Why use wood on transom for aluminum boats?

[Comoxsam]

Hello, maybe a dumb question but please educate me.

I have an old 1957 Crestliner Buccaneer aluminum boat. I believe the boat came originally with a piece of wood on the inside and outside of the transom.

Somewhere along the line the pieces of wood were replaced with two 0.25" thick pieces of aluminum. This seems to make a pretty solid transom however the height is wrong for my motor and there is a cut out for a kicker which I do not want. I'm temporarily using a chunk of wood to raise my motor on. (I know not very good).

Anyhow I'm planning on repairing the transom and it got me wondering why people use wood on the transoms of aluminum boats? It seems like and area for rot and water to get in through the mounting holes. To me it seems like thick aluminum would be a stronger more permanent solution.

So why do people use wood? Cost? Weight? Strength?

What do newer aluminum boats use?

Here is a picture of my transom.

Thanks

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Why use wood on transom for aluminum boats?

Cost? Weight? Strength? The first two would be my guess.

 

[Case450]

Re: Why use wood on transom for aluminum boats?

i know aluminum is very brittle and expensive....i'm sure a 1" thick slab of aluminum would be better but if wood does the trick why not? I rebuild my transom with wood and it works.
My guess is that aluminum with the stresses on the plate and the constant vibrations while running would crack the aluminum.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Why use wood on transom for aluminum boats?

My old tinny, a '55, has an all aluminum transom and is rated for a 25 hp. The only wood is a small bolted on piece where the motor attaches.

 

[asm_]

Re: Why use wood on transom for aluminum boats?

Aluminum is not brittle. Especially the kind of alloy they use on boat. It does, weight a lot more then wood given the same size. Now if it was cheap to make structure aluminum, they would have been able to shaved off some weight.

Of course, besides weight, aluminum is also much more expensive then wood in term of material and skilled workman needed.

B

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Why use wood on transom for aluminum boats?

And if you're talking about small, clamp on motors, the clamps lock in tighter to wood than aluminum. But with a bolt on motor, aluminum would be a good choice as long as it didn't get too noisy.

 

[Comoxsam]

Re: Why use wood on transom for aluminum boats?

Thanks for the responses.

 

[eds3172]

Re: Why use wood on transom for aluminum boats?

i know aluminum is very brittle and expensive....i'm sure a 1" thick slab of aluminum would be better but if wood does the trick why not? I rebuild my transom with wood and it works.
My guess is that aluminum with the stresses on the plate and the constant vibrations while running would crack the aluminum.

Aluminum is not brittle. It IS however soft.

 

[stalker14]

Re: Why use wood on transom for aluminum boats?

I have a question about PT Plywood. My aluminum boat was built using PT in the transom and the copper in the PT has reacted with the aluminum. I was wondering if I removed the PT wood and coated it with epoxy resin would that shield the copper from the aluminum? Has anyone ever tried this before? thanks.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Why use wood on transom for aluminum boats?

I have a question about PT Plywood. My aluminum boat was built using PT in the transom and the copper in the PT has reacted with the aluminum. I was wondering if I removed the PT wood and coated it with epoxy resin would that shield the copper from the aluminum? Has anyone ever tried this before? thanks.

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