Think of adding board on back of transom

[Eshaw150]

I want to add a peice of three quarter ply to the back of a transom on a 14ft fiber glass boat. I want to glass it on there. I want to but screws on it to hold it on while i do it. Also the motor is a long shaft in the pervious onwer has it rigged on there to be raised. Should i put it on a jack plate instead of the rigged set up. the transom is not soft or any thing but it is kinda flimsy.
so i want to know if this is ok untill i replace it with a while new transom

 

[Mark42]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

I want to add a peice of three quarter ply to the back of a transom on a 14ft fiber glass boat. I want to glass it on there. I want to but screws on it to hold it on while i do it. Also the motor is a long shaft in the pervious onwer has it rigged on there to be raised. Should i put it on a jack plate instead of the rigged set up. the transom is not soft or any thing but it is kinda flimsy.
so i want to know if this is ok untill i replace it with a while new transom

Not the best idea because raising the long shaft motor puts more leverage on an already weakened transom. The chances of it failing with catastrophic results is increased considerably.

Why not dig in and rebuild the transom now, and have it ready fist thing next year?

And a jack plate is the way to go with the long shaft on a short shaft transom.

 

[Eshaw150]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

well the boat has no wood in it and the transom is not cracked its noust not the thickeset fiber glass . And also i dont know how to gelcot and install a transom if i do its going to be a 3/4 to 1 inch thick

 

[Mark42]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

Is this a row boat style one piece fiberglass 14 ft , or a runabout/bow rider style 14 ft? Makes a big difference.

I'm thinking its a more like a row boat. It important to check the capacity plate on the boat for the HP limit. If its not a plywood style transom, my guess is it probably has a low hp limit, like 5 or 10hp.

Got pics? It would help us advise you greatly.

 

[Eshaw150]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

no its a bow rider/ runabout made buy perfection boats

 

[chrishayes]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

you should post a pic of this with a tape measurer laid across it. I cant imagine that it is just glass with no wood core and it was made to be a cruising boat. Hmm get a cell phone pic if no camera. It isnt hard to attach them on a comp. Just send the pic to your email then attach it in a reply. Im interested

 

[Eshaw150]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

i havent bought the boat yet its a small tri hull style. It might have a wood core But when i lift up on the foot of the motor it flexes.

Ill be picking up the boat tommorow or firday

 

[chrishayes]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

Now that you say that, I am betting that it IS all fiberglass...because the wood is rotten! Be willing to bet my dinner on it! Unless the motor is WAY over max hp for the boat the transom should not even budge if it was solid. Im sure the glass is solid but the wood underneith is not. It is hard to tell by just looking at it. Really the only way is to use a drill and a 1/4" or larger bit and drill holes in the likely rot spots i.e. the drain plug location or near and through bolts. Then look at the shavings that come out. If they look dark brown or like potting soil, its likely shot. Be very careful with this, I would NOT take this boat on the water. An outboard puts a TON of stress on a transom especially seeing as though your sig has something about saltwater in it. The ocean is no place to have a boat without a solid transom. You may very well find yourself fishing for your motor while your wife bails water with the soady pop cooler! You are getting a valuable head start by coming here prior to buying and plopping her in the water thinking all is well. Take the advise of the members here and do a thourough inspection of the boat before you drift out to sea. Please?

Not being a jerk, just trying to help.

 

[Eshaw150]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

i have the boat is a little tinker projest and runs like a champ is loaded with all the aproved gear and has a trolling motor and new battery and seats and a brand new galvinized trailer. And its all for 500 dollars. And i dont have a problem doing the transom before i take it out because i have done a deck in a older larger boat. But the question is that i dont know how to do it and what to use and how to install it. What is the best glass to use Chop strand Ow woven. Cause west marine has the resin on sale right know and how thick shuld i make it.

 

[Eshaw150]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

and this is going to be a river boat only i have a 20ft deep v to tak out on the ocean.

 

[redfury]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

replacing the transom can be done in a variety of ways, the choice is up to you and your comfort level. Ultimately, pull the top off the boat and dig the old one out, grind out the old garbage and leave a clean surface for bonding to, cut the new transom to shape, and bond it to the hull however you prefer ( I did mine with PL premium adhesive ). Put the cap back on, and you are in business.

Or, if it has an inner fiberglass skin, you can dig out the old wood and pour a solid transom using a product called seacast, which is much more expensive, but permanent if done properly.

 

[Eshaw150]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

what do u mean cap the hole top pf the boat or just the top of the transom
and where can i find sea cast

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Think of adding board on back of transom

Do some research/searching on this forum for replacing transom...lots of info and different techniques. How much outboard...hp/size...does it have now, and do you plan to keep/use that outboard? Whatever you do with a transom, it should be strong enough for the motor you're gonna use...whether it's a temporary fix or permanent.