Re: Transom Broke off Suntracker Pontoon
I know this post is a year old, but this same thing just happened to my 2003 Tracker. I was hoping the original poster was still around to give a follow up of the fix.
Mine broke while in the water, in the middle of last night. I throttled up and heard POP POP POP. I thought I blew a lower unit the way it sounded, but then realized I had no steering. I was shocked to find the motor sideways and the mount hanging on by only a bolt or two on one side.
I was able to "secure" everything from falling any further with a lot of anchor rode...and actually crept it back to my dock 4 miles away. This morning I used lumber and large ratchet straps to pull the whole thing back up to where it's supposed to be, then added 10 more straps to be "safe" on the trip to the ramp tomorrow to pull her out.
I haven't been able to see underneath her yet, but can verify the bolt heads pulled through the cross-members. They either used no washers at all or the washers corroded away. Looking at the pics above from the OP there is just not enough crossbeams to allow enough bolts.
I'm guessing I'm going to have to order some aluminum to beef things up. I'll know more after pulling her out. Any suggestions from the pros on what type of aluminum stock I should use that can handle saltwater? The boat stays in year round, in Florida. Also someone mentioned not to weld it...any reason why a professional Tig welder couldn't weld it up, after bolting first?
Thanks!
I know this post is a year old, but this same thing just happened to my 2003 Tracker. I was hoping the original poster was still around to give a follow up of the fix.
Mine broke while in the water, in the middle of last night. I throttled up and heard POP POP POP. I thought I blew a lower unit the way it sounded, but then realized I had no steering. I was shocked to find the motor sideways and the mount hanging on by only a bolt or two on one side.
I was able to "secure" everything from falling any further with a lot of anchor rode...and actually crept it back to my dock 4 miles away. This morning I used lumber and large ratchet straps to pull the whole thing back up to where it's supposed to be, then added 10 more straps to be "safe" on the trip to the ramp tomorrow to pull her out.
I haven't been able to see underneath her yet, but can verify the bolt heads pulled through the cross-members. They either used no washers at all or the washers corroded away. Looking at the pics above from the OP there is just not enough crossbeams to allow enough bolts.
I'm guessing I'm going to have to order some aluminum to beef things up. I'll know more after pulling her out. Any suggestions from the pros on what type of aluminum stock I should use that can handle saltwater? The boat stays in year round, in Florida. Also someone mentioned not to weld it...any reason why a professional Tig welder couldn't weld it up, after bolting first?
Thanks!
.
