GREASEMONKEYSC
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2010
- Messages
- 20
I had my wife & kids out in my ancient 76 Kingfisher 15'. We were having a good time just cruising around the lake for a few hrs. My daughter was wanting to go faster, so I throttled up, and BAM! I feel an impact on the rear of the boat, hear a cracking sound, and the motor make a funny sound. I looked back under the rear shelf, and can see the mid section of the transom is split 2/3 across. The motor was leaned back about 15*, and i was taking on a small trickle of water. I was able to baby it the 2mi back to the landing, and onto the trailer. The transom had rotted, and gave under the torque of the motor. The upper section is a glassed over 2x6, and the lower section is roughly 3/8" glassed over plywood. The outside of the transom actually looks like a simple repair, but the inside is shot. It was actually the lower motor mounts that busted through.
I'm not spending the time to repair it to OE, so it's reinforcement time. I'll tell ya what my plan is, and feel free to toss in your 2cents.
I will remove the rear shelf to gain access to the transom, remove all the transom rotted wood, replace the wood with a solid 2" board all the way down, and across. I'll glass it over, and up the sides about 12-14" to reinforce it, then comes my idea of toughening it up! I'll take a sheet of 16ga aluminum break it over 180* and cut to cover the entire interior & 2/3 of the exterior transom. Seal the aluminum, and bolt it through around the edges. Reinstall the rear shelf, and remount the motor. I figured that the aluminum + the thicker wood will displace the force & torque of the motor.
I'm not spending the time to repair it to OE, so it's reinforcement time. I'll tell ya what my plan is, and feel free to toss in your 2cents.
I will remove the rear shelf to gain access to the transom, remove all the transom rotted wood, replace the wood with a solid 2" board all the way down, and across. I'll glass it over, and up the sides about 12-14" to reinforce it, then comes my idea of toughening it up! I'll take a sheet of 16ga aluminum break it over 180* and cut to cover the entire interior & 2/3 of the exterior transom. Seal the aluminum, and bolt it through around the edges. Reinstall the rear shelf, and remount the motor. I figured that the aluminum + the thicker wood will displace the force & torque of the motor.
