transom addition

[zanman]

good day all: i have a 14ft starcraft aluminum boat(seafarer).it has a 1975 evinrude 25hp long shaft.problem is the anti cav plate is about 5inches below the keel.the transom is the cut down style.what i want to know is if i can remove the wood from the transom and install a piece with less cut down,to raise the motor.or is the transom engineered thatway for a reason.what id like is to do is replace the wooden part of the transom with a taller one,so it would be level all the way accross.could i use a solid piece of a light hardwood(weight)or should i use laminated marine grade plywood.<br />thaks in advanc for your replies Z

 

[Spidybot]

Re: transom addition

IMHO you're better off looking for a swap to a proper length leg.<br /><br />It should be fairly easy to find another boater with the opposite problem. Or trade it.<br /><br />By raising the motor onto a homemade transom-add-on you'll get a stress on the transom that it was never designed for and you'll get a higher point of gravity.<br /><br />Redesigning the transom can be done, though. It would put extra weight in the back of your boat, something a 14' most likely do not need.

 

[dakotashooter2]

Re: transom addition

I did that on a 16" Lund and it worked fine. I laminated several thicknesses of green treated plywood but noticed I had some warpage/flex. Would probably recommend going to the lumber yard and buying a Glue-Lam joist of appropriate size. A piece of channel steel or aluminum across the top will ad some strength and weather protection.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: transom addition

Did this on a 14' jon boat to accomodate a 60HP with a 20inch shaft... No problems (other than it was way too fast).. <br /><br />I would use plywood.. A single piece of hardwood could crack along the grain...

 

[pbailey]

Re: transom addition

I picked up a used polarkraft that had a rotten transom. When replacing I wanted to raise it to fit the outboard I was using.<br /><br />I used 3/4-inch plywood laminated together with epoxy. After that set up I put 2 coats of epoxy on the completed assembly. Use a high grade plywood that does not have any voids in the lay up.<br /><br />I had a piece of aluminum made up to cap over the<br />new transom and lap down over the original aluminum to keep water out. <br /><br />Ended up with a very strong transom with this method.<br /><br />pbailey

 

[Hopsdak]

Re: transom addition

I'd look into buying a setback or jack plate. Then you can move your motor up and down as you please. Setbacks are manual adjustment and Jack plates have Hydrolic motors.<br /> web page <br />And this is a pic of my jack plate..<br /> Power Lift Jack plate

 

[crab bait]

Re: transom addition

i'm all with what UU said.. especially the small 14 ft design/weight/balance point... <br /><br />i do like the 'JACK PLATE' idea.. bass pro an problably IBOAT here has good cheap mechanical jacks.. ( turn boltscrews to lift or lower ob ) you can make it perfect the height..

 

[Link]

Re: transom addition

zanman:<br />I'm all for what crab bait said about <br /> UU 's post! For the same reasons.<br />If you can swap out the long shaft for a short<br />that would be best on a small boat as UU said.<br />But if you can not: Like UU said it can be done.<br />What dakotashooter2 : snapperbait : and pbailey : posted can be done. <br />I've seen it done at least a 50 (or more) <br />times.. <br />But if you need to use the long shaft on your <br />boat try a transom jack.. I think Hopsdak and<br />crab bait are talking about the same thing. When<br />I looked at the "web page" that Hopsdak posted, it<br />showed a transom jack by CMC which I use and as crab bait describes... cost 199.00 and mounts to existing holes and allows you to manually turn a bolt to lift or lower the motor! Also sets the motor back a few inches to run in cleaner water.<br /><br />Cheap and easy...<br />Link