Bass boat transom rot!!!

[andrewcoon]

I am really disappointed to find out my transom is rotted! I have a question can I replace it without cutting the outter gelcoat skin? Can I just cut the inside and pull the wood out?????/ Please help me I am very frustrated.. I know how to fiberglass but a new gelcoat and stuff seems like a lot?! Help please

 

[jigngrub]

the best way is to remove the wood from the inside and don't cut the outside skin. You'll either have to remove the cap of the boat or cut it in front of the splashwell and remove the splashwell section to access the wood... you may find other rot too.

Post pics of your boat and give us some more info about her... make, model, year.

 

[andrewcoon]

Can I dig it out of the splashwell from the bottom instead of cutting it?

 

[andrewcoon]

Can I dig it out of the splashwell from the bottom instead of cutting it?

 

[jigngrub]

The problem is, you gotta get the new wood in too.

It's either pop the cap, cut the cap, or cut the exterior transom skin. Most people are divided about half and half on removing the cap and cutting it, very few choose to cut the outside skin.

I'd guess you'll be better off removing the cap in case you discover other rot in the boat, taking the cap off will enable you to better access areas of other rot if you find some.

 

[jbcurt00]

I'd guess you'll be better off removing the cap when you discover other rot in the boat, taking the cap off will enable you to better access areas of other rot if you find some.

Fixed it for ya

The least I could do after the tinny foul moments ago.

 

[andrewcoon]

I feel like I could slap some resin and glass up in the splashwell and slide a new board in

 

[jbcurt00]

good luck w/ that plan ^^^

unlikely

30,000+ resto forum Topics also disagree

 

[jigngrub]

I feel like I could slap some resin and glass up in the splashwell and slide a new board in

I'm pretty sure you could... I'm also pretty sure you will be very dissatisfied with the results too, especially when you kick in that carbed 200... if the transom doesn't fall off first on the way to the lake under the weight of that motor.

I'm also pretty sure you'll be kicking yourself for wasting your time and money the first time when you have to go back and do it the right way the second time.

We see a lot of broken transoms in this forum:





... and we'll be more than happy to look at pics of your broken transom too if you don't install it correctly.

 

[Woodonglass]

When a Transom goes bad on a 25 year old Bass Boat, typically the stringers and bulkheads below the deck are also in need of replacement. I'd highly recommend that you do a thorough investigation of what's below the deck. It's the "Bones" of your boat and if they are wet and rotten like the transom your boat is NOT seaworthy. Almost every Bass boat That has come on this forum with a bad transom has also needed to have the stringers, deck and bulkheads replaced too! I'm hoping your's might be the exception, but I'm highly doubtful!!!

 

[andrewcoon]

I don't understand why sliding the bored in would not be sturdy? You guys are telling me not to butake I don't understand why? It's getting glassed and put into place? I'm probably getting rid of the boat anyway.. and BTW under the bilge I can feel the stringers and floor. They are solid. Looking at a 95 basscat. Missing motor and I just bought mine and might just slap it on

 

[andrewcoon]

Board* been a long day

 

[Bob_VT]

Look into Nida-bond or Seacast which are pour-able transom materiel. There is a short review here http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...r/295740-how-to-s-and-other-great-information

 

[Tarheelsportsman]

I'm going to be watching this one, I would take their advise and double check the stringers, floor and etc.If you are going to sell it, why don't you sell it as is and let the new owner do the repairs. Just a suggestion .

 

[jigngrub]

I don't understand why sliding the bored in would not be sturdy? You guys are telling me not to butake I don't understand why?

That's because you don't understand how fiberglass boats are built and how transoms on f'glass boats are installed. There's a lot more to it than slapping some wood and fiberglass in a hole.

I took the time to look up Organizer Bass Boats, they're big boats, with big motors, and a big jack plate on the transom.


The skillset for replacing a transom on one of these boats would be what I call advanced and not for the novice or first timer.

THS made a good point about selling your boat now "as is", and when you take a look at these boats that point becomes even stronger.

 

[jbcurt00]

Perhaps this will help:

How do you get a 15" tall, 1.5" thick plywood transom up into a space that is also 15" tall+/- and 1.5" thick+/- when there's a splashwell lip that sticks down 4"+/- making a slot you have to sneak the plywood up into.

Add to that the fact that you need adhesive PB/PL coating 100% of the contact area between fiberglass transom skin, fiberglass splashwell skin and the new plywood core. All while not scraping any of it off while sliding the 1.5" thick board into a slot that's not much wider then the plywood is thick.

Over your head, tucked up under the splashwell, how do you plan to grind, scrape and pry all the existing fiberglass and old wood out and ensure you've got it all sufficiently prepped for the new? It's a slot that's more then 4" tall by a little over 1.5" wide.....

 

[jigngrub]

Perhaps this will help:

How do you get a 15" tall, 1.5" thick plywood transom up into a space that is also 15" tall+/- and 1.5" thick+/- when there's a splashwell lip that sticks down 4"+/- making a slot you have to sneak the plywood up into.

Add to that the fact that you need adhesive PB/PL coating 100% of the contact area between fiberglass transom skin, fiberglass splashwell skin and the new plywood core. All while not scraping any of it off while sliding the 1.5" thick board into a slot that's not much wider then the plywood is thick.

Over your head, tucked up under the splashwell, how do you plan to grind, scrape and pry all the existing fiberglass and old wood out and ensure you've got it all sufficiently prepped for the new? It's a slot that's more then 4" tall by a little over 1.5" wide.....

You're making it sound too easy... it's actually more difficult than that.

 

[sphelps]

^^^ Just put it in in little pieces ^^^ ... :lol:
If ya plan on selling then why bother ? Just make sure you fill in any prospective buyers of the problems and price accordingly ...
Seacast would be relatively easier but more costly for material .. But as others have said if the transom is rotten then the stringers are most likely gone to ..
Good luck with whatever way ya choose to go ...

 

[jbcurt00]

You're making it sound too easy... it's actually more difficult than that.

Yes it is, sucks actually... That's one reason why theres a glass boat split open in my garage and untouched since. Well, that, time and money

 

[andrewcoon]

All I wanted to know. I understand that it's not easy. I'll see if the insurance will pay for the repairs or total the boat. ..... thanks guys.