Partial transom repair

[Brandon76]

Good evening gentlemen I have a boat I've had for a couple years. The transom has gone bad. It's on a fiberglass boat I'm only planning on keeping this boat for a couple more years. So I opened up the top dried it out. Poured three bottles of wood hardener into it. I let that dry and then poured two part epoxy slightly thinner. Poke some holes down in the bad wood. And filled it it seems to be extremely hard and strong. But I was going to put a plate on the back of it just to help for strength. Should I get a half inch piece of aluminum or do you think I can use marine grade plywood. I know it's not the prettiest and not the proper way but like I said I'm just trying to get a couple more seasons out of it before I get a new one. Any suggestions would be great

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Not trying to be rude, but the way you're making up the repair method makes it unlikely anyone can give advice that they will stand behind. It's just impossible to say with any certainty that what you've done so far has done any good. This should really be a full replacement.

That being said, since you are aware and accept that your repair is already questionable, just get the largest 2x lumber that will fit in the splashwell. It'll last longer than the transom.

Again though, no guarantee this will really help. This is something that could sink your boat if it fails.

 

[airshot]

How much motor will be powering this boat ?

 

[Brandon76]

How much motor will be powering this boat ?

40

 

[Brandon76]

Not trying to be rude, but the way you're making up the repair method makes it unlikely anyone can give advice that they will stand behind. It's just impossible to say with any certainty that what you've done so far has done any good. This should really be a full replacement.

That being said, since you are aware and accept that your repair is already questionable, just get the largest 2x lumber that will fit in the splashwell. It'll last longer than the transom.

Again though, no guarantee this will really help. This is something that could sink your boat if it fails.

Yeah I know, it really is solid as a rock and thanks. I know I'm putting my self out there of criticism

 

[airshot]

Yeah I know, it really is solid as a rock and thanks. I know I'm putting my self out there of criticism

It bless you have drilled some holes to actually test the inside wood skeleton, your guessing it is solid !! No way anyone can tell for sure without a thorough test. Fact is....that boat is long past it's design life, and the odds of being structuraly compromised to the point of being unsafe is around 98%. Try to find an insurance company that will insure it without a test on the wood skeleton. Worse yet is to not have any insurance on it....then you will be held negligent when an accident occurs and the lawsuits come flooding in. In my 60 plus years of boat ownership, I have saw more than once a failure of a transom while at speed....not a pretty picture.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

It bless you have drilled some holes to actually test the inside wood skeleton, your guessing it is solid !! No way anyone can tell for sure without a thorough test. Fact is....that boat is long past it's design life, and the odds of being structuraly compromised to the point of being unsafe is around 98%. Try to find an insurance company that will insure it without a test on the wood skeleton. Worse yet is to not have any insurance on it....then you will be held negligent when an accident occurs and the lawsuits come flooding in. In my 60 plus years of boat ownership, I have saw more than once a failure of a transom while at speed....not a pretty picture.

Lucky. I have never got to witness that sorry to say I would probably laugh.

 

[Chris1956]

Watch the top corners of the transom for cracks. That is usually where they start.

You going to junk the hull in a couple of years?

 

[Brandon76]

Watch the top corners of the transom for cracks. That is usually where they start.

You going to junk the hull in a couple of years?

Yeah I'm just trying to get a couple more seasons out of it. I have some 3/4 marine grade wood I'm going to put on the very back. Put some Marine seal seal it on it bolt it all together

 

[Brandon76]

Lucky. I have never got to witness that sorry to say I would probably laugh.

Yeah I'm not going to lie I did all that and it's good and solid. I'm like if this works this is like some legend. if it works I'll definitely post on the here again about it.

 

[airshot]

Lucky. I have never got to witness that sorry to say I would probably laugh.

On two occasions it was quite funny, but on one occasion a passenger drown from not wearing a life jacket...young kid !

 

[Brandon76]

Watch the top corners of the transom for cracks. That is usually where they start.

You going to junk the hull in a couple of years?

Yeah I have a new old boat in working on but won't be able to finish this summer

 

[Brandon76]

How much motor will be powering this boat ?

40

 

[racerone]

Cut the outside skin of fiberglass off it.----Dig out the rotten plywood.-----Dry everything.----Glue in 2 layers of plywood as needed.----Glue the outside skin back on.-------If you have some power tools this is a 2 day job.----Or a week of 4 hour afternoons.