Idiotic Transom Tragedy

[wmbreck]

A few weeks ago, after installing a new jack plate, I did something that should disqualify me from ever using the term boat much less touching or driving one. I Basically backed the boat down the ramp and forgot to lift the outboard up. My helpers never noticed either. No matter now as we punched some nice square holes right through the transom as the motor buckled under for the metal plate smashed right through. One happy moment! After vomiting, and other assorted similar activities, I came up with the following system. It was either this or throw away a very nice classic 1975 Larson 150 All American. Any additional advice, or desrving abuse, is welcomed

http://transom.homestead.com/index.html

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

My only concern with your set up would be the plywood eventually drawing in the moisture and rotting every couple years. Could you "glass" in the plywood and make it a permanent part of the transom?

 

[sturgis]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

Make shift, jerry rigged, call it what you will. Looks like it's working and back in the water. Just keep inspecting it before and after you use it. One advantage of owning a older boat.

 

[mpdive]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

A few weeks ago, after installing a new jack plate, I did something that should disqualify me from ever using the term boat much less touching or driving one. I Basically backed the boat down the ramp and forgot to lift the outboard up. My helpers never noticed either. No matter now as we punched some nice square holes right through the transom as the motor buckled under for the metal plate smashed right through. One happy moment! After vomiting, and other assorted similar activities, I came up with the following system. It was either this or throw away a very nice classic 1975 Larson 150 All American. Any additional advice, or desrving abuse, is welcomed

http://transom.homestead.com/index.html

No abuse here. I just posted the other day about how many times I have almost forgotten to trim up the engine when pulling the boat. Last time I came close, I remembered only because the guy next to me trimmed his up. I was already out of my boat and on the way to the truck. It is very easy to become preoccupied when loading or unloading. People waiting at the ramp, wife and kids scrambling to get things together, trying to remember to shut everything off, etc....Hope it all works out for you and you get back to boating soon. Very sorry for the mishap. It happens to the best of us.

 

[ufm82]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

NEVER FEAR! If any one who ever did something wrong/accidentally/stupid gave up boating the waters would be very quiet. LOL Including me. However as has been said before- it was built once, it can be built again. However, your comment about the condition of the transom prior to the addition and then the impulsive customization lends itself to ignoring the initial issue. The transom probably would have be compromised jack plate or not. And while your patch may work for a while it's not a long term fix. A true transom job is the only way to properly revive the old girl. But for now, that looks like it will work! Good luck with her- hope you don't have a failure while on the water in the future...

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

Yeah - don't be too hard on yourself. We've all had "doh!" moments. And unlike flying, they don't usually kill you. But checklists aren't a bad idea at sea level either.

Maybe think about trimming the excess bolt length off - only a matter of time before you scrape yourself good while working around the transom. One other recommendation is to tie (or lock) your outboard transom clamps together so they can't vibrate loose over time. Good luck with the fix!

 

[oops!]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

nice boat....too bad you have disqualified your self from ever boating again!!!

reguardless of how well you think its sealed......the transom will rot in 2 seasons.....

wanna fix it right?

welcome to the dry dock.....the restoration forum !

we will help

 

[cpubud]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

nice looking boat.would fix it right over the winter to not have too worry about it.its to easy to leave stuff jerry rigged and regret it later.

 

[gjmsd]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

Have fun for the rest of the season and fix it right over the winter. I recently replaced my transom by cutting the cap off it, removing the wood with a chainsaw and pouring in a composite transom. Turned out to be easier than I thought and I have a very solid transom that will probably outlast me.

 

[Handyman1]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

Hi the only thing is missing is a good rope or chain to tie the motor to the boat just in case it is better to have it and not need it then need it and rent a scuba gear to find the motor other then that it looks good. Good luck and good boating.

