Transom condition

[tommyboy050]

I have attached some pictures of my transom. This is a 1988 Bayliner Cuddy 1902. The bought the boat with a 135 merc which is 10hp and 100 pounds more then the Force 125 it came with. I am concern about the stress cracks in the transom even though the dealer I bought the boat from assures me that the transom is sound. I have looked the boat over and it seems to be solid and I have bounced on the motor and the transom does not move. I am just concern about these stress lines in the transom and any input would be welcome.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Transom condition

Even if the transom is sound now, it soon won't be if water is able to reach the plywood core through those cracks. That needs to be repaired before the boat sees water again, IMO. It looks pretty ugly.

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: Transom condition

Check the splash well drains. The are snapped together and will pop apart with a screw driver. Then check the wood between the layers of fiberglass. This is a simple way of getting to the wood in the transom. If its rotten, most bayliners are, then it needs to be fixed. This is the most common source of water intrusion on bayliners.

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Transom condition

Where are these splash well drains that you are talking about? I did stand on the motor with the motor up and bounced really hard and the motor/transom and the transom does not seem to budge at all, seems pretty solid. Some local boaters are telling me that this is normal for this age boat (1988 Bayliner). I have talked to alot of people and it seems I am getting 50% bad and 50% ok/normal. A couple local guys showed me cracks in there boats and they are alot newer then mine. The dealer I got the boat from and where it is stored showed me some cracks on a 2005 he had there and said this is normal gel coat cracks and that the cracks I have do not effect the integrity of the transom. He said not to lose any sleep over it but this does worry me and since I am paying monthly for the boat till spring, I wonder if I made a good purchase. He told me I am getting the boat for practically nothing since the motor a 93 merc 135, the quick silver controls and trailer is well worth the $3500 alone. I know nothing about boats, this is the first one I have ever owned although I grew up around them growing up on Cape Cod, family always had 1 or 2. It is the style boat I have been looking for and I did what an outboard cuddy.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Transom condition

The splashwell drains are on either side of the outboard, through the transom, at the bottom of the well. The fittings are in two pieces, an inner and an outer.

My '88 Bayliner has no such cracks in the gelcoat on the transom (or anywhere else). Maybe my boat is the abnormal one.

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Transom condition

So what I am getting here is that I possibly have a bad transom. So, I guess I have a couple choices to make here: Back out on the deal and tell him I do not feel that his assessment of the transom is correct and I have major concern of the integrity of this boat and cannot therefore buy the boat or use the boat for the season, see how it goes and fix it at the end of the season or fix it before the season even starts. I am willing to learn to do anything since I am a certified mechanic and have a Electrical Engineer degree minor is Software and have worked as a Hardware Engineer and Software Engineer for Major networking companies for years till laid off in 2001. I can fix just about anything electrical or mechanical so I am willing to learn to fix a boat. I have viewed a few threads on fixing transoms, some major work and one where he used some kind of resin stuff to fill the transom after gutting it out (seems a way I might go). So I guess I would really like any and all thoughts on ways that I can fix this, from the easy to the hard. Can I just coat the back of the transom to protect against any future water getting into the transom? Is there such a coating method? I have looked at everything that I could get at on the boat hull/frame and everything I am able to view or feel seems solid, I could see no rot what so ever anywhere. I did view a project boat that did show the inner hull and now I know where all the supports are. I cannot see under the floors but the floors are solid and all the structure in my 2 storage wholes that I can see is pretty solid. Back under the rear seats, battery compartment are all solid to. I can't see any signs of rot but then again, it is hard to see transom rot. Any ideas or a thought about any of this is more then welcome. Thanks.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Transom condition

If the sole (a.k.a. deck) is solid and original, chances are the stringers are fine also.

It also sounds like the transom is solid at this point, based on a lack of movement when you put all your weight on the motor. But look into repairing those cracks in the gel coat. There are repair kits available here at iboats. You don't want water getting in there!

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Transom condition

Thanks for that information. This will make me feel better if I fix those cracks before I take it out on the water. Which product do you think would be best to purchase, I am going to do that right away or do you think I should wait till spring to purchase the kit. Not sure if the stuff will store well over the winter even though I will keep it down cellar. Like I said I know nothing about boats but more than willing to learn.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Transom condition

Pick up a kit in the Spring before splashing the boat.

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Transom condition

Is there a particular kit/brand that you recommend? thanks

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Transom condition

I am having a boat surveyor come out and look at my transom. I called a few surveyors and the price was $250 for travel time, survey and paper work. I did not have a local surveyor close to where my boat is being stored. One surveyor I talked to said that he would charge me $75 to look at my boat when he is in the area, no report and just regarding my transom concerns. That is all I really want is someone that knows what they are talking about actually go look at it for me. I do think the rest of the boat is solid since everything I could see was very good and not one inch of soft spots on the floor or anywhere else. I will feel much better either way once this guy looks at it. He is also part of the Surveyor Association which is where I got his name.

I bought a 7.5 Eska/gamefisher from ebay and went to pick it up Sunday.
The guy had a pretty impressive shop, fixing boats and motors. He tested the motor for me in a nice indoor vented test jig, very impressive to me. He had a few boats and motors he was currently working on and seemed very knowledgeable regarding boats. I told him the story regarding my transom and he proceeded to show me a couple boats he had with stress/crazing and told me not to worry about it, the motor is not going to fall into the lake. Made me feel alot better but I will feel a whole lot better once the surveyor gives me his opinion. Thanks all, I will report back.

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Transom condition - update on inspection

Re: Transom condition - update on inspection

I had a Boat inspector look at my transom crazing/cracks (see previous pics). He had a piece of equipment that measures moisture. He did a full inspection and found that YES my transom has been compromised. The fiberglass to the plywood has been compromised due to the transom showing a level of moisture. This is why I am getting the crazing/cracks. The transom was moist from about the water level down and completely dry above that. The report is that my transom is not rotted and is just fine for the age of the boat. The only other moisture that was found was on top of the cuddy where my moon roof is, from the moon roof to the front (top section only), although not really bad, it is expected with the age of the boat. I did reseal all the railing, window and cleats just to stop any further water penetration.

I did end up etching every small and large, long and short crazing and cracks on my transom with a dremel. I then cleaned with acetone then Marine-tex every etching done, a bit of sanding with 200 grit, cleaning with acetone and 2 coats of Gel coat and a final 600 grit light sanding. I did find a spot down by my drain plug that was showing fiberglass, I marine-tex?d that and a spot in front of the boat. Looked pretty good after all that work.

Although I have done all this work the inspector did not think it necessary and that the crazing/cracks will most likely come back due to the transom being compromised. He thought to just take pictures of the crazing/cracks and look at them again in a month to see if they are getting any worse. But, I did all the work and I guess I will see if I get crazing and cracks, will report back in a month or so.

 

[tommyboy050]

Re: Transom condition - update on inspection

Re: Transom condition - update on inspection

Well my boat has been in the water all summer and just took it out. No stress cracks came back. Looks like all the work I did on the transom worked. So much for my transom being "toast"! Transom looks good and seems solid.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Transom condition - update on inspection

Re: Transom condition - update on inspection

 

[azlakes]

Re: Transom condition - update on inspection

Re: Transom condition - update on inspection

Thanks for sharing the info. You paid a great price for peace of mind. Did you take pics while you were doing the repairs?