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My boat is all prepped and ready for paint. It's already at the painter's but he hasn't started on it yet. I was talking to a coworker who brought up a very good point. Will the holes drilled in the transom line up with the engine holes on my 2005 Yamaha 60hp? I thought after a certain year they were all standard but now I am second guessing myself.

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Depends on who drilled the holes.

The Standard BIA pattern can be found in our Article link on the left sidebar.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...icle_id=82

Where and what holes do you have already in your transom?

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Thanks for the link. I assume BW drilled the holes as the hull is all original with original gelcoat. Looks like I need to fill the bottom holes and drill the green holes?

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Back in those days most hulls were shipped to dealers and then the dealers mounted the motor of choice for the owner.

Or, the owner mounted the motor themselves.

That diagram was for the 16/17' models.
I am not positive about the 15' models so you would have to measure twice, and check twice, before drilling.

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Though I do see the article references "older" 16 and 17 hulls. My hull is an 1981 and it is a 15'. Does the same apply? Unfortunately I am not near my boat nor the engine to take some measurements.

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I updated my post above.

I am not sure about the 15' models. Maybe someone here with a 15' can give you more info.

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Well shoot, I had my Dad measure the holes ( it's at his house waiting to be dropped off at the painter's) and he measured 6.25" between the two. I'm guessing he measured in a straight line between the two. This is going to be tough to figure out with the motor and boat being 200 miles apart! I guess I can just fill the two bottom holes and then re drill after it is painted. What do you think about leaving the lower starboard hole open as a place to run wires through for a transducer / possibly an LED light?

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I think I would just fill the lower 2 holes before painting and think about doing whatever you want to do after that.

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As was the case on most 15 and 16/17s back in the day, the motor was originally mounted with the auxiliary bolt holes (sometimes called "blind holes") some outboard manufacturers provide.

The remedy is simple: fill the two lower holes in the transom and drill two new holes on the BIA standard spacing. It is just not that big a deal.

You do not want to leave the holes open because water will get in there and soak the plywood core of the transom.

I have seen lower hole filled with polyurethane caulk, but plugging them with wooden plugs topped with polyester or epoxy resin is better and it will return the solidity of the transom before drilling the two new holes close.

On a hull that is about to be painted, this is even more simple because you do not even have to try to get perfectly color-matched gel coat in the holes. Just fill them up, fair the surface and paint away.

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My 15' is newer than yours, and it used the 'blind' holes...

You probably want your motor mounted higher anyways, so I'd fill them while you have the transom blank...

I'd like to raise mine, but I don't want to deal with the engine and hole repair...

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So fill all 4 and re drill or just fill the bottom 2? I went and checked out the motor today and the bolts were closer to 8.5" apart so its definitely not the same bolt pattern. Unfortunately I can't get to the boat so I am just going to have to pay the painter to fill them.

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You'll have to tell us what motor used to be on the boat.

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I have no idea, I bought the boat hull only. Whatever the original power was.

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If the upper bolt holes in the transom are not spaced 12-7/8" o.c., then yes, you will have to fill all four bolt holes and drill new ones on the BIA standard spacing with the lower bolt holes 6-1/2" below the upper bolt holes to accommodate the shallow splashwell of the 15.

This is not a big deal and now is the time to do it.