 

[cgd7777777]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

thats a great temp fix!!!!
like sacrifical plywood!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

I used to have a pontoon that had an exposed wood motor mount. Lasted forever, despite the popular opinion it would be gone in a season! (It was 2x12 lumber, probably treated)

 

[florida boat 53]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

I took a look at the pictures and yes you did a foolish thing. We all do sometimes. The problem here is the repair would be good if you were trapped on an island and your wife had a broken leg and was about to give birth but it is not good for using the boat long term. When you punched holes in the transom you did more damage than that.Your transom has more damage than holes. The repair you did might just cause the whole transom to come off under use. The strength of the transom in fiberglass boats is on the inside not the outside. The transom ties into the rest of the boat and the conection to the stringers and sides of the boat might be very iffy at this point. The thing to do is repair the damage but you must find out how bad the damage is. You might have to replace the transom core. When the motor mounts punched holes in the transom it might have also caused the transom core to become seperated from the rest of the boat remember the resin is brittle even if it has fiberglass in it. So either stay in shallow water at slow speeds for safety or really check it out. Life is too short to get hurt by an outboard motor.
best of luck
bruce

 

[wmbreck]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

Lots to think about here. Can't work on anything over the winter as the boat and I are 340 miles
apart. That is part of my problem - using limited vacation time on major repairs. The thought of a
transom replacement is a bit daunting and again because my time with the boat is limited to a 3-4
weeks a year and only when the big lake is calm enough to launch it.. Makes this a pretty tough
call.

The craft is not in the water for long periods of time or docked soaking in moisture. "glassing"
over it to fully prevent water from getting in or around the outer wood edges is intriguing if, and
until, the transom has the redone from scratch. Also it has just a 30 hp 2 cycle outboard so there
is not a ton of weight back there and there are only 2 people at a time aboard so we can reach 22-
24 mph. Obviously my main concern is safety and avoiding an unexpected trip to Davy Jones
Locker! One thing is for sure. I had no idea just how fragile the back end really was until I messed
up and then pulled this desperate and somewhat uneducated repair. The guy who cut the wood at
the hareware store memtioned using a piece of sheet metal instead? But that could add some
extra weight to an already underpowered situation.

But any other opionions will be seriously weighed with what has already been offered. And thanks
again for the undeserved kindness for my monster moment of temporanity, but perhaps
providential, stupidity

 

[ponchoman]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

Coulda beveled the edges for a cleaner look, But hey I like the do it yourself cheap motto! On second look I think you did bevel it.

 

[wmbreck]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

yes they are beveled. Guy at the hardware store did it for $1.00. At least I know I did one thing right and it will look pretty when it falls into the lake While I am taking very seriously some of the above comments, it 'seems' solid at the moment. Does not budge a fraction no matter what you do to it. Before it was shaky even when just lowering the smallish motor. So I was very concerned then and considering a similar, but not as extensive, of a patch This is out first 'real' boat other that metal rowboats with a 9.9. And though I don't know much of anything, and have limited carpentry skills, I've decided to read and ask questions from wise people here and try things myself before giving the local marina $95 an hour. Hardest part was lifting the motor to disconnect the steering cable for room to work. Total cost of the repair was about $40 for wood, hardware, exterior paint and caulk + perhaps a torn rotator cuff that still hurts even as I type this

 

[LSP_NH_1974]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

I've decided to read and ask questions from wise people here and try things myself before giving the local marina $95 an hour. Hardest part was lifting the motor to disconnect the steering cable for room to work. Total cost of the repair was about $40 for wood, hardware, exterior paint and caulk + perhaps a torn rotator cuff that still hurts even as I type this

Torn rotator cuff ~ OUCH! You won't have saved any $$ at all on the repair if you start running up medical bills because of it Hope you're feeling better soon!
After your boating season is over maybe you should look into one of those composite materials...and hire yourself a high school football player to help lifting that heavy thing...bet you can get a big kid for twenty bucks or so....I know my 18 year old son would jump at the chance to do something like that!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

I'd start looking for a nice aluminum hull to bolt that motor too.

Transom patch jobs are frowned upon on this site. When you're interested in repairing it correctly, we'll be happy to help.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

If it is as solid as you say it is, you should be fine for a few weeks like that. However I would definitely pull the boat after vacation time and redo the transom yourself or pay someone to get it done.

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: Idiotic Transom Tragedy

Your story & pics (link) said you use this on Lake Ontario?! This is a temporary patch at best. I would look for another boat. You might find a decent boat with a bad or missing motor anywhere from $300 and up. You can junk this boat and sell whichever trailer you don't want. It should be a lot cheaper and easier than rebuilding the transom yourself. I tried to fix my old boat the same way you did. I had a hard time stopping it from leaking. Ultimately I decided against trying to fix it because of a safety issue. Good luck though!