Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

[Lukelona]

So I know you can tap on the transom with rubber mallet/screwdriver handle, drill holles look and shavings, but this only tells so much.
I know you can also bounce on the engine to. watch for flex. My thing is, is after all these tests im still nervous about my transom due to all the horror stories about them.
if it doesn't flex and stuff, will it show signs of wear before it "rips off the transom"?
For added comfort could I put a aluminum plate under the engine clamps to keep them solid?
The clamps are only a little sunk in I belive from overtightning. I believe this would help.

If I put it on the trailer and hammer on it while at the ramp and the motor don't rip off, is it safe? lol

thanks for the help guys
I couldnt find the answer to this,so now it will be on here for others to view.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

Drilling test holes is the second best way and all that other stuff is really inconclusive voodoo ceremony BS.

The plate is about the worst thing you can do, but prepping to do it might give you some answers when removing motor or outdrive because you examine inside the bolt holes or keyhole for rot.

The best way to get peace of mind is to remove your transom and replace it whether it needs it or not... and while you're at it you might as well remove the decking and inspect your foam and stringers too!

You didn't say what the make and model of your boat is.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

Hmmm......... Umm........ Didn't you core drill:

sorry yes, ive already done drill holes througout.transom. they had dry good wood feel to them, also.had a redish tint.
I have new pics but im having trouble posting them from my new phone.
bear with me im trying them.now....

If there's a little voice telling you to be wary of putting the boat back in service, you probably ought to listen to it.

There isn't a way to ensure that the boat is 100% sound, beyond all shadow of doubt, without doing the removal & replacement yourself and KNOWING that you've replaced it as sound or better then the original factory work. There really are no short cuts. If you're concerned about the motor clamps crushing the fiberglass a metal plate will only buy you time & may not be sufficient if the underlying transom wood IS SOFT (again pix would help). Mistakes also happen occasionally at professional boat works, although at the most reputable places you'd hope it was rare. Just like at the factory, some boats were (are) better built then others, even on the same production line.

You need to decide which route gets you where you want to be & that gets you there safely. Beyond that & several other post's I've made in your threads, I'm not sure what else you need to help you decide SAFE for me & my friends/family or NOT SAFE....

Example of a short cut some have used: You can 'try' to glycol injecting wet, but not yet rotten, transom/stringer wood. But it can be a very long & drawn out task that MIGHT only get you a little more time. If you choose that route, I can't advise you how to do it on your boat, and won't. It isn't a sound best practice IMHO. But you (and others) may disagree. Encased in fiberglass, wet wood tends to go soft. But again that's IMHO.


BTW: Not listening to that little voice in their head that's telling them "DON'T DO IT!" or "This here is a dumb idea" is why so many rednecks die in strange, interesting, and unusual ways*............

IE: Here, hold my beer & then ya'll watch this.............


*not an original thought

Best of luck w/ your project, boat & boat resto safely..........

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

If the wood is soft enough to be compressed much more than a little [very subjective, depending on who, and with what, the fasteners were tightened]...the underlying wood is probably soft...
I recently installed a new transom and when I installed the stern eyes with my added backing plates, I could probably snap off the stainless steel U-bolts if I kept cranking down on them before my transom would crush much more than an 1/8 of an inch...
I have seen all the responses in your threads and you have been given all the right answers...if you are still in doubt, then you have not done your due diligence and any determination you make as to the safety and integrity of your boat is strictly on your shoulders...
If you feel safe having your family and friends on board while underway, then by all means do so...
No one on this forum will be able to confirm or insure that your boat is safe but you...not even a Marine Surveyor can Guarantee this...
If you follow the given recommendations of core drilling and are satisfied that what you are seeing is good, then go for it...
This is one of the biggest reasons why, in a lot of cases it is IMPERATIVE that you take GOOD pictures of what you see and share them with the forum members...it will help US try and give you the best possible advice as to how to proceed...
The only way to be 100% sure of anything is if you completely restore this boat to better than new condition or go out and buy a brand new boat...
I don't recall offhand what year your Bayliner is, but Bayliners, in general, from a certain era, have been on this forum as boats that have issues...that is not to put Bayliners down in anyway...since most FG boats which have wood in their construction, that are more than a few years old, have been marginally cared for and poorly stored, suffer the same fate...rotten guts which need replacing or chopping up the hull into little pieces and dumped...there is normally no other way to do it...Band-Aid repairs are not normally recommended by members as they are deemed unsafe.
Safety being the primary consideration of boating! Fun only comes from knowing that you have a safe and reliable craft under you...once you are out on the water, if something goes wrong, you can't just pull over...well you can, but you will be at the mercy of the sea and your preparation for such an event...
Look I am not trying to be a party pooper here, I just want to make clear that any decision you make as Captain of your boat, lies squarely upon your shoulders...ALWAYS! No if's, and's or but's...
Short story, very unhappy ending...
Acquaintance of mine goes out on HIS boat, he is Capt., boat transom fails, loses control, crashes and sinks, according to accident investigators...His negligence...his Mate loses his life in crash, He goes to jail for 5 years for Involuntary Manslaughter...

