Pontoon transom crack

[adangelo77]

Hi folks. Wondering if I should be worried about these cracks in the welds, I know they need to be fixed but wondering if I could ride it out until fall.

Thanks!

 

[racerone]

Fairly typical of aluminum fabrications.------The stuff flexes and cracks.------Best to cut it all off and start over.

 

[GA_Boater]

It looks like a repair was attempted seeing some of the welds.

 

[adangelo77]

Yea we bought the pontoon last fall, just wanted to get some opinions on how serious it is

 

[GA_Boater]

It looks like they tried to weld on top of the original beads. I'm not a welder, but I know that never works on a stressed welded joint.

 

[HotTommy]

I wouldn't trust if if it were my boat. If you're going to continue like that for even a litle while, I suggest you secure the motor to some other sturdy part of the boat with a strong cable. That way you won't lose the motor when it fails. ... BTW, it is possible to replace the entire engine pod with a good used one. That might be simpler and more cost effective.

 

[racerone]

The motor is ready to go for a swim.------Take all the junk off and have someone build something beefier / proper !!!

 

[ahicks]

What would be interesting to me is knowing how those side brackets ended up being bent/deformed like that? Knowing that might go a long way here.

 

[Scott Danforth]

if you let it go until it fails, you will need scuba gear to retrieve your motor

the welds have been repaired twice in the one photo

take the boat to a competent aluminum fabricator....... and get it fixed

 

[ahicks]

I've helped people that have "been there, done that" with failed transoms. The motor won't be on the bottom in my experience. It'll be hanging by the cables..... and a real chore to get loaded on a trailer!