transom repair

[fred_farple]

This summer I bought a 1989 Wellcraft Coastal 230 from a "trusted friend". It's a very nice looking boat with a 1998 Suzuki engine in excellent shape and was presented to me as having average wear. I fished it a couple of times, took my family out once in it, and decided it is too big. Recently, I had it surveyed for sale only to find out that the transom is no good, it is rotten. I also noticed after the boat sat in dry storage for a couple of months a very fine little mound of powder along a stress crack in along the transom, could this be termites? I have come to the conclusion that as for selling the boat I'll, in all likelihood, loose my can. I also can't fathom sinking potentially $3,000 worth of good beer money into the hull unless I can recover it on the sale. All opinions and/or advice are sincerely appreciated.

 

[JB]

Re: transom repair

Hi, Fred.<br /><br />Tough problem. Your friend may not have known about the weak transom. I assume that your surveyor passed the stringers, floor, etc.<br /><br />There are "Band Aid" fixes, but I think a weak transom should be replaced.. .not patched, and it doesn't need to cost three big ones.<br /><br />In the "Project Boats" forum you can get a lot of advice and help if you choose to repair it. Many members have replaced transoms with good results.<br /><br />If you hire someone to fix it I agree that you wont get the money back in a sale, but I don't know anyone who ever has broken even or made money buying, repairing and selling boats.<br /><br />I am going to move this to Project Boats where the handymen hang out.<br /><br />Good luck.