 

[Lukelona]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

Hmmm......... Umm........ Didn't you core drill:


If there's a little voice telling you to be wary of putting the boat back in service, you probably ought to listen to it.

There isn't a way to ensure that the boat is 100% sound, beyond all shadow of doubt, without doing the removal & replacement yourself and KNOWING that you've replaced it as sound or better then the original factory work. There really are no short cuts. If you're concerned about the motor clamps crushing the fiberglass a metal plate will only buy you time & may not be sufficient if the underlying transom wood IS SOFT (again pix would help). Mistakes also happen occasionally at professional boat works, although at the most reputable places you'd hope it was rare. Just like at the factory, some boats were (are) better built then others, even on the same production line.

You need to decide which route gets you where you want to be & that gets you there safely. Beyond that & several other post's I've made in your threads, I'm not sure what else you need to help you decide SAFE for me & my friends/family or NOT SAFE....

Example of a short cut some have used: You can 'try' to glycol injecting wet, but not yet rotten, transom/stringer wood. But it can be a very long & drawn out task that MIGHT only get you a little more time. If you choose that route, I can't advise you how to do it on your boat, and won't. It isn't a sound best practice IMHO. But you (and others) may disagree. Encased in fiberglass, wet wood tends to go soft. But again that's IMHO.


BTW: Not listening to that little voice in their head that's telling them "DON'T DO IT!" or "This here is a dumb idea" is why so many rednecks die in strange, interesting, and unusual ways*............

IE: Here, hold my beer & then ya'll watch this.............


*not an original thought

Best of luck w/ your project, boat & boat resto safely..........

Yes I have drilled into it, the shavings were not bright , they had a redish tint. seemed dry though.
And yes I understand band aids aren't safe, but I think for me I only wanna keep this boat for a year or two...so a whole rebuild is outta my budget on this one.
Especially if it doesnt "need" it.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

Ok, if it doesn't need it, I'll hold your beer for you.

If it's unopened when I get it, it may not be that way if/when you get it back.

 

[Lukelona]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

lol I dont even know what you mean anymore...
are you saying it needs it?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

I'm saying that YOU are saying it needs it.

All the questions & threads make it seem like you know it needs to be done & are trying to find some hope that it doesn't.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

Yes I have drilled into it, the shavings were not bright , they had a redish tint. seemed dry though.

The reddish tint could be the color of the resin or wood used or it could be definite signs of already rotting wood...

Why don't you post up pictures of what you have found and where???:noidea:

And yes I understand band aids aren't safe, but I think for me I only wanna keep this boat for a year or two...so a whole rebuild is outta my budget on this one.

If you understand they are not safe and have just said so right here on a public forum, and something were to happen, you have just nailed your coffin shut...:faint2:
And, if a whole rebuild is out of your budget, and buying a new boat is out of your budget, then you really shouldn't be in this hobby because owning and operating a boat costs money... lots of expendable, un-needed, no longer necessary money...:cold:
Which also means you probably couldn't afford enough liability insurance coverage should something tragic happen while underway in the boat and you get sued...

AND BTW, if you only plan on keeping this boat for a couple of seasons, what were you planning on doing later on, restore it? or try and sell it off as a great boat to some unsuspecting new boat owner?

Especially if it doesnt "need" it.

You are unfortunately suffering from a bad case of "denial"...:facepalm:
From what I've seen and read, it looks like it needs it...a full restoration that is...

