Rotten Transom. HELP :(

[waldo271]

Hello everyone,
I have a 96 wellcraft 2150SS and I've been having a leak so bad that the bilge pump is almost always on.
So, I took out the engine and drop it in water and noticed that the water is leaking between the gimbal housing and the hull. After checking the transom to see if it's rotten, I found only the bottom part rotten, where the bilge drain is.
My question is, Can i take out that part and them just replace it instead of taking out the whole transom?
I was thinking either replace it and put new wood or maybe mix up some chopped strand and resin and fill it.
would that be good/strong enough?
I should say the reason I wanna do this is because my stringers are ok and the sides of the transom are on as well. it's only the bottom part of the transom above the bilge drain so why take out the whole thing.


Please let me know.
Thanks

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

Rot is a cancer. Gotta get it all out. Plus a transom does more than just fill a space, it distributes the load and needs to be contiguous to properly do that. You've already got the motor pulled, may as well do the whole job. Check out friscoboater's transom thread. Very helpful. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=358277

 

[oops!]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

to repair/replace a whole transom is easier than replacing a lower part of one....

the steps are the same......but the aggravation level is 4 times as high replacing the lower 6 inches. tools just dont want to work in those tight places.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

If this is the same boat from your other thread then you were going to have to mess with more of your transom for your custom exhaust project anyway, so maybe now is the time to do it all.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

Are you SURE you stringers are OK? they may FEEL solid but be rotten. Take a core sample of them too. Replacing your transom isn't as terrible as you think, you can do it!!!

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

My question is, Can i take out that part and them just replace it instead of taking out the whole transom?

Sure you can, It's your boat and you can do whatever you want. Like the other folks stated I wouldn't. I have seen others do it but it never seemed right to me or as strong as it should be. To me the moisture content of the wood is already higher then it should be and that's all it needs to start rotting again. If I'm spending the time to repair the problem then I want it to be right when I'm finished.
I wish you luck.
Bob

 

[waldo271]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

Thank you all for you input.
I will start tomorrow inspecting the stringers and i'll take out a core sample to see if they are ok or rotten as well.
will update.

thank you again,

Waldo

 

[waldo271]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

Hey again guys,
I was supposed to start taking out the transom today and take core samples of the stringers BUT, I have a big problem,
I was able to find resin and chopped strand fiberglass mate but NO "woven roven" anywhere close by me, if i have the name right.
I should mention, I had to move overseas for a while, thanks to the economy, and finding stuff like this is not easy.
after I put in the new transom, can I just use multiple layers of chopped strand to tap it in?
I don't want to start tearing up the transom when I can't finish it.
Or, instead of putting wood, can I just make the whole transom out of 2 inch fiberglass? this way, it will never rot again
2 inch is off course including the original fiberglass hull.
Let me know please.

waldo

 

[zopperman]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

uscomposites.com

IDK the answers to soem of your other ?'s....

I wouldn't tab the new transom with 1.5 oz mat...

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

Hey again guys,
I was supposed to start taking out the transom today and take core samples of the stringers BUT, I have a big problem,
I was able to find resin and chopped strand fiberglass mate but NO "woven roven" anywhere close by me, if i have the name right.
I should mention, I had to move overseas for a while, thanks to the economy, and finding stuff like this is not easy.
after I put in the new transom, can I just use multiple layers of chopped strand to tap it in?
I don't want to start tearing up the transom when I can't finish it.

Or, instead of putting wood, can I just make the whole transom out of 2 inch fiberglass? this way, it will never rot again
2 inch is off course including the original fiberglass hull.
Let me know please.

waldo

Yes, they make a solid pour that you can use for transom and stringers. Can't remember for the life of me what it is called though.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

Yes, they make a solid pour that you can use for transom and stringers. Can't remember for the life of me what it is called though.

are you talking about seacast?

That is good stuff, but will break the bank at $250 / gallon...

He means continually laying up mat and cloth to make a 2" transom...

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

are you talking about seacast?

That is good stuff, but will break the bank at $250 / gallon...

He means continually laying up mat and cloth to make a 2" transom...

Thanks man,yes, SeaCast or Nida bond. If I ever have to do my transom, it will be seacast for sure. Awesome stuff, though expensive, I think its worth it if you plan to keep the boat for a long time. Here is a link for the op on some of this used.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...htSzDA&usg=AFQjCNGJR3x5lVppDx0nouorO4wTKVgPeg

 

[zopperman]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

Yes, or Nida bond. If I ever have to do my transom, it will be seacast for sure. Awesome stuff, though expensive, I think its worth it if you plan to keep the boat for a long time. Here is a link for the op on some of this used.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...htSzDA&usg=AFQjCNGJR3x5lVppDx0nouorO4wTKVgPeg

I second

 

[Struc]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

I used SeaCast on my Tuffy fishing boat w/outboard motor, but I don't think I'd use it on an I/O setup. I think it may very well be easier to rebuild with wood.

