transom repair

[karenvanek]

we have a boat that needs a new transom. my husband wants to put a stainless steel plate over the fiberglass of the boat on the outside (a large plate...about the size of the whole transom) and just leave the rotted wood etc. will this work? are there problems with this (other than getting it cut to size and putting holes in the metal for the motor to go thru)...its a thick plate.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: transom repair

It is a temporary solution at best. If the transom is rotted, what would the plate be attached to? The fiberglass alone will not give it the structure needed. Even if you find some solid wood to bolt though, rot will spread and it will compromise your "repair".

I would suggest biting the bullet and doing it right. That said, "right" means many different things.

Some common fixes:

1. Replace wood for entire transom. This will require either removing the cap and inner fiberglass skin or removing the outter skin to replace the wood. Each of these has merits. Inner skin = keep the integrity of the outter skin intact BUT you may have to remove at minimum, the splashwell or the entire cap. Outer skin = don't have to remove cap but have to re-glass the transom...and if you want it looking "original" - alot of sanding/fairing/painting.

2. Seacast. Expensive and may be a pain in the butt getting all the rotted wood out...but you keep both inner and outter skin in tact and you end up with a rot-proof transom.

So a search on here for "transom replace" and you will get more info than you can imagine. I replaced my transom using the "inner" method. Feel free to check out my link in my sig (click on sub topic to get to transom section).

Good luck.

-JMW

 

[j442w30]

Re: transom repair

What kind of boat do you have Karenvanek? If you could post some pictures the people here would probably be able to give you the best recommendation on how to go about fixing this. JustMrWill is right, putting some sort of plate over the transom is really not going to do anything if you're going to anchor it to rotted wood anyways.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: transom repair

i've seen many with and inside and outside plate. wish and a prayer holding that expensive motor on. one wrong bump, or wave, and it's gone.

 

[wire2]

Re: transom repair

....
Some common fixes:...


2. Seacast. Expensive ....

-JMW

The cost is relative. I priced real marine plywood, was ~$85 a sheet for 3/8, ~$120 for 1/2. Most transoms are 2" so may need 2-3 sheets, plus ? gal of polyester or epoxy resin to bond it all together.

My project was better suited to Seacast, 5? gal cost $255.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=225270

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: transom repair

I would have to agree with all the above advise. What size and horsepower is your boat? That may have some factors regarding your final repair decision. Also by the time you get that large of a piece of stainless and have it cut and drilled your well on your way to buying the materials to do it right. Plus stainless is very heavy you would be adding weight to a transom that isn't worthy of what is on it now. Plus as mentioned above anchoring it would be very difficult. Not to say that you couldn't do it and maybe get a year or two out of the band aid fix but it is not very much fun boating in something you will never trust to get you back, and make sure you have jackets on board.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: transom repair

If the wood is not rotted to dust, try Git Rot or generic equivalent. I did one transom with it and it turned out better than new. Best part is that you only need to drill vertical holes in the transom. Instructions with the epoxy are quite explicit--you can't do it wrong. Expensive though --35 bucks a quart and that only treats 105 cubic inches. That's only about 9 X 9 inches in the average 1 1/2 inch thick transom. But on the other hand, you don't need to disassemble the hull. Go to Chrysler Crew, join, go to Frank's boats in photo album and you will see a transom I plated with .080 aluminum inside and out. No Git Rot necessary though. Wood was in decent condition.
.080 is a little thicker than 3/32 inch but less than 1/8 (.125)

Ultimately though, its a judgement call that you need to make. Just get as much info as possible before deciding

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: transom repair

Hmmm...looks like we scared her away. One post...no replies.

-JMW

 

[HighTrim]

Re: transom repair

Maybe not the answer they wanted?? I like the seacast method, as long as you are handy with a chainsaw!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: transom repair

She didn't get scared away! She's just too busy arguing with her husband over that plate. Watch--couple of days she'll be back.