 

[Lukelona]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

I plan to restore it,if I like it enough but I really dont think it needs it yet.
No,I'm not looking to have someone say its safe as I know thats impossible without seeing In person.

what I am wondering is, could the motor just rip off the transom with no warning signs at all?
I would think if it was anywhere near that bad it would bow and flex like crazy.
I can stand on my motor leg with it way up high and bounce the trailer up an down off the ground.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

Sounds like your transom is safe. If you can hang off the motor and the transom isn't flexing than there's def no imminent risk of failure IMO. Take a couple core samples of the transom...it should give you a decent idea if there's been water damage.

What kind of boat/motor are we talking about?

 

[Lukelona]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

Sounds like your transom is safe. If you can hang off the motor and the transom isn't flexing than there's def no imminent risk of failure IMO. Take a couple core samples of the transom...it should give you a decent idea if there's been water damage.

What kind of boat/motor are we talking about?

Yes I can bounce on it with no flex, at least none the eye can see and the whole boat comes up in the front.
it is a 1986 Bayliner Capri 14ft with a 50 hp Force outboard.

id be alot more concerned if it were a 23' with twin 150hp,

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

One thing I know...You should not be able to sink the tightening clamps into a solid, sound transom. The other thing I know, is if you can bounce on the lower leg of the motor and not see any flex in the transom then there is no imminent danger of it failing. If the core samples are dry then use the boat and enjoy it.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

what I am wondering is, could the motor just rip off the transom with no warning signs at all?

Stranger things have happened.

I notice you don't say what year this boat is and you're not posting any pics of the boat or the transom... show us what she looks like.

Do you realize how many rotten POS Bayliners are out there? If this boat is new to you, it would probably be more than worth your while to go ahead and take it apart now. There's no telling how badly it has been neglected and if it's just a polished turd in disguise. We see too many people on this forum get burnt when buying a used f'glass boat because it has had a little spit shine put on it to take attention away from the real condition of the boat.

... or you can bite the bullet and take her out like she is and just wear your PFD all of the time.

 

[Lukelona]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

One thing I know...You should not be able to sink the tightening clamps into a solid, sound transom. The other thing I know, is if you can bounce on the lower leg of the motor and not see any flex in the transom then there is no imminent danger of it failing. If the core samples are dry then use the boat and enjoy it.

Thanks Woodonglass, I think the clamps were overtightened,
they are only sunk in a little bit, like into the glass it seems. but there isn't any flex as I said.
im gonna run in and see how it does, ill check a few more core samples and ill look for any cracking in gel coat etc after the fist shake down run.

 

[Lukelona]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

Stranger things have happened.

I notice you don't say what year this boat is and you're not posting any pics of the boat or the transom... show us what she looks like.

Do you realize how many rotten POS Bayliners are out there? If this boat is new to you, it would probably be more than worth your while to go ahead and take it apart now. There's no telling how badly it has been neglected and if it's just a polished turd in disguise. We see too many people on this forum get burnt when buying a used f'glass boat because it has had a little spit shine put on it to take attention away from the real condition of the boat.

... or you can bite the bullet and take her out like she is and just wear your PFD all of the time.

1986 Bayliner Capri 14 foot with 50 Hp Force outboard
Unfortunately agreed sir lol
Ive saw tons of neglected Bayliners myself.
this boat is NOT a polished turd lmao! it was all original when I bought it.
Still in decent shape, but interior was showing its age.
its the original engine and all, and its belived to have minimal hours on it. and was trailered not slipped.

So im thinkin this bayliner doesnt have the typical rot issues from not actually being in the water alot.
However I understand possibility of it not being properly stored and aged sealant could still let moisture in

 

[Lukelona]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

Just curious why you felt it necessary to start another thread on your transom issues. It really makes it difficult for the members to keep track of what your are doing.

If you want it to last, at the very least you need to bet a stiff bristled brush, a respirator, and some Acetone and wash down the inside of the transom really well. I'd then roll on 2-3 coats of gelcoat adding wax to the last coat to seal it up really well. Those chipped out places are going to allow water penetration and that's not good. I don't see any outward signs of transom degradation, so I'd say you could hit the water and enjoy!!!

 

[Lukelona]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

I don't see any outward signs of transom degradation, so I'd say you could hit the water and enjoy!!!

:happy: Cool!

I was wondering how to wash it without re-soaking it
Acetone should draw any moisture and evaporate almost immediately correct?
Any certain wait time in between acetone wash, and applying gel coating?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Ways to tell if transom is strong annd safe

Pix certainly helped