Crack in transom

[workerbee606]

After getting back from the river last week I noticed a small crack forming on my transom, crack is
about 3/8 of an inch long in the midle of a weld. I purchased the boat new last year , 2012 G3 suncatcher.
I have not had time to call the dealer yet as I am back offshore at work but will call them about it when I get home.
I hope that G3 will send a new transom to the dealer however I would like to keep using my toon till this fall as
long as the crack doesnt get much worse, do you think G3 would have a problem with this? I just dont want to have my toon in the shop for the rest of the summer!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Crack in transom

I would guess they will have it re welded and not replace.

 

[workerbee606]

Re: Crack in transom

Are cracks in aluminum transoms common? If they want to re weld the transom I wont mind , I just hope I dont keep having cracks form!
I had a great time on the river though, cruised up river 29 miles with the kids, saw one gator and the Yamaha ran great.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Crack in transom

As James said, they'll probably just have it welded, which will take no time at all once the welder gets to it. While it's there they should look everything over to be sure nothing else looks suspect (be sure and convey instructions for them to do so). These things happen. Could be that the person who did that weld at the factory was having a bad day. If you trailer the boat I'd encourage you to use a transom saver if you don't already. Some swear by them and others think they're a waste of money, but I had some cracks welded on my motor pod a couple years ago and the welder told me I needed to start using one, so I did. Well worth the fifty bucks it cost me. As to whether you should keep using it, that's a question for the dealer. Good luck.

 

[workerbee606]

Re: Crack in transom

Incoop, I use a white hard plastic piece that slips over the port trim rod to suport the motor while towing, I might can use a transom
saver but I would have to remone the middle brake lights from the rear cross member on the trailer as they are in the center so the transom saver wont fit on there now. The dealer told me the white trim suport would be fine, do you think this might be the cause of the
crack? I do keep my speeds at or below 55 mph and I take it easy going over any bumps.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Crack in transom

Aluminum cracks really well, it is sort of the nature of the beast, there are things you can do to prevent it but it isn't at all uncommon.

I would imagine the dealer has a welder they work with and the boat will be taken to him and if you set it up right you may only lose the boat for a day or 2.

I would imagine they ended a weld where the crack started and there is a small pit there.

You don't say how big your engine is and I have never seen a G3 transom but a transom saver is a good idea if you can maybe move the light over a bit and the saver doesn't have to be dead center but it is a good idea and should keep this from happening again.

The only ones of our transoms I have seen fail were on trailered boats so it may not have caused it but certainly contributed.

 

[workerbee606]

Re: Crack in transom

Aluminum cracks really well, it is sort of the nature of the beast, there are things you can do to prevent it but it isn't at all uncommon.

I would imagine the dealer has a welder they work with and the boat will be taken to him and if you set it up right you may only lose the boat for a day or 2.

I would imagine they ended a weld where the crack started and there is a small pit there.

You don't say how big your engine is and I have never seen a G3 transom but a transom saver is a good idea if you can maybe move the light over a bit and the saver doesn't have to be dead center but it is a good idea and should keep this from happening again.

The only ones of our transoms I have seen fail were on trailered boats so it may not have caused it but certainly contributed.

The motor is a F115, the way the trailer is set up it would require me to remove the center running lights on the back side of the rear cross member on the trailer. You are correct about the starting point of the crack, its dead center of the weld and started at the termination of the weldeld plate/ sheet. Almost looks as if the welder didnt quit run the weld all the way to the edge.

 

[staydry]

Re: Crack in transom

Sounds like the same problem I had...check it out

Crack

 

[workerbee606]

Re: Crack in transom

Sounds like the same problem I had...check it out

Crack

Staydry, what brand trailer do you have? As to the crack, all my motor pod bolts are tight, just a small crack forming on the right side
of the transom on a horzontal plate that bolts to the cross members, its on the very rear/ edge of the plate in the center of the weld. I dont think a typical transom saver will work, as the rear trailer cross member has lights arcoss the center rear so they would be in the way. Could they be removed, I guess so but then the angle would be low to do any good as the skeg would be closer to the ground than I would like ! I will have to see what the dealer recomends. I read a reply from your old post about moving the winch post/ bow stop closer to the tuongue , that might be something that can be done but as it is now the balance is realy good as far as toungue weight goes.

 

[junkman41]

Re: Crack in transom

can you modify the bracket on the transom saver to mount on top of the frame, so the lights can stay where there at? my transom saver mounts to the top of the frame and connects with a pin

 

[bav/270w]

Re: Crack in transom

I simply drilled a 3/8 hole directly above the center light and ran an extra long (stuck thru the trailer beam app. 11/2 "). Put a nut on it and bent the extruded bolt up to align with the angle of the transom saver. It's bend working find for years.

 

[workerbee606]

Re: Crack in transom

can you modify the bracket on the transom saver to mount on top of the frame, so the lights can stay where there at? my transom saver mounts to the top of the frame and connects with a pin

I will take a look at it when I get home, I am stuck on this rig in the gulf for two more weeks ! I dont see why I couldnt though, thanks for the idea.

 

[workerbee606]

Re: Crack in transom

I simply drilled a 3/8 hole directly above the center light and ran an extra long (stuck thru the trailer beam app. 11/2 "). Put a nut on it and bent the extruded bolt up to align with the angle of the transom saver. It's bend working find for years.

bav/270w and junkman41 thanks for the ideas, I do think that is something that will work for sure. I now have a plan, I hope that it will stop future cracks.