Raising transom on 2015 Alum. boat

[Watermann]

Not sure we had much of a chance to sway you from your plans or so it seems...

 

[GA_Boater]

Not sure we had much of a chance to sway you from your plans or so it seems...

Yep. Sometimes I wonder why.

 

[Seahawk170]

:welcome: aboard Seahawk!

I've fished in 10' Jon boats, 40 ' offshore boats and about everything in between. They are all scary when the conditions are right so what comes into play is the man behind the helm. The good skipper recognizes sea conditions and knows his boats weaknesses and all have some, there's no perfect boat. Be aware and adapt to the conditions and chances are you won't have anything to worry about. In the case that worries you, don't let following seas overtake you rather stay on top of them and fish bow into the whitecaps.

A 17' River boat isn't designed to be an offshore big water boat so when it gets really ugly head back to port like a good skipper even if you have a transom modified by bubba at the shop. :joyous:

Yep, I've encountered a a few scary moments on the water over the years as well. When the sea conditions begin to exceed my comfort zone, I quickly reel-in and head for port. My plan is to live out my days as merely an old skipper..not an 'old-bold' skipper. LOL


Granted my little 17' aluminum is a far-cry from a Hunt designed offshore sportfisher, but am convinced that a slightly taller transom will be beneficial.
If all goes as planned, it shouldn't look too bad when bubba completes the slight modification. ;-)

 

[Seahawk170]

Not sure we had much of a chance to sway you from your plans or so it seems...

Whoa, hold the swaying bus!!

My initial post at the start of this thread was only asking for suggestions about good technique for raising my transom, not about if I should consider raising it.
In my mind I already wrestled over most of the pros & cons, and concluded that it needs to be done.

I understand and appreciate people's thoughts and concerns here about me ruining this boat by modifying it, but it truly has no graceful lines to begin with and this slight modification will only add in it's overall functionality. My boat will never qualify for boating beauty magazine, but should happily live out its days assisting me in seeking salmon or halibut. ;-)

 

[Watermann]

Only downside I can see besides the cost and having it down right is the increased motor weight being raising that could make the boat more prone to capsizing if caught sideways to one of the rouge waves.

 

[Seahawk170]

True, but I'm only raising the motor's center of gravity by 5", and if its that rough out there I'd better be tied up in port.

 

[ondarvr]

Only downside I can see besides the cost and having it down right is the increased motor weight being raising that could make the boat more prone to capsizing if caught sideways to one of the rouge waves.

It will have no affect, it's not going to capsize because the power head is fives inches taller, the only real down side is the cost.

 

[Seahawk170]

It will have no affect, it's not going to capsize because the power head is fives inches taller, the only real down side is the cost.

Thanks, my initial quote was $600, but suspect my bill will be a bit more for what I'll want, plus will need to be paint/powdercoat matched afterwards.

 

[Watermann]

It will have no affect, it's not going to capsize because the power head is fives inches taller, the only real down side is the cost.

Really? guess I forgot to put the smiley in behind the rogue wave part of the comment.

Thanks, my initial quote was $600, but suspect my bill will be a bit more for what I'll want, plus will need to be paint/powdercoat matched afterwards.

To tear the entire stern apart, create new transom and put it all back together with finishing touches for $600 bucks ... that guy is going to be into that job at least 30 to 40 hours of labor. He must only charge the Seattle minimum wage of 15 an hour.

 

[ondarvr]

What most people making comments on this thread don't know is that raising a transom in this region is a common modification. We run a lot of jet boats around here in the rivers, when you change a prop outboard to a jet the transom needs to be about 5" higher, so shops are familiar with doing it. Many people run shallow rivers part of the year, then switch to the Columbia river for Salmon season, the shallow rivers require a pump, the Columbia is big water and a prop works much better. Some people use a hydraulic jack plate, and others might use a custom made riser like the OP is talking about, there is nothing crazy or odd about it.

Another option is to have the 25" transom to start with, then when switching to a prop you use a Bay Kit, it's a 5" extension added between the midsection and lower unit.

 

[Seahawk170]

Waterman, I realize that doing this type of job to look like it was 100% factory upon completion would require the work you stated. However, it'll be done a bit more of the Billybob way.. with added aluminum plates on outer, inner,& top, with added struts to carry to load & force.

ondarvr, thanks for the positive feedback. There is no question that in a perfect world a 25" transom to begin with would've been my best move.
At the end of fishing season xxxxxx had an 18' Duckworth with a 25" transom on sale that I strongly considered, but did not want the debt.

I also understand that a lot of boat 'purists' think its blasfamy to make any changes to a boat. During my last few years in school I dreamed of becoming a boat designer, but ended up stuck in the Land Surveying/Engineering field instead. LOL
Besides, I heard that in order to make a 'little money' building boats, a person needs to begin with having a 'lot of money'.

 

[Watermann]

Yeah it's your boat and if modifying it makes it work for you or make you feel better about it then great. :thumb:

Although on da river was way off on his reasoning to support your decision to increase the transom height that is unless of course you decide to take up river jet boating. I seem to remember the reason was rouge waves in the sound coming over into the splashwell of the 20" transom.

I tend to stay clear of posts in threads that attempt to drag me off into shallow muddy coves.

Drop back by and post some before and after pics when all done.

 

[oldboat1]

sounds like dawgs v. cougs. Personally, think I preferred the Hamma Hamma anyway. (Smith tower was the tallest building, and pretty sure I didn't have money for a boat. Bought mediocre Salmon at Ivar's, and pretty good fish and chips down on the waterfront. Starbucks was a little place down at the Market -- went there for coffee on Saturdays, if Sonny Sixkiller or Warren Moon wasn't pitching footballs.)

