Transom clamp

[Frank Acampora]

Took the 21 foot Manatee with the Force 125 out today. This boat always goes on the trailer crooked and aggravates the hell out of me. So when I got home I started to play around (again) with roller spacing.

While I was at the transom, I noticed the starboard clamp was flaking on one side at the top bolt location. Probed it with a small screwdriver and lo and Behold! two pieces about 2 in square and 1/8 inch thick came right off--I could see the full length of the mounting bolt. So, I've been running with a clamp about 1/2 the thickness it should be. Must have been a defective clamp because I have never seen a clamp fail in this way. Has anyone else out there ever seen this?

You can be sure I won't be running the boat until this is replaced. Only problem is that to replace it, the engine needs to be removed from transom and the tilt/trim needs to be disconnected from the clamp. Lot of work on a salt water engine. You know that with the inevitable corrosion there's going to be a lot of cussin' and swearin' and at least 1 snapped bolt.

Oh, well! I needed an excuse to mount my 140 on the boat anyway

 

[MWBROWN]

Re: Transom clamp

Frank,

Never had that happen, but it is scarry.
Good luck with your project.

Mike

 

[RRitt]

Re: Transom clamp

sounds like a saltwater boat with a serious galvanic problem. on the bright side, it might be a good time to replace the kingpin and then the boat will steer like new.