transom external stress cracks

[_vn_]

hi, are those cracks something i should be really worried about?
this boat is kept on a trailer, for the most part in fresh water
its a 2004 tahoe so its wood free. i drilled out couple of holes on the side for water intake for the ballast and foam inside was good color and didn't feel damp - but that was on the side and 4-5 feet away.


thanks !

 

[Sea Rider]

A matter to check how deep the scratch is, if deep need a fiberglass ransom repair.

Happy Boating

 

[racerone]

Well --Those are NOT scratches !-----I would be concerned about that.---Are you in an area that has freezing temperatures ?------That needs to be looked at !---I do some boating on a big , big lake with cold water.-------On a pond with warm water and lots of friends / helpers nearby there would not be a concern.-----Recall abandoning a sailboat race to assist a sinking powerboat.----Do not know why it sank.-----But when there are 6 or 8 sailboats around you with very experienced crews aboard you do not have a problem.----And they build new boats every day.

 

[H20Rat]

Something is seriously wrong there. Either there is internal structural failure, or the boat was dropped off the trailer at some point. (or hit something really hard while running)

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would be pulling the motor and drive and redo the transom

that crack and the discoloration is quite concerning....... something is moving. which will also tear up your coupler and could sink your boat when that breaches.

 

[Texasmark]

What bothers me is the location....intersection of bottom and transom. I'd get access to the stringer to transom interface and see if you have any indications of movement....stringers upon which the engine is mounted (to transom interface) in particular.

Then the question becomes what is where you can't see it????? Good and stout, or an accident waiting to happen. Gel coat is a "make pretty" surface, not a structural part. The fact that it's cracked says that something beneath moved and that means a structural movement.

 

[_vn_]

in 2014 i did hit submerged rocks pretty hard going wot, had an insurance claim for lower unit repair, coupler etc. impact was so hard that driveshaft in bravo1 twisted quite bit, and its a 1" shaft i think.
perhaps this could also be claimed as a result of the impact?
i had those cracks there for few years, boat is kept in VT - so yea, very cold there
i brought it to NYC area last season for a summer and those cracks just got darker - probably due to salt water, but they don't get larger.

 

[_vn_]

What bothers me is the location....intersection of bottom and transom. I'd get access to the stringer to transom interface and see if you have any indications of movement....stringers upon which the engine is mounted (to transom interface) in particular.

Then the question becomes what is where you can't see it????? Good and stout, or an accident waiting to happen. Gel coat is a "make pretty" surface, not a structural part. The fact that it's cracked says that something beneath moved and that means a structural movement.

you mean checking this spot?

 

[Sea Rider]

Was the transom cracked before the hard impact you described or its a direct consequence of such impact that happened years ago ?

Happy Boating

 

[_vn_]

Was the transom cracked before the hard impact you described or its a direct consequence of such impact that happened years ago ?

Happy Boating

I don't believe so, i didn't take any closups of transom when i got the boat but we did notice those cracks later. definitely after the impact. location of them also point to an impact that came pushing that leg up. with fresh water and boat being trailered all the time it could have taken much longer to become obvious

 

[JASinIL2006]

My concern would be that there was already some structural problems (rot, maybe?) developing before your impact, and the shock of the impact had a bigger effect than it ordinarily would.

In any case, I'd be drilling some test holes into the transom from the inside. I'd look low, near where the hull and transom meet. You can use a 1/4" drill bit, but don't drill more than 1.5" into the wood (so you don't completely penetrate the hull). If you get dry, light colored shavings, fill the holes with 3m 5200 and you're good. If the shavings come out dark and/or wet, you have bigger issues...

 

[Texasmark]

you mean checking this spot?

You just changed the rules. The outdrive is attached to the transom and doing the damage you mentioned to the outdrive had to have an impact on the interface of the outdrive to the boat.....the transom. So, I would follow that engine mounting stringer in your picture back to the transom interface, hull interface of it and the transomn, both sides and any other stringers to transom if any joints, plus transom to side and deck interfaces. You'd be looking for subtle cracks, easy to see in the bilge where bilge water may have intruded making them dark and easy to see.

Additionally, you might get on the www and start asking questions about strength, methods to repair, partial damage, and such. What to worry about and what not. Lots of answers out there.....I just asked some quick questions to test what I just said and got loads of answers.