transom repair

[4FUN4LATER]

1972 crestliner with 65 hp evinrude outboard. the transom is soft and taking on water. need opinion on repair. i want to cut out soft transon and replace with 1/8" stainless steel inner and outer shell with a honycomb fill made of the same material they make plastic pallets from. want to use the plastic to off set addinional wieght of stainless the metal would go from gunnel to geunnel inside oand out with welded studs protruding through to be bolted on the inside. fiberglass resin or other suatable water seal between. welded and formed cap to tye it all toghter. am i way off base? or shoul i just scrap the boat and use motor on another project i have

 

[PeteyD]

Re: transom repair

Im only new to boat repair, and this forum, but i know the more experienced guys around would like at pictures if you have any post them up. Not familiar with that boat, is it fiberglass? Generally people will replace components, transom, stringers with the original material, usually plywood, or somwething similar. Along with transom rot there its likely your stringers need replacing to.. This is only a quick reply in lue of someone more expirienced.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: transom repair

post some pictures

the wood lasted 40 years. replace with wood and it will last another 40 years or more. spending money on stainless, etc. is not worth it. not to mention you have to account for the extra weight by deducting from your capacity.

 

[4FUN4LATER]

Re: transom repair

The steel costs me nothing. The reason to go that route is, will it work! The pallet material is also of no cost. If it works the transom would never, i repeat, never rot again. The lay out of the boat for fishing limits breathing bodies to three. The boat is rated for 900 lbs, or six people of 150 lbs each. It is a fiberglass boat open bow. Pictures of the boat would be of little use since i haven't pulled the motor or begun the repair. Over the lifetime of the boat is has had so many hole drilled it reminds me os swiss cheese.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: transom repair

Depending on the chemical makeup of the Pallet Material would make the difference in its use. The transom is one of the most important structural parts of the boat. It must be strong and NOT flex. Composite Transoms are fequently done but...With the correct material. I'd suspect the Pallet material would NOT be of the caliber to create a strong transom. As previously stated, I believe your best course of action would be to replace the transom as it was created. Have you checked the stringers??

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: transom repair

am i way off base? or shoul i just scrap the boat and use motor on another project i have

Yup. .. I dont think your idea will work. A solid trans is nothing but that..a solid trans. You need to intergrate that into your hull and stringer system.

Not worth the effort and $ IMO .. not on this boat..

YD.

 

[4FUN4LATER]

Re: transom repair

genlemen, thank you all for your imput. that is the reason i use this forum.
the truth is i just wanted something to fish out of while my other project got completed but something that would not sink. or toss a motor when you need it most. the steel and composit would be nothing more than a weekend project once the steel plates were fabricated. just to clarify, my understanding of the pallet material is that is is designed to hold more dead weght than a motor under power will ever be. but, again, thank you all for your imput. my thinking was that the studded steel would be my one piece transom. the filler, if you will is of secaondary consideration as long as it would not compress or flex. my greatest consern is putting that much weight at the stern, for ballance and proper planing. again, that is why use this forum to broaden my knowledge and gain another perspective.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: transom repair

if it is just the transom (and not stringers and floor), your into it for a weekend or less to do it right.

plastic may work well for a pallet that is stationary, however will fold over under the load of the motor under way. if you dont believe me, put a 2' pipe wrench on the edge of the pallet and put 200# of force on the end of the wrench. the motor will be putting the same types of load - weight, plus the moment from the thrust of the prop.