Wet Transom- help

jsylvester08 · #1 04-13-2021, 09:39 PM

So I went to move my Lowrance transducer and decided to repair another old patch that looks like an old screw hole. So I drilled it out to reseal it and water started to drip out. It’s right next to the transom drain. I knocked on the rest and seems very solid but how concerned should I be? It’s a 1986 20SF. You can see in the picture it looks like it was seeping but I’ve never noticed it before. I really don’t want to replace and loose the season. Anyone run use epoxy to fill the small void and get a few more years out of it? Any help would be great.

take a potter · #2 04-14-2021, 09:19 AM

I got a few more years out of mine. The question is how do you know if yours will make it. A couple of things to look for/keep an eye on. First tilt the motor up and have a robust friend put pressure on the end of the lower unit, while you watch the transom. If you can detect any flex then I would be very cautious, once movement starts it can progress pretty fast. Look carefully at the outer edges of the transom, under where the lifting rings are, if you see hairline cracks running vertically, then I would say you are done. On mine when I saw the cracks running almost top to bottom on the outer edge, almost at the corner I knew it was past time. When I got into it that was confirmed.
By the way this was on an original 1975 transom. If yours has been molested previously, your situation may be different. This is just one guys opinion on the internet, and I have only done one transom. Many on here have done multiples and might have some additional thoughts.

Kwaugh5p · #3 04-14-2021, 09:26 PM

My transom felt really solid also. I had a friend who was a marine surveyor put a moisture meter on it and he found out the entire transom was wet. When I removed my trim tabs water also drained from a screw hole. Long story short when they started replacing my transom this is what the wood looked like. Mind you it is a 1972 boat.

captsuperfly · #4 04-15-2021, 08:52 AM

Ugh, sorry.

you could drill a few more exploratory holes to see what you find... but as the others have mentioned it's often shocking how wet our solid feeling transoms were when we took them apart. Even if some of the wood dries out, it's almost inevitably de-bonded from the skin.

Drilling in a bit it really the only way to know for sure. Good luck.

uncleboo · #5 04-15-2021, 09:33 AM

My 18 transom felt solid and...

http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...1&d=1618493583

DonV · #6 04-15-2021, 11:09 AM

When I did my transom it was before the garbage man had hydraulic equipment to pick up the cans, he was not real happy for a week or so with my wet transom wood!! Amazing how heavy that goo is!!

steel686 · #7 04-15-2021, 11:33 AM

Doesn’t smell that great either as I recall. I have a video where I removed the battery box platform starboard aft and water was running out. Didn’t have any evidence on the exterior of the transom. No cracks or flexing. Happy I didn’t hang a new motor on it after peeling/wringing it out. Sorry to add on but check out a few pictures. You’ll sleep better if you bite the bullet.

jsylvester08 · #8 04-15-2021, 11:56 PM

Thanks all for sharing not the news I was hoping for but not surprised. Any ball park ideas of the cost of replacing the transom at a shop? Can anyone suggest any good shops on Long Island. Prob look to do it in the fall but we’ll see.

bmajvi · #9 04-16-2021, 11:07 AM

IMHO many/most 25+ year old plywood transoms are probably wet and somewhat compromised, based on moisture meter readings I've taken and pix I've seen of transom replacements here and elsewhere. So lots of guys are out there running boats with wet transoms - is it ideal? No. Is it safe? Maybe? If you have a seriously bad transom with a heavy motor hanging on it, you're addicted to doing full power hole shots, and you expect to run hard in rough water or venture offshore, that seems pretty high risk. If you have some wet core but baby it a bit my guess is you would likely be okay for awhile... probably a good idea to look for any signs of cracking every time you go out. But your mileage may vary.

Kwaugh5p · #10 04-16-2021, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsylvester08

Thanks all for sharing not the news I was hoping for but not surprised. Any ball park ideas of the cost of replacing the transom at a shop? Can anyone suggest any good shops on Long Island. Prob look to do it in the fall but we’ll see.

In my area probably around 5000 for composite