Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

[Gary H NC]

Well it looks like the ChrisCraft is going to need major work. I noticed the transom flexing when i raised the engine the other day. On my water test run today i had my gf work the throttle while i watched,Yep sure enough it flexes pretty good when you hit the gas....
Got it back home and did some further inspection. I found one of the splashwell drains was missing the brass tube inside.So i guess the guy i bought it from did not know while it set in the water for years..
I guess the next step is to pull the engine and remove the aluminum plate across the top of the transom and start digging around.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

For transom repair the easy way, I am really pleased with Git-Rot or the generic equivalent. That stuff really works. Expensive though--35-40 for a quart and that only does 100 cubic inches.

What I do with all my boats is preventive transom repair. I get a piece of 3 x 3 inch angle aluminum minimum 3/16 thick, 1/4 is better if it will fit. I cut it to length to fit on top of and inside the transom for the full length. I cut one leg of the angle to 2 inches wide or whatever width the top of the transom is. I use 5 equally spaced bolts with one centered to draw it tight to the transom. Heads outside, nuts inside the transom. Believe it or not, 1/4 inch bolts are sufficient because the engine clamp or mounting bolts will draw it up really tight, but 5/16 bolts provide a margin of safety. ----3/8 inch if you are paranoid. Use stainless fender washers or extra thick ss fender washers if you can get them, on the outside of the transom.

Even if you do nothing else, this one simple fix will reinforce your transom so it will not move perceptibly --even under full power acceleration. It spreads the load from the center of the transom to the full width of it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

i have a piece of steel angle that is 30 " long 6 " down and 2 over the transom i took off a glastron, with a 135 merc. no flex at all. till i took the motor and plate off. the transom practially feel apart in my hand.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

Looking at a website called rotdoctor,they sell some stuff thats supposed to be way better than git rot...It says to drill holes and let the wood dry then inject the epoxy. l guess i could try that and add some metal across the top to brace it. I can tell the lower engine mount bolts have squeezed in some also..
Getting to the transom to do an inside repair would be taking the whole top of the boat off. I would just sell it first!

 

[nuicence]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

I have an old monarc flat bottom aluminum boat, and the transom is rotted... Is there an easy way to insert new wood? I can't see any posible way without actually cutting on it.. Help. Sinking

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

The rot doctor stuff is just epoxy resin thinned with a solvent but just way more expensive.

Take a look at this thread:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=195882&highlight=cpes

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

Thanks Bruce, I pulled the garboard drain fitting out of the hull and have dark brown water slowly dripping out,so the transom is wet. I'm goint to pull the engine off and remove the aluminum cap over the top of the transom..Then i hope to dig out all the wet wood and let it all dry out.Replace what wood is possible and epoxy the heck out of it. Any voids i will fill with epoxy and sawdust. Sound like it may work?...
Also was considering that Seacast compound that you pour in.....

 

[andy6374]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

Do you like the boat, do you want to keep it for some years to come?

If yes, then you really need to do a full transom job.

That means gutting ALL the old transom wood (not just some of it). There are tons of projects here on just that. Plus we can help you along the way.

IMO: a partial transom job now, means more partial transoms jobs in the future.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

I plan on replacing as much of the wood as i can get to without cutting the back of the boat off..
If the remaining wood is dry and i can cut and overlap the new wood,fill with reinforced resin, i don't see that not lasting as long as all the thru hull fittings and bolts are sealed correctly..

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

get yourself a riobi 18 volt chain saw, and a good shop vac, carefully chew the crap out, it doesn't cut fast enough to do damage, and you can hear what you are cutting, then seacast. i love my battery tools. you still haven't gotten hurt financially, even with this repair. you can get your money back, and more, anytime you want.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

Thanks TD,I have been reading all these different forums on Seacast. Some say it won't bond to the remaining wood or the fiberglass skin.Then i read other sites saying how great it is..Then others say the epoxy injection is very strong also..
I think i'll get the cap off and drill down just to see how bad it really is.
The electric chainsaw is a great idea. I Have a big gas powered Sthil but would be afraid to try it..

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

Another journey begin's, that's a pretty nice boat Gary it just need's a little luv......

...........

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!(UPDATE)

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!(UPDATE)

A journey it will be!!!
I got the cap off and holy S@#% i can stick a 14 inch rod down in it!! The one side is hollow all the way over to where the transom rises to the corners.
I pushed the splashwell drains out and there is wood there but very soft and wet.
How in the heck did that engine not fall in the lake?
Funny thing is when tapping on the transom it only sounds hollow in one small area.
Man is this going to be a freakin job!!!

I'm glad i got my Starcraft to use this summer...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

It sounds like that is way beyond what epoxy resin can fix. There needs to be substantial wood fiber left for that method to work.

Before you go too far with the surgery, I would make some more inquiries into what should be your next step.

Give Paul a call at epoxy products to see what he says. He seems knowlegable and might also have someone else to talk to.

http://www.epoxyproducts.com

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Oh No!! Transom flexing!!

Thanks Bruce, I think there is too much of a void in there for any epoxy product to work.man i wish it would.I will check out your guy.

The Seacast is expensive stuff,over 200 bucks for 5 gallons with shipping.I would think it would take 2 or 3 buckets of that.

I wonder what a shop would charge to cut the back skin off and replace the transom if i removed the engine? I really don't have the time or place to pull the whole deck off of the boat and do a repair from the inside...
I would gladly write a check for a grand to get it fixed...