It's not as expensive as was mentioned, either. If you buy a gallon, yeah, it's $100, but if you buy a 5 gallon pail, it's $250. I used 10 gallons to replace my Tuffy transom, but didn't pay full retail on the SeaCast either. I'm very happy with the results, and honestly was a much better deal given the configuration of the rear of that boat.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

I used SeaCast on my Tuffy fishing boat w/outboard motor, but I don't think I'd use it on an I/O setup. I think it may very well be easier to rebuild with wood.

It's not as expensive as was mentioned, either. If you buy a gallon, yeah, it's $100, but if you buy a 5 gallon pail, it's $250. I used 10 gallons to replace my Tuffy transom, but didn't pay full retail on the SeaCast either. I'm very happy with the results, and honestly was a much better deal given the configuration of the rear of that boat.

Where did you get these deals? If you care to share....

Well, I agree, this would be difficult with an IO....

 

[Struc]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

I'm afraid I can't divulge the details of how I got a lower price, but I'll say what I paid was near wholesale.

Just looked on their website, and it's actually about $240 shipped per 5 gallons.

http://www.transomrepair.net/index.php?cPath=1&osCsid=6df66c0a76a5bb24dd55d3584b3f6c00

I will state one thing that is maybe not fully known and that is you'll need a BIG drill with a big 5-gallon mixer on it. I happened to have both in my garage, but not everyone does. Don't even bother trying to use a normal or cordless drill for this. I have a Milwaukee Hole Hawg, and it worked great.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

I'm afraid I can't divulge the details of how I got a lower price, but I'll say what I paid was near wholesale.

Just looked on their website, and it's actually about $240 shipped per 5 gallons.

http://www.transomrepair.net/index.php?cPath=1&osCsid=6df66c0a76a5bb24dd55d3584b3f6c00

I will state one thing that is maybe not fully known and that is you'll need a BIG drill with a big 5-gallon mixer on it. I happened to have both in my garage, but not everyone does. Don't even bother trying to use a normal or cordless drill for this. I have a Milwaukee Hole Hawg, and it worked great.

According to their calculator, I would need upwards of 20 gallons for a pretty normal sized boat

 

[sjohnson44]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

Does your bilge drain look like this?

I thought mine was rotten too when I saw the black crud. Took core samples all over the transom and its dry yellow wood. Even in around the drain was dry yellow wood. The black crud ended up being engine oil, and had actually seemed to have soaked the outer skin of the wood making a barrier from water. Scrapped it off and there was dry wood.
How I repaired mine was I cut out the broken skin about 6" from center of the drain left and right. Sanded the wood down till I got rid of the crud and then glassed back over with 3 layers of 1.5oz csm.

Your final decision is completely up to you. I dont have any where to store my boat so I am trying to get everything buttoned back up and sealed from the elements before the cold sets in. However if I had found soaked wood deep in the transom, I would have replaced it with wood.

yeah the seacast wont ever rot, but the stuff is outrageous for big jobs. Your looking at a grand for 20 gallons, just reiterating. I would go for replacing with wood and make sure you seal it up good. It will last a good long while and it will return your money WAAAAY before the sea cast will.

 

[waldo271]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

Thank you all for your comments.
So, I started tearing away the outer layer of fiberglass on the transom and I found almost the entire left side to be rotten as you can see in the pics. I did take about 3 different core samples of the stringers and they are OK. good color.
now, I will go with the same thing that the boat already has, wood on wood then a a couple of fiberglass layer. It seems like I will have to take out a few inches of the deck tho.
Any comments?

 

[zopperman]

Re: Rotten Transom. HELP

Thank you all for your comments.
So, I started tearing away the outer layer of fiberglass on the transom and I found almost the entire left side to be rotten as you can see in the pics. I did take about 3 different core samples of the stringers and they are OK. good color.
now, I will go with the same thing that the boat already has, wood on wood then a a couple of fiberglass layer. It seems like I will have to take out a few inches of the deck tho.
Any comments?

Sounds like you're chugging along. total transom thickness should be 2 ins, wood + fiberglass. you'll also need to tab the transom into the hull and fillet the edges.