Transom repair

[Freeball]

Hi guys,

I've got some small stress cracks near where the motor bolts on to the transom, is there an easy way to repair these or would i be better off rebuilding the transom? Its fibreglass over timber.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Transom repair

The first sign of trouble was a small crack near a bolt hole.

I pulled the outboard (150hp) and drilled a hole near the bottom, water came out, I looked in the bilge but it was dry. oops.

Then I drilled a 1/2inch hole near the top and the wood pulp was black soil and wet..oops.:redface:

I then used a grinder with a steel blade to cut some of the top glass from the transom and it was all black rot, like soil. So I removed all the top glasswork from the transom and dug it all out. Poured in a seacast core replacement.

You won't really know until you investigate with a drill, but its fixable and not too difficult to do. If you can get at the back of the transom from inside the boat thats easier to probe sometimes.
But those stress cracks? its usually due to the wood rotting inside and the glasswork compressing from the bolts and then it cracks.
Theres a few different ways to fix it, pick one that suits you.

 

[Freeball]

Re: Transom repair

sounds exactly like what i've got. is there anything else like seacast? Don't think its available here in Australia...

 

[oops!]

Re: Transom repair

sterss cracks in the gellcoat can appear any where.....however that is not a good spot.......you will need to do a core sample as suggested. but be prepaired to do a full transom replacement....seacast is only one way to fix the problem, there are many others

 

[Freeball]

Re: Transom repair

Wow, so i drilled a few holes, tapped away at the transom, and have concluded that its waaaayyy gone lol. Glad i asked before i lost the motor!! A few ppl i've spoken to have suggested to completely rebuild it and i think this is the way to go. I got a few quotes but all are way outside my budget so it looks like i'm gonna be doing this one myself! One problem...i don't even know where to start. Can anyone help??

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Transom repair

Hay freeball. Welcome aboard !! I hate to tell yea this but if your transom is shot more then likely your stringers are shot !!!!

Ok thats the bad news , the good news its not really that hard to fix !! We will walk you right threw it all !!

Can you get some pics posted ?? the guys really like it if you can !!

Next , for some good reading , the completed projects forum is the best place to start !! John