Starcraft transom nightmare to change?

[henrye718]

My boat does not seem to have the same easy to change transom as all the other starcrafts I see here being restored.

The transom caps seem to be integrate into the inner aluminum wall. It looks like on all other boats. The cap is just a separate piece and pops off.

See my pictures, the red areas wraps around from the the back transom wall to the front wall. As in this is all one piece of metal.

These are front and back of pictures of the higher transom area.

It does the same thing where the motor sits too .

(The yellow area is the only part that looks like it will just come right off and is just sitting on the top of the transom.)

Continued in next post because the forum software kept saying that I had 11 pictures and Im only allowed 6.

 

[henrye718]

Re: Starcraft transom nightmare to change?

Looks like its all one piece to me also this area is tied into the splash well too..

I was going to put this off for a few years but, the more I dig the more I think I should do it sooner the wet transom is messing up the aluminum walls.

Has anyone dealt with the transom installed in this way? Could these caps be bolted down deeper in the carpeted area and just give the illusion of being one entire piece running down into the bilge area? If not I guess I could bend the tops of the caps over to get the old transom out? The gauge of the aluminum at the top area of the caps seem to be pretty beefy, looks a bit structural in fact, maybe 3/16 thick. I am wondering if it would be ruined by bending it even the one time then bending it back again.

I am really hoping someone has dug into this before and knows for sure.

Thanks all!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Starcraft transom nightmare to change?

What year and model do you have? Most of those I've seen here have been larger V hulls, is yours a later model modified V bass boat?
Those are another ball game, the one I did required cutting and rewelding the splashwell in a few spots and rewelding the corner caps.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft transom nightmare to change?

Just to encourage you to continue Henry.....My Starcraft had a pretty rotten transom. However a previous owner had reinforced it with thick piece of angle iron riveted to the splashwell and the motor bolted through it. That thing wasn't going anywhere! However, what got me off my lazy butt to properly replace it was the fact that everything bolted through the rotted transom leaked. You just couldn't effectively seal anything when the wood behind it was mush.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Starcraft transom nightmare to change?

Some folks put a new transom in from the inside, if they have access. It's done in pieces and bonded in place as they go along...too much work for me. I find a way to remove the splash well or cap and drop in new wood from the top...but that's just me. Sometimes you have to be creative to figure out how to gain acess. Can't see the corners of your boat at the transom...what you have there can affect what options you have for getting to the transom.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Starcraft transom nightmare to change?

Henrye those pieces are not part of the trnsom they have been added to it . I can see the bolts where they are bolted through and glued on with something . Take those bolts off and take a razor knife and go around the edges of them . I think it will take a little prying but they will come off . TThe center piece on mine was riveted on originally although the rivets had been removed by the time I got it since the guy before me had started the resto.


Rick

 

[sschefer]

Re: Starcraft transom nightmare to change?

Your's is pretty much the norm. What you'll need to do is remove the splash well. It slips in and over the transom. You must remove the rivets that hold it to the inner rails on the gunwales and the ones the tie it to the stringers via the knee braces. You will also find truss head machine screws that need to be removed at the rear of the transom. Once you have the splash well out you take the caps off and then you can slide the old transom pieces out. It should be in three pieces. You can take a look at my resto by clicking the link in my signature. It shows where you need to get to be able to pull the transom out.

When you put it back in you can use 18-8 stainless steel truss head machine screws to replace the rivets you drilled out.

 

[henrye718]

Re: Starcraft transom nightmare to change?

What year and model do you have? Most of those I've seen here have been larger V hulls, is yours a later model modified V bass boat?
Those are another ball game, the one I did required cutting and rewelding the splashwell in a few spots and rewelding the corner caps.

Its a 1999 17' Superfisherman, Heres a pictures thank goodness the corner caps are just a seperate riveted on part.

 

[henrye718]

Re: Starcraft transom nightmare to change?

Henrye those pieces are not part of the trnsom they have been added to it . I can see the bolts where they are bolted through and glued on with something . Take those bolts off and take a razor knife and go around the edges of them . I think it will take a little prying but they will come off . TThe center piece on mine was riveted on originally although the rivets had been removed by the time I got it since the guy before me had started the resto.


Rick

They are definitely bolted but they are also part of the splash well from what I can see without taking anything apart. I am hoping they do remove like you said, it goes pretty deep into the bilge area. Maybe I will get lucky and the splash well is not welded anywhere. I am very much expecting to find rivets.

 

[henrye718]

Re: Starcraft transom nightmare to change?

Your's is pretty much the norm. What you'll need to do is remove the splash well. It slips in and over the transom. You must remove the rivets that hold it to the inner rails on the gunwales and the ones the tie it to the stringers via the knee braces.

It sure looks like this is how its put together. I hope its not welded any where. Guess I have to take out all the wooden\carpeted storage and seat pedestal deck area thats back there to find out.


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