Smoak352 Posted May 28, 2016 Report Share Posted May 28, 2016 So I purchased a 2002 21' Hewes last month, and have run into a problem. My wife and I went down to Captiva last weekend and on the third day I noticed the jack plate was coming loose from the boat! As you can see in the picture, the bottom bolts are fine, but the top two bolts were very loose. It turns out, the bottom two bolts had very large washers, but the top two bolts had no washers and the bolts pulled through the transom!!! I contacted the guy I purchased it from and he said the jack plate has never been taken off and it must have been that way from the factory. I am waiting on the marina to let me know what kind of damage I am looking at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulligan Posted May 28, 2016 Report Share Posted May 28, 2016 Mine was starting to do this as well. Not to the extreme as yours, maybe 1/16" at most. Mine had an aluminium transom bracket on the bottom but only washers on top. You could see the start of a small depression from the top washers. I was lucky and caught it before any damage was done. While you are in there you might want to check the stainless plate. My top screws were starting to wear from the motor being just a bit loose on the transom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoak352 Posted May 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2016 I had no washers on top! I will be adding an aluminum plate to the back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamfisted Posted May 28, 2016 Report Share Posted May 28, 2016 Yeah when I repowered with the VMax, replacing the lighter ProV 200, I put one of these transom plates across the top bolts just for insurance. At that time they were offering free engraving, so they engraved it "Hewes LT20". It's held up very well and gives the transom a little added protection against bolt pull-thru. Mine always had big washers there, but I thought the transom plate offered a little more protection for the heavier HPDI setup. Pretty sad if whoever rigged your boat didn't even put the big washers on those bolts. Vance Machine MFG ;Aluminum Transom Plates -Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2fastlx Posted May 28, 2016 Report Share Posted May 28, 2016 I just dealt with that last month. Mine had a small washer barely bigger than the bolt head, and over the past 15 years the stainless galled the aluminum enough for the washer to pull through and bind into the aluminum. The factory used a piece of angle for the plate and due to lack of space between the bolts and the top cap, the bolt holes were drilled very close to the bend in the angle. This is why they couldnt use a normal sized washer. I was able to catch it in time before it got to the point where yours is. I made a new aluminum backing plate plate and its good now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaitTank Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 I'm not a mechanic or expert......I just have my motor off a weekend or two ago to raise the motor on the mounting holes...... Pull the motor off the jack plate, take jackplate off, slide bolts out.......see how bad.....its probably not as bad as you think, Dry out the transom near holes if needed, fill with 5200, let set a bit.....re-mount jackplate with large large washers or plates....... Tighten up good and use new lock washers.....Re-mount motor and go fishing...... This assumes the holes are not worked out large enough that you need glass work and re-drill to bolt hole size....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoak352 Posted June 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Got all new 4 bolts (all 4 were bent) with grade 8 hardware. The washers are big but are too close to the edge so I trimmed the edges. Does anyone know the torque specs? Should I call Hewes or Bob's Jack Plates for specs? I took the boat out this weekend and the bolts have backed out about 1/8". Obviously need to tighten more. Filled with 5200 but need to re-seal now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desperado213 Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 Are you using nylon lock nuts? I dont have a jack plate but Im guessing the bolts go all the way thru the transom and bolt to the other side. If it keeps being a problem I guess you could drill a hole in the bolt right past the nut once its tightened up and throw a cotter pin in it. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEM Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 I'm surprised that Hewes doesn't offer an engraved aluminum transom plate. They certainly put them on all the Pathfinders going out the factory door. In fact, when Master Repair put a jack plate on my 2007 2200V several months ago, they got a brand new plate from Pathfinder just because the old plate was dull from oxidation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaitTank Posted June 9, 2016 Report Share Posted June 9, 2016 ditto on new lock washers.....they should not loosen. 5200 is great stuff..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaitTank Posted June 9, 2016 Report Share Posted June 9, 2016 the 5200 quick dry is even better. You can get tubes of it for a caulking gun at LOWES... reasonably priced. if you dont use the whole tube, squeeze out a little form the end and let it dry. It will seal itself and hold for storage for a later use..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulligan Posted June 9, 2016 Report Share Posted June 9, 2016 Quote I'm surprised that Hewes doesn't offer an engraved aluminum transom plate. I would think they do as well, my last one had one. On the 21 there is no slpashwell and the mounting bolts are in the bilge. No need for a fancy bracket as no one will see it, heck it is hard to see the top bolts even with you head in the bilge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoak352 Posted June 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 Update, there was an aluminum plate, but no washers and the bolts were pulling though the aluminum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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