Transom worries?

[tipitina]

Just bought my first boat, and I am beginning to notice some cracks all around the transom. The boat is a 1976 Mel Hart with '76 150hp merc. What should I do to fix the transom. Don't know if I should even be worried. But I called around and a guy said it would be around 1200 bucks!!! The boat only cost me $1500. If this is the case I may just turn right around and sell it. Thanks for your help.

 

[JB]

Re: Transom worries?

This is a boat question, Tipitina.<br /><br />Moving it to Boats.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Transom worries?

They are probably gelcoat cracks. It happens because as a boat ages, the gel becomes more and more brittle. The other thing that can happen as a boat ages is the transom can rot. As it degrades, there is more flex, the flex causes the brittle gel to crack. It is hard to determine over the internet without seeing it. You may need a new transom, you may not. It doesn't cost anywhere near as much if you replace it yourself. They can charge a lot of money because it is a job no one either wants to do or has no idea that it is easier than it sounds. Good luck...

 

[tipitina]

Re: Transom worries?

there does seem to be a lot of flex in the transom when i put the motor in gear other than that, it seems okay. Is there anyway to just kind of add extra support....a brace if you will, rather than redo the whole transom???<br />thanks again!!

 

[Solittle]

Re: Transom worries?

You didn't tell us how big a boat you have or what size motor it is rated for but a 150 hp is a lot of motor for many boats. I would not run any boat that has a lot of flex in the transom, The motor could rip the transom right off the back of the boat if it gives way.<br /><br />What is the max hp the boat is rated for??<br /><br />To check for transom rot take a hammer and tap the inside of the transom. Where you hear a dull thud there is rot - where you hear a solid rap is where the wood is solid. You can then take a drill with - say a 1/4" wood bit - and drill to the center of the transom in a few areas to confirm the rot. Usually rot starts at the top of the transom or where the motor mount bolts go through. You can even draw an outline on the inside of the extent of the rot.<br /><br />If you do have rather extensive rot, a brace may give you some psychological comfort but will do little to prevent the 150 from ripping off the back of the boat in my opinion. I don't know your boat but replacing a transom is a lot of work but can be done by anyone with average skills. There is a ton of info on this site who have been down the same road.<br /><br />I had the transom redone on my 23' 1988 CC with two OMC SeaDrives two years ago. It was a bigger job than I wanted to tackle so had it professionally done. I had a glass sandwich used for a core rather than 3/4" plywood which is common. My job cost $3,000 and would have run $2,000 with the plywood. I would guess a do-it-yourselfer could do a 16-19'er for around $500.00 plus a lot of time and sweat - - but it can and has been done lots of times by lots of guys here.<br /><br />Let us know what you end up doing - - but whatever you do take exeta - extra care if you run it at all until you know what is going on.

 

[tipitina]

Re: Transom worries?

thanks for the info...i have a '76 mel hart 17.5 foot old bass boat. the motor is pretty big. i suppose a repair shop would know whether it should be replaced??? <br /><br />and so are you saying it is not really worth it to try and brace it??

 

[tipitina]

Re: Transom worries?

I've called around and most people say they think on a boat that old, that it is probably shot. This is a major bummer, it will cost around 1300 to get it replaced, and I only spent 1500 on the boat. I'm thinking of just turning right back around and selling the boat after only two weeks. I think everything else on the boat appears ok. But I realize this is a very important piece. Any estimates on what it might cost to fix the transom myself??

 

[tipitina]

Re: Transom worries?

Also, does anyone think that putting some steel or aluminum plates on either side of the transom would act as a good enough brace to get me through the end of the season, at which point I will likely sell the boat anyway. This transom thing really has me worried and bummed out. I am scared to even think about going to the lake now.<br />Please all advice may help!

 

[lorax]

Re: Transom worries?

I had a very similar situation with an old Glastron. You can replace a transom yourself but it isn't trivial.<br />I learned as I went and ended up kind of enjoying the experience. The worst part is not going boating while your doing the work.<br /><br />You could also sell the motor and trailer. A good running 150HP should fetch a fair amount and you might get a few hundred for the trailer.

 

[boaterntexas]

Re: Transom worries?

I too have a 1976 17.5' fiber glass bass boat with a merc 115 hp hangin on the back. Being new to boating I also scared the mess out of my self worring about my transom. This is what I did.<br /> I knocked on it with a hammer to see how rotted it was, then I also tried to flex the transom by hanging on it while it was in the "up" position, I also had my 280lbs brother hang on it, still only has very very little flex. That satisfied me, now I take it out with out worry. <br /><br /> If you are worried about it. Don't take it out. But I would test it, you said it doesn't flex much so I say go for it. <br /><br /> I personnaly think that a good brace could be built that would get you through the season and more . but it may be easier to replace the transom<br /> Lastly as a new boater, try not to worry so much, when I first started boating & comming to this forum it seemed like I had a new problem to fix every day, and was worried about something failing while I was out on the water and didn't enjoy my trips very much. I learned to relax. Now I work on my boats much less, and enjoy my boating trips much more.<br /><br /> Have fun. wear your life jacket

 

[jprasisto]

Re: Transom worries?

Check out rotdoctor.com. I have used their product with very good results. I had a few rotted spots on my transom, not extensive. I was also worried about it getting worse but this product tightened it up and will stop future rot. Not sure how extensive your rot is though, thats; the wild card.

