14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

[superjay]

Hello I would like to build a small splashwell on my boat, its a 14' aluminum with a 20hp and a 15" transom. My transom is a little crowded where the engine sits, I plan on raising the engine 1-3inches. Iam just looking for a few ideas on how to build it and what height I should drill a hole for the water to exit and how to seal it against the boat and any other tips you might have. My intial plan is to build it out of 1/4inch plywood, paint it with some marine paint and use some sort of caulking to seal it all up against the transom and use a couple SS bolts to fasten it on either side to the hull and then drill a hole through the transom for the water to escape, Iam thinking the best place to drill the hole through the transom is about an inch below the metal cap over the transom. Pics explain 1000 words below....any suggestions, ideas or things not to do are very helpfull, and I have gone through countless posts on this subject which is where I got my intial idea. just starting my own which I will follow through with on the build.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

Looks to me like you have a 20" shaft outboard on a 15" transom. If you build a 5" riser assembly and get that outboard up where it belongs, you probably won't need a splashwell at all.

There are some drawings around here of a suitable rig to raise a motor 5". Tashasdaddy has one, I know.

 

[superjay]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

How can you tell its a 20" shaft motor, although that would make sence, as its 2-3 inches below where it should be, how can I tell if it is or not?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

Where is the bottom of the enine in relation to the boat? I will ask Tashasdaddy to post a picture of his home-grown jack plate which will be a good solution for you as a start.

 

[DAVE WESTON]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

Looks like that is a long shaft measure from your motor mount plate to the bottom of your motor. Like said above, if you make a riser, it will run a lot better.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

here is a good thread on it. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=297003&highlight=transom+elevator read this, and then ask any questions.

 

[superjay]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

serial number - Og295332
does this tell me anything? i will most in merc/mar section as well

 

[barryll]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

Just a couple of old photo's for idea's. If you need more info let me know and I can take the cover off and take more pictures. I have a little more room since this is a 16 foot but you can design your own.

 

[superjay]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

hey thanks, looks like a fairly similar setup to mine, did you build that splashwell or did it come with the boat? is it a 15 or 20 inch transom, if its a 15" how far down is the splashwell drain hole on the transom? A few more close up pics would be awesome if its not to much trouble.

 

[barryll]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

hey thanks, looks like a fairly similar setup to mine, did you build that splashwell or did it come with the boat? is it a 15 or 20 inch transom, if its a 15" how far down is the splashwell drain hole on the transom? A few more close up pics would be awesome if its not to much trouble.

The splashwell came with the boat. I'll try to get to it (pics and measure) before it starts raining today.

 

[Expidia]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

I can't point you to where to buy them at the moment, but I had a similar issue with my last rig and if I kept it I was going to make or buy a Plexiglas transom shield.

With the effort of screwing on a couple of brackets it seemed to me a quicker and easier way to accomplish the same thing as a splashwell which was to keep the water from coming into the boat over the transom.

My 2007 Lund catalog shows several models coming stock with the Plexiglas transom shields.

I did locate a place that sold them, but I sold the boat so I never ordered one.
But one would be very easy to make yourself.

 

[barryll]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

With the effort of screwing on a couple of brackets it seemed to me a quicker and easier way to accomplish the same thing as a splashwell which was to keep the water from coming into the boat over the transom.

But one would be very easy to make yourself.

That is an excellent idea if it works for you. A lot easier also. Your local hardware usually has plexiglass or polycarbonate.

hey thanks, looks like a fairly similar setup to mine, did you build that splashwell or did it come with the boat? is it a 15 or 20 inch transom, if its a 15" how far down is the splashwell drain hole on the transom? A few more close up pics would be awesome if its not to much trouble.

The splashwell is 10" wide and has a 2" lip. The transome is 20" and the drain holes are 16" from the bottom. As you can see, it's pretty simple but it does the job. On the second picture you can see the tube I install for a bilge pump and the wires hanging down for the battery. Let me know if you need anymore info.

 

[superjay]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

I went and measured my engine today and Iam about 99% sure its a short shaft and not a long shaft, its hard to measure perfectly from the different angles and from where my boat is stored right now but it appears from the top of the clamp where the engine would sit on the transom to the cavitation plate is about 16" on the 3rd trim hole which I think is standard. I really like this plexiglass or polycarbonit Idea, I am going to look into it I think that would be much easier then trying to cram a splashwell into the back of this boat. Is plexiglass or polycarbonit easy to work with, can you cut/drill through it similar to wood, or are there special techniques or tools needed, and what would be the best way to fasten it, I would like to fasten it to the outside of my transom but I would hate to have to drill a bunch of holes through the aluminum and transom to bolt it on and would it be possible to use an epoxy or the 4200 sealant and C-Clamp it on let it dry or some type of compound? Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Expidia]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

Here ya go . . . I Google'd this for you:

http://www.nbssportfishing.com/vBforum/f25/transom-splash-guard-7413/

here is a thread showing pics of homemade splash guard using starboard material.

Scroll down to the pics in this next thread, this guy Jamesbfishin did an amazing job making his own splash guard!

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/182990-rear-transom-splash-guards.html

I was going to have them made up for my boat a couple of years ago, but I sold it and went with a boat that has a higher freeboard (water line measurement to top of the gunnels (railing). The new one has a big splash well, the comparable model by Alumacraft did not have much of a splash well, so that was one of my deciding factors when I went the Lund.

For others that are interested, here is a company that makes them for your boat out of Polycarbonate:

http://www.whitecapmfg.com/features.html

 

[superjay]

Re: 14' Aluminum Splashwell build Qs

So I have figured out exactly what Iam going to do, Iam going to use a piece of plywood which will be a mild reinforcment to the transom, allow me to raise my motor an inch or two, and also build it up to 20"s or so, so I don't need a splashwell, I am going to paint the plywood, but Iam wondering if I should coat it first in a resin and then paint it, or if I should paint it and then coat it in a resin or if I paint it in a good marine paint if the resin is just a waste?, and also wondering if the bondo brand resin from walmart is ok to use, it is the cheapest by far.