'64 arkansas traveler - cutting transom to 15" - can it be done?

[JT!]

the transom height is approx 21" right now.
Its a 15'2" fiberglass hull.

its an old ski boat, and if i pulled off the lid, i'd have a great fiberglasshull to rip around in.

the boat has a 1963 v4 longshaft on it now.
i want to put my newer 50hp shortshaft on there.

on boat builder sites i have seen similar shaped wooden boats with 15" as well as aluminum with 15" too.

can it be assumed a fiberglass hull of same shape should be able to handle a big 6" notch?

i plan to use the 50 and poke around my favorite fishing spots.
on semi-protected st-lawrence & lake waters.

 

[JB]

Re: '64 arkansas traveler - cutting transom to 15" - can it be done?

JT, I am afraid that if you pull the cap off that hull you will kill the rigidity and get a very squirrely, very unstable boat.

If you have a 50 with a 15" shaft you have a rarity. It shouldn't be hard at all to swap it for a 20" shaft engine and avoid weakening the boat even further.

What is the 50?

Maybe this belongs in Restoration and Building. I will move it there.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: '64 arkansas traveler - cutting transom to 15" - can it be done?

I agree with JB. It would be far easier to find a longshaft 50 than to shorten up the transom...
- Scott

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: '64 arkansas traveler - cutting transom to 15" - can it be done?

Well it's your boat. If you like it, why cut the transom? Lengthen the 50, or mount it on an offset, lower jackplate.

 

[oops!]

Re: '64 arkansas traveler - cutting transom to 15" - can it be done?

hull ya.....anything can be done......for a quick peek of what your going to get into......

read all 30 pages of the hull extension thread.......its allmost the same process to stablize the hull......

then search "jackplate"

cheers
oops