminum cap nor to the transom eyes or drains plugs. Water leaks right in.

Water intrusion usually only occurs if the rubber in the well nuts holding the seats deteriorates, and water gets in if the boat is left outside or the interior gets flooded.

The extra hole and plug is for draining water if water does get trapped in the deck. Much of the time, the floatation foam in that space absorbs the water, making the boats heavy. If a concern, try weighing your boat, subtracting out the weight of the trailer, motor, and stuff inside the boat. Depending on year, an Edinboro will weigh from 810-940 pounds, boat only. The early ones weigh less than the later ones.