Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

[OhioLowell]

Hello all! I lurk here a fair amount and love reading about everyones adventures and successes. Now herre comes the hard part my boat needs some work.

When I bought the boat I thought the transom looked kind of questionable and the fiberglass is starting to peel in a few spots and it's starting to get soft in a few spots too.

I'm sure I can handle this as the boat is only a 14' homemade fiberglass boat it shouldn't be anything major. However, I still have this fear of replacing the transom and then having it fall off in the middle of the lake.:'(

But hopefully that won't be any issue. I'm going to take a few pictures tommorrow so you all can see what I'm getting into.

The boat needs other work too, but this is the first order of business. I can deal with the little leak in the bow, if the transom falls off that leak would be worse, right?

So do you guys have anywords of wisdom or encouragement?

Thanks,
Lowell

 

[croSSed]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

Jump in and do it! I was trepedatious about doing my boat to. It is very UN-technical work. Messy, but easy. Pay attention to how the transom was installed originally. Take pictures if you're not sure you'll remember how it was put together originally. Measure the thicknesses of the fiberglass used to install it, and try to match this. If you can, improve on the installation from the way it was manufactured. For instance: A lot of manufacturers do not cover the top of the transom with glass. They also use pretty thin laminate on the front of the transom. You can do better than that. Relax, it really is pretty easy.

TG

 

[OhioLowell]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

Thanks!

I'm still working on the pictures (later today). The problem is figureing how the thing is attached. I think it is just glassed on from the out side? I know there is no glass on the inside of the transom.

I guess the thing that bothers me the most is that I'm a fastener kind if guy. ("put another screw in it it'll hold") I'm not too sure about this whole just trust the fiberglass thing. I know it has worked this long, but sooner or later I'll get past this mental block.

Thanks, I'll get those pictures ASAP.


Lowell

 

[Rick K]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

Lowell,
I understand the mental block you're dealing with. My boat will soon need a new transom, which is the easy part.

I've replaced a few, but never on a boat with an outdrive. I've never owned a boat with an outdrive before, they've always had outboards or inboards with prop and rudder.

So as you can see, my aprehensiveness about it is even greater. I've been reading and researching on the different ways to remove the engine, outdrive, etc., before I can even begin to pull the old transom out.

I guess it's just getting the concept of everything down in your head before you start ripping into it is the key...

Good luck
Rick

 

[OhioLowell]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

Ok all here they are:

This is a pic of the lower end of the interior transom. As you can tell from the pic there are some soft spots. It has been caulked around the bottom some with silicone. And, YES those are shelving brackets attached to the floor and transom. LOL

Here's another of the interior bottom. Notice there's no glass in the interior.

Here's one of the top orner of the transom. As you can see it is really thick (2.5", a little much for a 14'er with a 4HP outboard?) It is also starting to seperate and delaminate.

Here is a shot from the left rear of the boat. You can see the layers of plywood in the transom. What I can't tell is how it's fastened? Looks kind of like maybe one or two layers of glass wrapped around it.

 

[mtnrat]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

My trepidation with the transom is I would have to separate the hull from the deck to get at my transom.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

can you give us a couple of full picture of the rear of the boat. some full views. it looks scary.

 

[NealLauderman]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

My guess is that its held on by those brackets you took the picture of and glue... I haven't ever repaired a transom... but that is one I wouldn't mind learning on You cant go wrong and just about anything you do will look better and be more supportive!

 

[OhioLowell]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

Thanks all!

I'm getting ready to post more pics in a new thread. Believe it or not I think it gets worse.


Lowell

 

[klos]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

Wow that transome is a mess. I would definitely keep that thing out of the water until it's fixed.

I would add some small transome knees like the bottom picture in this link. You can make them out of plywood and glass them in and get rid of the metal shelf brackets
http://www.progressionboats.com/home/construction 6.html

 

[OhioLowell]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

klos,

I was actually thinking this myself. I was thinking one would be a great place to wedge a gas can and such.


lowell

 

[njlarry]

Re: Overcoming Transom Replacement FEARS

As the brackets appear to be held with sheet metal screws I doubt even they do much. I have never replaced a transom but you should look over "Runabout Renovation" by Jim Anderson. It detail transom repairs including removing the deck from the hull. Good luck.