Seahawk, my concern is almost always getting home, not so much swamping. I'm a big believer in auxiliary motors (great lakes and Chesapeake Bay adventures).

 

[ondarvr]

Although on da river was way off on his reasoning to support your decision to increase the transom height that is unless of course you decide to take up river jet boating. I seem to remember the reason was rouge waves in the sound coming over into the splashwell of the 20" transom

I wasn't trying to justify his decision, I don't think he needs to do it. My statements were to show it's not odd or crazy to raise the transom in this part of the world and that it will hold up well. We all have things we do that aren't required or needed, we do them because it makes us feel better in some way, I can't judge him on that part of it, if he wants to do it that's fine.

 

[Seahawk170]

Yeah it's your boat and if modifying it makes it work for you or make you feel better about it then great. :thumb:

Although on da river was way off on his reasoning to support your decision to increase the transom height that is unless of course you decide to take up river jet boating. I seem to remember the reason was rouge waves in the sound coming over into the splashwell of the 20" transom.

I tend to stay clear of posts in threads that attempt to drag me off into shallow muddy coves.

Drop back by and post some before and after pics when all done.

Just returned from the fabricator/machinist on the waterfront. The method I decided to go with will be a top-cap, this method will be strongly built and will be easily removable should I or someone else ever wish to return it back to factory height. The only downside is that his shop is currently booked up until Feb. 27th, but will complete it in one day.

Sorry for anything I said that redirected you and others into muddy waters, and I promise to take some before and after pictures of this project on Feb. 28th.

 

[Seahawk170]

sounds like dawgs v. cougs. Personally, think I preferred the Hamma Hamma anyway. (Smith tower was the tallest building, and pretty sure I didn't have money for a boat. Bought mediocre Salmon at Ivar's, and pretty good fish and chips down on the waterfront. Starbucks was a little place down at the Market -- went there for coffee on Saturdays, if Sonny Sixkiller or Warren Moon wasn't pitching footballs.)

Seahawk, my concern is almost always getting home, not so much swamping. I'm a big believer in auxiliary motors (great lakes and Chesapeake Bay adventures).

Sounds like quite a few moons have past since your last Seattle visit. LOL I live about 30 miles from downtown Seattle and avoid it like the plague.. waaay too many people and congestion for my taste!!!

These newer 4-stroke motors these days are a LOT heavier than their old counterpart 2-strokes. The 70hp Yamaha and 6hp Evinrude (2-strokes) currently mounted on my boat add up to 286 lbs. The weight of the 90 Yamaha 4-stroke is 381 lbs, and if I add a small 4-stroke auxillary motor, which I'll most likely do, then the weight of both will be at least 450 lbs. Simply put, the weight of another full-grown ~165# adult standing on the transom, which will then greatly reduce my aft freeboard.
Its my belief that someday soon more boat builders will incorporate taller transoms to better accomodate these newer high weight outboards.

 

[Teamster]

Have you looked at any splashwell shields? Back trollers seem to like them.

That is what I was thinking,..

Google up "wave wacker",............

Should do what you want for less money,....

 

[ondarvr]

Its my belief that someday soon more boat builders will incorporate taller transoms to better accomodate these newer high weight outboards.

They started doing that quite a few years ago, maybe 10 or so, that's why people keep saying putting the 90 and a kicker on the back isn't an issue. Actually I should say they designed them for heavier motors, the taller transom wasn't needed in their opinion.

In my opinion the shortest transom I would put on any boat would be 25", and 30" would be preferred. I'm not talking about bass boats or others designed for a use where a lower transom is desired.

 

[ondarvr]

That is what I was thinking,..

Google up "wave wacker",............

Should do what you want for less money,....

He already answered that, he purchased the 25" 90 HP Yamaha already.

 

[oldboat1]

Sounds like quite a few moons have past since your last Seattle visit. LOL I live about 30 miles from downtown Seattle and avoid it like the plague.. waaay too many people and congestion for my taste!!!

These newer 4-stroke motors these days are a LOT heavier than their old counterpart 2-strokes. The 70hp Yamaha and 6hp Evinrude (2-strokes) currently mounted on my boat add up to 286 lbs. The weight of the 90 Yamaha 4-stroke is 381 lbs, and if I add a small 4-stroke auxillary motor, which I'll most likely do, then the weight of both will be at least 450 lbs. Simply put, the weight of another full-grown ~165# adult standing on the transom, which will then greatly reduce my aft freeboard.
Its my belief that someday soon more boat builders will incorporate taller transoms to better accomodate these newer high weight outboards.

Yeah, long time ago. Been back a couple of times, and fun to try and picture what it was (and difficult to do). Since then, I did quite a bit of boating in small runabouts on pretty big water, and understand the concern about following seas. My bigger fear, though, was being stranded without power, particularly in a shipping lane -- having no control when weather or traffic got dicey. I even put a kicker on the inboard I fish with these days, partly because it's quieter and slower for trolling, but partly because I still have the get-me-home thing going. And I'm in NY on one of the finger lakes -- not that big by comparison.

That cap you are going to have built sounds pretty well-designed. And given the generous horsepower rating for your hull, the weight increase with the new motor shouldn't be an issue IMO. It's a beefy hull. And you can always add splash well shields if you want. I would want a kicker of course, regardless of other considerations.

Anyway, it sounds like a nice rig and a good repower. Would like to see some pics when you get to it.
(By the way, my S-10 is still doing the job too!)