My winter project - transom

[ezmobee]

Well I just wanted to complain about the job I am going to finally tackle this winter. Replacing my transom. I have gone to GREAT LENGTHS to avoid doing this job and have succeeded in getting 3 full seasons of use out of my boat with its disintegrating hind end. But the time has come to break down and do it. The wood was rotten when I got the boat 3 years ago but the previous owner had reinforced it with a very hefty piece of angle iron and bolted the motor through that. It's still holding up just fine with little to no flex. However, everything that was bolted through the rotted wood leaks like a sieve. I mostly took care of the engine mounting bolts this past spring by replacing the wooden plate on that outside of the transom with a new sealed piece and sealing well around that. Now, unfortunately, I'm seeing that my swim ladder mounting bolts are very loose and leaking. So I think it's time to do it right and replace the thing. I'm hoping I don't have to dismantle much of my splash well. A not-so-lazy person would have just bitten the bullet this spring and done it while he already had the motor off! Oh well. Wish me luck. I think I'll start on it in March or April to be done by the time nice weather hits in PA.

Here's a pic of my existing rotted transom:

Here's the splash well. You should be able to see the big 'ol piece of steel there that's been keeping the motor from breaking off these past 3 seasons for me and gosh knows how many for the previous owner.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: My winter project - transom

bite the bullet and remove the splashwell, it will make it much easier. i removed mine on the 1956 duracraft, and the job only took 2 day of working time. if i had left the well it would have been a horrible job. still, you may have to do the 2 piece, 3 piece layer as i did. the line represent the plywood, in sections then thry bolted into the aluminum structure.

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[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: My winter project - transom

I will be redoing the transom (and floor) on my 18'6" '79 Starcraft SS soon, also.

I looked through your picture page - you got a deal on that boat. I paid $200 for mine, but without a motor.

How did you do the floor? Just plywood, or did you seal it with epoxy? It looks good.

Keep us posted on the transom repair.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My winter project - transom

Thanks TD for the suggestions. I'm hoping for a miracle wherein after I dig out all the old wood there's plenty of room to just slide in the new but I'm expecting the worst.

Joey, I did the floor with 3/4" pressure treated plywood. I hadn't discovered this site yet so I didn't think to seal it with anything. Still, I think what I did will outlast my interest in this particular boat. My next one is going to be one just like yours! I hope you checked out burroak's thread about his Starcraft that he redid. It's awesome http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=212191