'85 Ranger 350V Transom Problems

[Camlocker]

Well, I just purchased a very good looking 350V Ranger, Black and Silver and already having problems. I have to redo the floor at the rear drain because it is soft, ok, ok, enough denial, rotton. I figured I need to replace at least 1/4 of the floor since the rest is hard. I've been reading on here about transoms, and decided to do a drill test....bad news. Brown water is running out of a screw I removed from the outside of the transom. I drilled a few holes inside and it is full of "clear" water. There are light colored shavings, but they wet. It seems solid, but I guess I need to do a transom rebuild.

There is an aluminum strip across the transom with pop rivets. Can I get to the transom from here or do I need to splice into the 'glass. I've already decided to do the seabond??? filler since it seems like the easiest fix.

Any suggestions? I will post some pics when I can....discouraged.

 

[JAFO1]

Re: '85 Ranger 350V Transom Problems

HOWDY!
Post the pictures as soon as you can, as it will help assess the situation.
I took the deck cap off my Skeeter. I don't know if you will need to do this or not, but my guess is that it will save you a lot of glass work. What year is your Ranger? A co-worker of mine has one I may be able to get reasonably.

 

[Camlocker]

Re: '85 Ranger 350V Transom Problems

It's a 1985. I drilled some core samples tonight really low and the shavings were wet, but clear water, not black. The shavings were light tan. The widget screw on the outside had brown water coming from it and would purge when I pressed on the transom. I did pressure wash it when I bought it and have taken it out several times. What could this mean?

I also did the "compression" test to see if the transom flexed while pushing on the skeg...solid. The thump test seemed very solid all across the bottom of the transom on the outside. Confused.

Any help from the transom gurus would be very appreciated. Pondering on whether I want to sell it to avoid further dissapointment.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '85 Ranger 350V Transom Problems

Pics will help. If it's wet, it will rot. If it's solid now you can probably wait to do it. But with a soft deck and a wet transom it sounds like you're in for a cap-poppin' total refit. I think Ranger's hold their value well so it may very well be a worthwhile project.

 

[JAFO1]

Re: '85 Ranger 350V Transom Problems

Pics will help. If it's wet, it will rot. If it's solid now you can probably wait to do it. But with a soft deck and a wet transom it sounds like you're in for a cap-poppin' total refit. I think Ranger's hold their value well so it may very well be a worthwhile project.

Dang computer froze up on me. I just typed a reply that said basically the same thing. The hardest part is accepting the reality that you need to re-build it. As it was told to me, "there is no 'easy button'."

 

[Camlocker]

Re: '85 Ranger 350V Transom Problems

Help me out here. I drilled the holes down low on the transom and the water was not discolored, almost fresh. I pressure washed the deck to clean the carpet and rinsed the cavity at the rear of the deck. I wonder if the water got in though the aluminum transom cap since it does appear to need a good coat of silicone. Not trying to deny the fact that the transom may or may not need replacing, but the deck that needs replacement is maybe a foot wide, where the drain is located. I really need to take some pics so you'll see what I'm talking about.......thanks.

 

[JAFO1]

Re: '85 Ranger 350V Transom Problems

Yes, pictures will help. Is the transom wood? I forgot this earlier, but Rangers are noted for not having wood in them. Newer Rangers anyhow. If the transom is wood, and waster was running out, regardless of color, that is bad. Did you force the water in there with the pressure washer? Maybe. To me water coming out, means water got in, and will again. Do you have to fix it right now? That is up to you. On my boat, the more I dug, the more problems I found. The beautiful thing about your boat, is it's 'your' boat. Do as much or as little as you feel comfortable doing.