transom problem?????picture

[dkhntr]

While washing my boat today, I got a chance to inspect the transom carefully. I noticed some cracking for the 'glass. I looked and there is no cracking inside only out. I am wondering if I need to be weary of it or not. Can it be fixed by mounting plywood to the back? I have seen it done to disperse stress or do I need to take it to a pro?<br /><br />

<br /><br />Thanks in advance for your input.<br /><br />~Chris

 

[singerjr]

Re: transom problem?????picture

Hi dk,<br /><br />They kook like the kind of cracks that come from trailering the boat without a transom saver, assuming that bracket is part of the motor you didn't say. While traveling down the road without a transom saver the motor places a lot of stress on the transom in addition the motor bounces up and down from every small bump in the road whitch transfers a blow equal to several hundred pounds onto the transom. <br /><br />Are you using a transom saver? If not they ere very inexpensive from Cabelas or any marine supply.<br /><br />As for the cracks the moter always puts some amount of pressure onto the transom. In my opinion the cracks will get worse. More than likely you have wood inside the transom and if the cracks are bad enough now water is getting in and rotting that wood. If it isn't happening yet it will as the cracks get worse.<br /><br />The repair you suggest may only help in holding the weight a little better inside but not much. It doesn't address the damage, The glass should be repaired properly, but first you have to determine if there is internal damage to the transom (the wood). If there is interior damage thats a whole different story. You should first check out all possible damage I noted. Once you know all that is damaged post here what you have found and there will be plenty of repair options posted.<br /><br />Good Luck!<br /> <br /><br />Jist one man's 2 cents worth

 

[dkhntr]

Re: transom problem?????picture

Capt_U I just got the boat. I bought a transom saver. Haven't used it yet. The only towing I did with it was home from when I bought it. And yes it is the bracket.<br /><br />~Chris

 

[Hooty]

Re: transom problem?????picture

Hey dkhntr,<br />If those are itty bitty hairline cracks, I wouldn't sweat 'um. If you can't see glass, water won't be gettin' in. Better chance of water getting in the transom wood from inside the boat than outside.<br /><br />g'luck & c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[singerjr]

Re: transom problem?????picture

DK<br /><br />It makes absoutly no sense at all not check it out now. Preventitive maintenance is the cure for real work!!! It's what you do when you buy a used boat.<br /><br />I put that pic on an 8-1/2 x 11 paper they look worse than hairline cracks. With out a doubt they will get worse, it's certainly not going to get any better nor easier to repair than now.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Good luck

 

[singerjr]

Re: transom problem?????picture

 

[Hawkeye1]

Re: transom problem?????picture

Sory to say but it looks like a rotten transom to me. I don't buy the transom saver does any good. See when you throttle up to get on plane there is a far greater pressure the the engine hopping around on the back. In fact on the big rigs without transom savers I never seen them bouncing around. I have followed a many a boat. The outside bottom leg of the engine mount is where the rubber meets the road in just pushing the boat. I would drill a couple small holes, one about 1" from the lowest point on the transom and one near the area in ??? Check the core that is drilled out. Bet it will be wet and soft. You can fill those holes or run a ss screw in them with some 5200 if all is good in the core.

 

[letsbarbq]

Re: transom problem?????picture

hawkeye,<br />i agree. I've seen big rigs without transom saver and the outboards did not bounce.<br /><br />but i did see the kicker motor flop like crazy.<br /><br />But a transom saver will only help. It couldn't hurt your transom, so I say, invest in a $20 gadget like that --- its worth it.<br /><br />just my opinion.

 

[singerjr]

Re: transom problem?????picture

I thought the issue was the cracks, what they are and what should be done, we agree on that. <br /><br />The issue isn't the transom saver it's the cracks dk asked about. I do think the savers help. Why discourage something so cheap that helps so much. I couldn't get out my drive without one. It's not cheap to fix a skeg.<br /><br />I've seen motors set in the up position without a saver going down the road so it doesn't hit the ground. That will put more pressure on the transom than anything.<br /><br />That's why guys years ago made their own transom savers. With that motor set up I guarantee it will crack that glass. This is a used boat and we don't know what the last guy did.<br /><br />Good luck DK

 

[Hawkeye1]

Re: transom problem?????picture

capt Ultra, you said it looked like the kind of cracks from not using a transom saver. If you trim up a v6 ob the center of gravity is shifted forward. There will be little pressure on the outside bottom of the mount. The pressure will be more of a sheer, straight down on the transom. The transom saver started out on bass boats years ago when they were putting these v6's on 17' boats and little transoms. I think its a marketing ploy myself to sell a product. i have never used one on any of the boats I have had since a 1965 thunderbird that I still have with no transom problems. If the transom is soild and right, there will be no problems from towing without a transom saver. How many 24' twin engine fishing boats you ever seen with a transom saver?? I have never seen one yet and I have seen a bunch in my day. Now I will bet the problem with this transom is from water intrusion from the seem across the top or the bolt/ screw holes not being seal up. Thats where 99% of the transom problems come from that I have seen. Once water get in and softens up the wood then the cracking will begin. When you take a 2500 to 4000 lb boat and jam the throttle and put 2000 lbs of thrust on a 25" lever, that my friend is 100 times more pressure on the transom then vibration from bumps in the road. When trailering I just trim my engine up and let it ride. Have doen this with every boat with hydrolics since 1978. Never a problem with power trim either. Most engine mfg dont recomend this. I am not saying not to use a transom saver, use one if you want but most importantly you have to have a good transom to start with and have to make sure it never gets water in it. Now we need to find out how the core samples came out.

 

[dkhntr]

Re: transom problem?????picture

No luck on finding out the prob yet. it went from 40-50 degrees out to 30's and snow. It is going to be up to 50 on sat again so I will look then. I also checked out the marina shop and they don't open for another month.<br /><br />~Chris

 

[Hawkeye1]

Re: transom problem?????picture

Another bad thing. If the transom is full of water then the freeze can cause expansion and leed to cracks also. When it warms up good, try drilling a small hole in the lowest part of the transom. If water runs out, you found a project. If its good you can fill the hole with epoxy and a ss screw.