Part broke off my '75 Supersport. Help!

[DJ_Allatoona]

Bumped into a dock just the wrong way the other day, and totally ripped this aluminum corner piece off the port side transom. Take a look here: This piece. http://i.imgur.com/dSJdfuM.jpg The piece sank before I could grab it. Is there any way to replace this piece on such an old boat?

 

[jbcurt00]

Craigs, ebay, boat salvage yard if you're lucky

An inactive member used to make them, but now sells urethane only replacements on ebay

A metal fab shop could probably weld up a good replica using the port one for reference

Search for

Transom end cap

 

[GA_Boater]

And when the water drops back down 10 feet if the rain ever stops, the cap will be sitting beside the dock in the rocks. Did you put in at Blockhouse, DJ?

 

[DJ_Allatoona]

And when the water drops back down 10 feet if the rain ever stops, the cap will be sitting beside the dock in the rocks. Did you put in at Blockhouse, DJ?

Hey Merry Christmas! No, it was at Holiday Harbor's houseboat dock, in about 30 feet of water. That sucker's gone.

 

[DJ_Allatoona]

Craigs, ebay, boat salvage yard if you're lucky

An inactive member used to make them, but now sells urethane only replacements on ebay

A metal fab shop could probably weld up a good replica using the port one for reference

Search for

Transom end cap

Thanks. In the meantime, is it a problem to run without that end cap? Does it serve any structural purpose, or is it just aesthetic?

 

[GA_Boater]

Merry Christmas!

That's a little too deep to reach down and snag. Besides, the lake is up 12 feet now and more rain coming.

You could check Great Lakes Skipper, I've occasionally run across end caps on the site.

 

[jbcurt00]

It exposes the edge of the transom plywood.

As long as the plywood transom is in great shape, it may not do any damage, short term.

Typically, a missing cap is found on project boats w soft/rotten transoms. Those usually have splashwell cracks and bent/torn transom skins. Its only held on by a couple rivets, but it might be holding the multiple parts together.

I'd probably put an ad in Craigslist looking for a recreational diver or class to retrieve it. 30ft doesn't sound too deep for recovery.

 

[fhhuber]

Hey Merry Christmas! No, it was at Holiday Harbor's houseboat dock, in about 30 feet of water. That sucker's gone.

Actually... its there... if you can find someone to dive for it.

See if there is a local dive shop and ask if they know someone who might take a look.

****************

The cap braces that corner joint.
In most cases its not significant for holding the boat together and mostly protects the corner (and the people) from snagging.

Until a replacement (or the original) is back on, I'd fabricate a temporary cap from sheet aluminum and use pop-rivets or screws (or combination) to attach it. (don't enlarge the holes or poke new ones)

 

[DJ_Allatoona]

It exposes the edge of the transom plywood.

As long as the plywood transom is in great shape, it may not do any damage, short term.

Typically, a missing cap is found on project boats w soft/rotten transoms. Those usually have splashwell cracks and bent/torn transom skins. Its only held on by a couple rivets, but it might be holding the multiple parts together.

I'd probably put an ad in Craigslist looking for a recreational diver or class to retrieve it. 30ft doesn't sound too deep for recovery.

Yeah, I'm a diver. Going out tomorrow with my gear and will drop down and look for it. Visibility is end-of-nose, we're maximum muddy right now after a week of heavy rainstorms. Still, wish me luck. Thanks to all for replies.

 

[GA_Boater]

The lake has to look like mud right now. Hope it dropped straight down and didn't sail some. You might find some other goodies. Good luck, DJ.

 

[Watermann]

It's not worth the possibility of being killed over diving solo under a dock that could have numerous hazards.

These guys can take your existing corner cap and create a couple cast AL duplicates. http://www.creativecastingco.com/

 

[jbcurt00]

I've talked to Steve at CC before about re-casting some one off replacement cleats. I dont think they do any plugs, just molds.

If you have the part you want cast, they will pull a mold off it, which they can then use to make replacements.

FYI: the newly cast part is 5%+/- smaller then the original.

If you dont send them the exact part you want re-cast, they arent setup to make a part to make a mold from. Or they werent 2.5yrs ago.

Definitely dont dive alone.

 

[gm280]

Two issues stand out to me on this one. First, yes you can dive for it, but only with a partner and being totally safe. No part is worth a life. Secondly, I do realize there are lots of places to have a new one manufactured, but I also know the cost is going to be pretty steep. Have you thought about making a fiberglass replacement? And if that worked out nicely, and I can't see why it wouldn't, make the other side replacement as well. I think with a really good laminated layup, it would not only be solid but probably take more impact as well. JMHO!

 

[64osby]

gm - You do know this is a tin boat. Having glass corners would really drop the resale value.:lol:

 

[gm280]

gm - You do know this is a tin boat. Having glass corners would really drop the resale value.:lol:

Well 64osby, I didn't know it was a tin boat. But that is all the more reason to make fiberglass replacements then. It would bring the value up a ton. ound:

 

[DJ_Allatoona]

Nobody's diving alone. Experienced diver here...I will have a tender topside. I feel pretty good about finding it.

 

[jbcurt00]

Good luck and happy hunting

 

[DJ_Allatoona]

Well, well...looky here! http://i.imgur.com/KTjoQLo.jpg

30 feet down in a brown lake stirred up by a week of rain. Zero visibility, I had a light and could barely see past my nose. Took a few minutes, but then it appeared out of the mud. Bam. Sunny day but that water was ccccooolllddd!!!

 

[jbcurt00]

NOW you can send both to Steve at Creative Castings and let him pull a set of molds off them :becky:

Congrats on a successful recovery

 

[GA_Boater]

Good deal, DJ.

I see the rivets are intact. Did they shear or pull out of the aluminum?