Aluminum Trim on top of transom??

[prater]

My boat has a piece of aluminum trim that runs along the top of the transom where the motor mounts. Its angled so that one edge sits on top of the transom and one edge is against the back of the transom, the motor sits on top of it. Yesterday I noticed one of the rivets on one side was missing and the aluminum was about and 1/8 inch pulled away from the boat, I can push it back into place by hand with little force but when I let it go it pops back out. Is it the motor that is causing this to happen, and if I rivet it back on is it just going to pop back out, or put extra stress on the transom?

I've considered just sealing it up with an epoxy and leaving it be as this boat likely won't last more than a couple more years anyway.

 

[jimdd810]

Re: Aluminum Trim on top of transom??

Your problem could be sign that your transom is wet and rotting. I would pull the motor if possible and then remove the cap to see whats under it. If the transom is rotten you need to replace it.

 

[prater]

Re: Aluminum Trim on top of transom??

I just looked and noticed something I didn't see before, the rivet is not missing, the head just snapped off, the bottom half of it is still firmly in place on the transom.

I did the tap test on the transom and didn't detect any soft spots, also stood on the motor leg and bounced up and down, no flexing.

Knowing the rivet snapped and didn't pull out of the transom makes me think it could be something different.

I'm planning on getting rid of this boat within the next 18 months and won't be making any major repairs to it in that time as the boat is over 30 years old and is not worth the cost of such a repair. But I do plan on using the boat while I still have it.

Do you think the transom could still be to blame?

 

[Comoxsam]

Re: Aluminum Trim on top of transom??

Gee a popped rivet isn't a major repair. I'm not saying you don't have other issues but rivets do pop their heads sometimes. If you carefully check your transom and feel that it is solid, replace the rivet and monitor to see if it happens again.

It could be nothing more than a poorly installed rivet .

 

[380voltz]

Re: Aluminum Trim on top of transom??

are u sure its Al ? mine is SSteel.
if yours is SS and u have Al rivets on ... they will all rot away.