Am I going to have a very bad day?

BG6.7Cummins · Dec-17-2008, 09:39 PM

Well I bring my boat back and forth to Cali from Phoenix,AZ, ( its a long ruff ride on her) well last time I saw a very small crack off one of the bolts in my transom. I bought the boat used, it looks as if to me the motor ect has been changed, like the transom has been closed up. and it now has a 200hp hangin off the back.. (lot of wait)..... well i started to dig into the crack seems just the surface is cracked.. no rot.. well i got to the bottom and removed some caulk(sealer) and across where the deck is to the transom is cracked, i dont know if this is where the added the enclosed transom or its broke or what there is no rot that i can feel hear (by tapping) or see. could this be how it was done or am i fucked?

that is what the transom looks like from the outside... no cracks no soft spots no flex ...

that is the starb. side you can see the crack at the bootm where the deck meets the transom.

in this photo you can see the small crack rumming up (third bolt from the left) and you can see more of the crack it looks as if it was never conected??

that is the port side you can see it looks like it was cut away and replaced?

Gil Marlin · Dec-17-2008, 10:19 PM

Those motor extensions must put a lot of strain on where they attach. Looks like you have a transom saver attached, which is a good idea for trailering. I would think a flat plate matching the size of the extension bracket and installed on the inside would be a good idea...

BG6.7Cummins · Dec-17-2008, 10:26 PM

Do you think that i have a major problem? Or it a easy fix, just add a layer of glass over it?

Mo Betta · Dec-17-2008, 11:44 PM

Have someone grab the prop skeg and force the boat up and down. You sit inside and look for movement, if its moving then you have issues.

How big of an issue, depends on your skill and or wallet. Looks like the rest of the bolts that hold your bracket on, are below the "outboard well" in your picture. How does it look in the deck hatch, towards the transom?

MATTANZA · Dec-17-2008, 11:59 PM

do what frank said and check for play/give in the transom. i'd also clean it up. check the extent of the damage. reglass the area and shitcan those little backing plates. you should have big backing plate.

sickcat · Dec-18-2008, 12:43 AM

Ditto the advice to pull those plates off and replace them with the biggest plate you can fit on there. Make it big enough to go out to the sides - larger than the bracket bolts to distribute the load better. Until you stop the transom movement the crack will keep coming back. I would consider pulling the existing plates off, grinding the transom and the floor in front of the transom (out a foot or so) to clean it up. Then starting at the transom/floor joint put progressivly larger biaxial glass patches to join the transom and floor. A layer of glass on the transom would not hurt. Then put the larger plate over that.

From the pics it looks like that area of the floor might of been patched up before. If you glass it up make sure to get any sealer and paint off there and grind it down to glass. Wipe it down with acetone. Use epoxy resin to get as good a bond as you can.

MATTANZA · Dec-18-2008, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sickcat

Ditto the advice to pull those plates off and replace them with the biggest plate you can fit on there. Make it big enough to go out to the sides - larger than the bracket bolts to distribute the load better. Until you stop the transom movement the crack will keep coming back. I would consider pulling the existing plates off, grinding the transom and the floor in front of the transom (out a foot or so) to clean it up. Then starting at the transom/floor joint put progressivly larger biaxial glass patches to join the transom and floor. Then put the larger plate over that.

yep!

BG6.7Cummins · Dec-18-2008, 04:37 AM

looks like i got some work to do... yippie..

BuonaForTuna · Dec-18-2008, 04:53 AM

MAN that does look like a job and a half, good luck.

Gil Marlin · Dec-18-2008, 07:52 AM

Okay, here's what your boat looked like originally right? If the open area was enclosed and the new bracket attaches to that enclosed area, the top bolts are now attached to only an insert and not the transom as a whole. A big flat plate that sandwiches everything together and spreads the load out would be the way to go...

Mo Betta · Dec-18-2008, 07:55 AM

I dont know if just adding bigger backing plates will do it if there is a problem. If it was me, I would build up the transom. Laminate some more plywood onto the transom, as wide and as tall as you can. Then add some knees that go from the transom to the stringers. IMHO.

Check the movement first. If it moves then check for delamination by tapping and water damage by drilling a few holes. If there is water damage/delamination then this is just a symptom and you may need to replace the transom, worse case. Do step one first.

Gil Marlin · Dec-18-2008, 08:16 AM

Frank, you may be right depending on how much structure was removed to box in the transom. If I was adding an extension I would definitely add some metal knees that pick up the bolts and attach to the stringers...