Transom Question

[Cubbyblue22]

So in my restructuring of my old boat i'm down to everything torn off the boat completely. My boat is a 100 hp rating with a max. of 15 people. "24 foot boat." When I bought the boat I noticed the original transom has a wood block for the motor mount part, and of course I found a 100 hp. motor for dirt cheap and bought it because I didn't want to go over the HP max, but still find a cheap motor. SOooooo my question is should I take this old transom out and have my welder put in a heavy thick steel plate in instead of another wood board??? Would anyone think this would make it a bit stronger??? Don't worry i'm not going over the hp. max, but if it helps with the longevity of the transom then I'd def. go ahead and do it. Let me know what think. Thanks

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Transom Question

I've seen 20-year old pontoon boats with the original wooden transom insert that looked almost new. So you can just replace the wood if you wish. If you decide to go with metal don't use steel and don't use one solid piece. Build one similar to modern pontoons with two aluminum plates. This affords lots of strength with a minimum of weight.

If it were my dollar, I would just replace the wood.

And I'm curious about the type and year of your 24 boat with a maximum rating of 100HP. I can't recall every seeing one with less than a max HP rating of 115.

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Transom Question

I know when I bought the boat I couldn't believe it was a 100 hp max especially cuz it's a 1990 Lowe Classic. I'm just wondering over time what will handle the torque better, the wood or some metal? The wood def. is the cheaper way to go i'm sure so maybe i'll just stick with that. Just wanted some opinions though

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Transom Question

My first pontoon was a 1986 24 foot Smoker Craft that I purchased new and hung a 140 (No power police please) on the back. I used that boat for 8 years and over 1400 hours of operation. I frequently pulled tubes and skiers and when I sold her, the wooden transom still looked new.

Another very small advantage of the wood is that less engine noise is transferred to the boat frame but I emphasize the word 'small'.

Again, if was my nickel, I would replace the wood.

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Transom Question

So EGlideRider what do you think my 24 footer with a 100 hp 2 stroke pull? Do you really think it might pull a skier? or even a 2 man tube? I didn't think i'd get that much speed but just thought i'd ask your opinion.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Transom Question

If you're not loaded heavily, you'll be able to pull a skier and the 2 man tube but it won't be very exciting for most skiers and tubers due to the slow speed and large turning radius.

 

[depty933]

Re: Transom Question

Just use wood. There's a reason your dealer put that on there. It's cheap and lasts 20-30 years. It will probably outlast your engine, or at least give it a good run.

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Transom Question

So I finally have the motor and everything off the pontoon and I just got the crossmembers worked on. So I'm looking at the wooden block and it's starting to get rotten. From this post I figured the wood would probably end up being the cheapest. After doing some research i'm starting to think maybe it's not. I went to a couple local lumber yards and they told me it's going to cost somewhere around $250 dollars for just the block. YIKES!!!!! I talked to my weldor and he said what he would do is put 2 frames on both side of the transom and slide the old block through and it would last forever and cost somewhere around $350. I guess i'm looking for your opinion on what you think. It kind of intrigues me cuz i like the thought of lasting forever. Thanks!

 

[atlapp]

Re: Transom Question

I used untreated 2 x 6's and then stained them oil base stain...cost me less than 6 bucks!

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Transom Question

How long has that lasted though? What type of wood did you use? Where did you ever find wood for under $6 bucks lol

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Transom Question

Use exterior plywood sealed with epoxy resin and painted, or poly resin and fiberglass.

 

[cdnpartyhut]

Re: Transom Question

Is the someone who manufactures them of wood aftermarket?

 

[Blank-N-Ship]

Re: Transom Question

So I finally have the motor and everything off the pontoon and I just got the crossmembers worked on. So I'm looking at the wooden block and it's starting to get rotten. From this post I figured the wood would probably end up being the cheapest. After doing some research i'm starting to think maybe it's not. I went to a couple local lumber yards and they told me it's going to cost somewhere around $250 dollars for just the block. YIKES!!!!! I talked to my weldor and he said what he would do is put 2 frames on both side of the transom and slide the old block through and it would last forever and cost somewhere around $350. I guess i'm looking for your opinion on what you think. It kind of intrigues me cuz i like the thought of lasting forever. Thanks!

Sounds like the aluminum + steel combination will set you up for galvanic corrosion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion

This is how a battery is made, by the way. You put two different metals into a liquid and there you go, electricity flows. What this means though is that on your pontoon boat when that electricity flows between the two metals one of them sacrifices itself (the anode) and corrodes.

Many pontoon makers use wood for that mount. We use aluminum. It costs more but it doesn't eventually rot or mold.

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: Transom Question

I ended up just buying one sheet of 8'x4' Marine Grade Plywood that cost me $88. I can cut out the shape I need and glue all the pieces together. I looked at it as the cheapest option that should last quite a long time.