How To Tell If Your Transom Is Rotten?

[andrew_]

Hey all,

I have a 1960 Niagara and by all accounts the transom seems like it's in good shape. It has a pretty weighty motor on it and I havent seen or found evidence of leakage or anything of the sort. However, I've been spending a lot of time on the forums today reading about other people's rebuilds and nearly everyone runs into the rotten transom problem. Mine was stored indoors (in a garage) most of it's life, and has spent the last three years under a carport out of direct elements.

So how does one find out if the transom needs repair without taking the cap off of it? What are the possible repercussion of cruising around with a bad transom?

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[woosterken]

Re: How To Tell If Your Transom Is Rotten?

possible repercussions , SINKING or loosing the motor then sinking
put the motor down and step on the cavitation plate to see if the transom moves , or on the inside near the bottom drill a few SMALL holes ONLY A 1/4 " DEEP to see if the wood is wet.
if you find wet in the transum, you can just about bet the stringers are wet also.

woosterken

 

[pduquette]

Re: How To Tell If Your Transom Is Rotten?

Ken Niagra + most of the lapstrake style boats have formed in glass "stringers" or ribbing so no worries there -all glass deck too(floor) . If you rap on the backwith a ruber mallet and it sounds like a wattermellon - you got rot , if it's like taping your knuckle on a wood table you should be good. peter