seriously guys, how hard is it to rebuild a transom?

[slowjeep]

I just need to know what I am getting into. I have a 63 starcraft Jet(or Jetstar) and the transom is bad on the sides. The boat did not come with a motor, so I bought a newer 25hp mariner for it. But because of my ignorance, I bought a long shaft when I needed a short shaft. I got a good deal on it and I am happy with the motor.

So... since I need to rebuild the transom anyways, I was going to build it all the way up to the rails, instead of having it bow down. That would get the prop almost to where it should be. It looks like I will have to remove some rivets on the top corner pieces, and some bolts and such. The transom looks original and unmolested, so far...

Is this something that should not be done? I plan on riveting or bolting a metal plate to extend the metal on the transom. My roommate is good at that sort of stuff, and I am not beneath using glue, jb weld, plumber's putty, or whatever else needs to be done to get the job done.

 

[sling]

Re: seriously guys, how hard is it to rebuild a transom?

if the transom still has life....way easier to convert motor to short shaft

 

[MushCreek]

Re: seriously guys, how hard is it to rebuild a transom?

Is this an aluminum boat? Since you said the transom was bad, you might as well rebuild it to 20". On aluminum boats, there is a plywood motor board that is 90% of the strength anyway. It also may have a reinforcement knee that you might have to deal with. A picture would go a long way in helping us help you.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: seriously guys, how hard is it to rebuild a transom?

If it is a fibegalss boat, check out drewpster's thread on rebuilding a transom. He did an amazing job! If you have time read that, then ask us some more questions! If you don't have the time, well ask away!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: seriously guys, how hard is it to rebuild a transom?

If it's aluminum it's very easy to do. However the extending it sounds like a royal pain. I'd try to convert that motor or trade for a short shaft. Short shafts should be more common anyway. Or look into a jackplate.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: seriously guys, how hard is it to rebuild a transom?

If you're rebuilding the transom anyhow, then raising it during the process is fairly easy. Pics always help.

 

[allpoints360]

Re: seriously guys, how hard is it to rebuild a transom?

If the transom is bad, how is the floor?

It just happens that way sometimes. lol

 

[sschefer]

Re: seriously guys, how hard is it to rebuild a transom?

You're right on track with using a cap piece to overlay the original transom aluminum and bring it up to 20". You can't weld it for a couple of reasons so don't even consider it.

What I would do is pull the transom board out and make a new one that eliminates the bow an gets you to the right height. Then I would install that and follow that with an aluminum cap that overlaps about an inch and maybe have it bent so it clips over the new transom board at the top. You could also use a piece of aluminum channel pop riveted to the new cap and get nearly the same results.

The cap would be sealed around the edges with 3M 5200 and then I'd use appropriately spaced 3/16" truss head machine screws to bolt the cap on through the new transom.