1989 23' Seacraft.

rsegreto · #1 08-23-2002, 01:29 AM

Hello Gentlemen-
I'm new to this forum and wanted to say hello as well as ask a question. I have a 23' Seacraft w/a model that's a 1989. Recently while installing trim tabs to her, I notice some water trickle out of the transom as I was screwing the tabs on. Now with that in mind, how much water damage should I be looking for before thinking of replacing the transom? Also, where can I buy one of those handheld gadgets to test how moist the transom actually is?
Thanks in advance!

FELLOW-SHIP · #2 08-22-2002, 03:33 PM

HA RSEGRETO
BOY IT SEEMS THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE THE NAME OF THIS SITE TO “THE WET TRANSOMS” EVERY TIME I LOOK THERE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS TO BE DONE OR MIGHT NEED TO BE DONE ANY WHICH WAY WELCOME TO THE BOARD. WHAT YOU DESCRIBED DOESN’T SOUND GOOD. TRANSOMS CAN GO BAD AS SOON AS 5 YEARS FROM CONSTRUCTION SO YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT A MAJOR FIX. I DON’T KNOW OF ANY GOOD WAY TO GIVE YOU A DEFINITIVE ANSWER BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I DID TO DETERMINE MY DECISION.
1. AGE OF BOAT- THAT PART IS IN YOUR FAVOR.
2. WATER COMING OUT OF THE SCREWS-THAT ONE IS A BIG NEGATIVE.
3. REMOVING ALL THE THROUGH HULL FITTINGS AND INSPECTING THE CONDITION OF THE WOOD. (BLACK AND WET, MUSHY, OR NICE FRESH WOOD)
4. DRILLING OUT HOLES AND INSPECTION THE CONDITION OF THE WOOD THAT COMES OUT OF THE DRILL BIT LIKE #3
5. USE ONE OF THOSE METERS BUT IN YOUR CASE IT PROBABLY WILL SOUND LIKE A 5 ALARM FIRE.
6. TAP ON THE TRANSOM WITH A MALLET (THIS ONE WAS NO HELP FOR ME)
7. TAKE A COIN OUT OF YOUR POCKET AND SAY HEADS = IT’S OK, TAILS = REPLACE IT.
8. GET A MARINE SURVEY $200-300 THAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THIS TYPE OF THING TO GIVE YOU HIS OPINION. IF YOU ASK A GUY THAT DOES TRANSOMS FOR A LIVING YOU KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING TO TELL YOU. HIS ANSWER IS $$$$ TO FIX.
9. OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER IS I/O, OR 1OR 2 OUTBOARDS, BRACKETED? ALL THESE THINGS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ON MY BOAT I HAD 123 INDIVIDUAL DRILL HOLES IN THE TRANSOM THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD DRILLED IN THE TRANSOM. IT LOOKED MORE LIKE A SWISS CHEESE THAT ANYTHING ELSE. ALL THOSE HOLES ALLOWED WATER TO SEEP INTO MY TRANSOM.
WELL ALL THIS INFO AND I STILL DIDN’T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION JUST GAVE YOU MORE INFO TO CONSIDER TO MAKE YOU YOUR MIND. MAYBE SOME ONE ELSE CAN HELP YOU BETTER THAN ME WITH FEWER WORKS.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Scott · #3 08-22-2002, 04:59 PM

Rsegreto....Welcome

Same thing Fellow said ..... and if its an outboard and you really feel the transom's shot(which it may not be since its not that old) ....lower the motor while on the trailer and stand on the cavitation plate and bounce!!! Have some one else watch the transom and see if your getting alot of flex (indicative of the soft transom syndrome [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ).

I think West marine sells a moisture meter but they aint cheap....I think it would be much cheaper to get a surveyor to check it out.....but even at that you already know its wet....just how wet is it. You may need to punch some holes in the transom to truly diagnose your dilemma.

Good luck….Scott

“THE WET TRANSOMS” .... Fellow Ship you crack me up [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

FELLOW-SHIP · #4 08-22-2002, 05:42 PM

HA SCOTT
HOW THINGS GOING?? I HAVE NOT TALKED TO YOU IN A WHILE, HOW’S THAT BOAT OF YOURS COMING?? DID YOU DECIDE TO DO THE TRANSOM YOUR SELF OR GET SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR YOU?
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

rsegreto · #5 08-22-2002, 07:09 PM

Dear Scott & Fellow-Ship-

Thank you both for the advice, I think that it may be a long winter for me here in N.E. if the transom is rotted. But I guess we'll have to wait and see, until then I'll enjoy the rest of my summer up here.

Rich Segreto

rsegreto · #6 08-23-2002, 08:10 AM

By the way, can anyone tell me what the cost of a new transom would be? I'm not to handy when it comes to something like that and therefore I'd have to get it done by a professional.
Thanks in advance for your advice.