 

[jprasisto]

Re: Transom worries?

sorry but I hit the button before I was done with my reply! I have an opposite view of the poster before mine(forgret the name) regarding "being worried". You are right to be concerned about everything on a boat. I know my boat better than my house, every noise, every creak, every wire, every system.....Why? There are no service stations at sea! My car breaks down I idle to the side of the road and wait for AAA. Boat breaks down, you could be in for it! Also, knowing every inch of your boat makes you feel more secure, thus you'll worry less. The only way to get this knowledge is time and elbow grease. Poke around all over the boat, pull up every hatch and look around. Check every fitting...basically PLAY with your new toy and believe me you'll stop worrying! Once you know what everything does and how it's fitted you'll notice any new sound and be able to track it down quick. I had twin '86 Evinrude 150's and could tell you the instant one was "off" just because of the sounds they made. I wouldn't worry to the point that you don't have fun but a good dose of concern will do you well.

 

[kd6nem]

Re: Transom worries?

So what do you hear with the hammer test SoLittle explained?

 

[boaterntexas]

Re: Transom worries?

now that I think about it, maybe bumbles is right, the reason I stopped worring was becuase I got to know my boat, after chassing down all the "suspected" problems I learned that everythign was safe and sound.<br /><br />when doing the hammer test you want to give it a tap, if it sound solid ("smack") it's good, try other spot, if it sounds weak ("thud") it's rotted. Just like trying to find a stud in the wall

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Transom worries?

If there was no obvious damage to the transom except gelcoat cracks i wouldn't worry to much about it, it has a big motor on it and any high hp motor is going to flex the boat somewhere, if the structure is sound which if your 285 lb. buddy hangs on it without much flex that's a good test, take it to the water and take it easy keep a eye on the transom if it seems sound give it a couple hole shots just remember any glass boat is going to flex and as it get's older the gelcoat will get brittle and start to crack but that dosn't mean the boat is ruined, (mine was) just my luck so instead of looking for another boat i'm just rebuilding the one i've got, if your not into that just remember the motor is your biggest investment you can get a boat cheap in comparison. Boat Rebuild

 

[MajBach]

Re: Transom worries?

They are probably gelcoat cracks. It happens because as a boat ages, the gel becomes more and more brittle

and when people don't use transom savers!<br /><br /> BillP...

 

[tipitina]

Re: Transom worries?

Hey everyone, did a little hammer test today, the transom appears to be very solid from the backside of the boat, however once inside, it seems fairly secure. It is hard to tell because it seems the same all the way across. There aren't any real sure "stud" type spots, or any real weak type spots. The transom is of course glass on the back, and there is a seemingly thin piece of glass on the inside. I suppose the wood is sandwiched in between. The flex does seem to be only at the hole shot when I put her in gear, and coming up the ramp after putting it on the trailer it has a little bounce to it, but like said earlier, this is a heavy engine. <br /><br />Anyways, if I was to replace the wood in there, are there any ideas on cost or time it would take me. And my main concern is how would I reattach the top part of glass that I assume would have to be cut off?<br /><br />Or, would it be just as solid, (definitely more cost efficient) to attach some type of brace. Or should I just get off my lazy bum and replace it. Thanks for all the responses guys. The more the better!!

 

[captain spike]

Re: Transom worries?

hi just my input,have a 1971 winner that had some cracks in the transom,it seemed pretty strong but for my piece of mind went to local metal shop purchased some scrap alum(real cheap)made them big enough and clean enough were they look factory,no flex at all!!i run a 1969 115 johnson thats not the lightest eng around!!lol good luck!!! go patriots

 

[tipitina]

Re: Transom worries?

hey spike, have a pic???

 

[1986mariner150]

Re: Transom worries?

If you are seeing flex just from putting it in gear there is no way you should run it. The way i test transom is tilt it up a bit and stand on the bacl of the lower unit and bounce. I was taught that if any flex is seen don't run it. I have repaired a rotted transom with metal, what i did was cut a 1/4 in sheet of aluminum to cover the whole outside of the boat. I then took a 5 inch L shaped steel peice cut to inside lenght from gunnel to gunnel this peice fit the inside of the splash well. I used more aluminum plate around the perimeter towards the bottom and through bolted it all together with copious amounts of silicone. It turned out very strong but I had a couple of things in my favour that are not common on bass boats. 1.The transom was straight all the way accross, most are either set back or indented. 2. The motor was a long shaft on a cut down transom so it needed to be raised the 5 inchs that the steel added. All of this cost me less than 100 usd about 6 years ago.<br /><br />Another option is a pourable transom. All you do is carefully cut the top skin off the transom then dig out the insides, chainsaw works very well for this task then simply pour the stuff in and let it cure. Then epoxie the top skin back on. I believe this product (Seacast) costs between 2 and 3 hundred dollars. <br /><br />The other option is to cut out the transom from the inside and replace the wood with a plywood and fiberglass sandwich. There are numerous posts here regaurding this technique and is the the way I am going to procede with my lastest project (27' cabin crusier). I have located and priced my materials for this project at $200. This includes 5 gallons of resin, hardner, plywood, and several feet of roving. I have to do the floor in this boat as well so you could probablly cut this cost in half for your boat.