Hi peeps,

After buying my Adams 31 I found this under a panel in the aft cabin floor:


Looks like the prop strut and to me it looks like it's rusted out. It has a very slow salt water leak such that the water evaporates or I mop it up with one or two squeezes of a small hand sponge. The water appears very slightly oily; not like engine oil though (although, now that I think about it, I can't rule out that the oil is coming from the sponge itself).

Best shot I have of the external strut:


On mechanics advice I bunged some 2-part putty in there which stopped it for a bit but it now has the same slow leak. I don't like having a hole in my boat. I assume that the whole strut would need to be replaced and it wouldn't be cheap. I'm also concerned about the effect on the hull in this area (I have no evidence to support this, just my own catastrophising mind).

Anyone have any experience or knowledge in this area and anyone they would recommend to do the required maintenance in Sydney? I have only used John and Peter at President's Boatyard in Drummoyne.

Thank you.

Roger