14' Aero-Craft tin transom rebuild - current design is odd?

[tivct]

Hi folks, new member & first post here. I have what I believe is a mid 50's 14' Aero-Craft aluminum boat. It's missing the manufacturer plaque with model number, but it does have the cost guard plaque which indicates a 45hp max outboard rating. I installed a 25hp Evinrude 2-stroke, and there's too much transom flex for comfort. Looking closer at the transom design, it's definitely been modified. This type of reinforcement just doesn't make sense (not to mention, the hardware holding the wood on is scattered and inconsistent). There is no knee, and the two braces that are present are effectively worthless. I don't see how this could have supported a 45hp from the factory. I searched through a ton of Aero-Craft photos on the web, and can't find any similar designs . Photos are attached.

I'm looking to re-do the transom with enough support for my 25. I'm hoping there are some experienced members here who can point me in the right direction. I'm guessing I'll need to rip out what's there and start over? Maybe have somebody weld in a new knee? Thanks!!!

 

[jbcurt00]

Pix posting help
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/forum...pload-tutorial

Welcome to iboats

Advice will depend on pix, so waiting for them. As you uploaded the pix, they are likely stored in your computers browser/memory cache and may appear in your post. They do not.

 

[tivct]

Sorry about that, I'm having a bit of trouble getting them attached directly, I'll try PhotoBucket:

 

[silver_bay]

I've been collecting Aerocraft photos at
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org
for a number of years.

From the shape of the transom, my first guess is that yours is a 1958-ish "J" model
Here are two 1958s:
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org/boats/1332/index.html
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org/boats/1307/index.html

The rating went up to 50 hp in 1959.
So if your bow handle matches the two boats above, then it's almost certainly a 1958
(58 and 59 were pretty much the only years that handle was used).

shot of the transom in a 1959:
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org/boats/0070/index.html

Here's an index of all the J model photos:
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org/models/J.html

 

[silver_bay]

And here are two that don't show the inside of the transom, but show what the fancier "J" model runabouts look like:

http://www.aerocraft-boats.org/boats/0273/index.html
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org/boats/0478/index.html

And one that DOES show the transom:
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org/boats/1325/index.html

And the 1958 catalog (I believe the "Lancer" and Sea Mist runabouts are "J" models, as, of course the J-14 utility is)

 

[tivct]

Wow, the transom does match the '58s. I've never seen a design like that. Perhaps I just need new marine ply properly sealed/painted and bolted down to support the weight of the 25. Still, those two support straps don't seem adequate. I always ran under the assumption that any transom flex is too much, i just can't imagine it not flexing with this design. I guess I can try new wood and see what happens.

Thanks a million for the photos!

 

[silver_bay]

Thanks a million for the photos!

You're welcome! As you can see it's a minor obsession, and the iBoats community helped my ID my boat as an AeroCraft (the title said "JetCraft"), so I'm happy to give back.

Looking forward to more pictures of your boat as you fix it up!