QA

Question: How To Fix A Transom On A Fiberglass Boat

Can a boat transom be repaired?

Repairing A Rotted Transom One method is to use a product like Git-Rot from BoatLIFE. This two-part liquid epoxy fills and restores the dry rot inside the wood using capillary action to penetrate it without drilling it full of holes. You can inject Git-Rot directly into the wood for more thorough penetration.

How do you reinforce a fiberglass transom?

Basically you cut the fiberglass skin off either the inside or the outside of the transom, remove the rotted plywood core, replace it with new plywood, I used regular construction plywood, and epoxy a new skin on over it.

Can you replace the transom on a fiberglass boat?

While it is a pretty complicated job, replacing the transom core isn’t impossible. Transoms are usually replaced from inside the boat. Once you can get to the transom from the inside, it is time to cut away that inside layer of fiberglass.

How much does it cost to replace a transom?

How much to fix a wet transom. Repairing a transom is a laborious exercise that can range from $3,000 to $10,000 depending on the vessel size construction and tradesmen used for the task.

How long do transoms last?

I have found the floor and transom to last roughly 10 years. Less if you don’t cover it or fish in monsoons. The problem is the manufacturers use cdx plywood on the transom and not marine plywood. If you replace it use 3 sheets of marine grade, screw them together and seal it with West systems epoxy.

How do you reinforce a transom?

Apply epoxy to the edges of the outer fiberglass skin of the transom and over the heads of the screws holding the skin to the plywood, and lay a strip of fiberglass cloth over the epoxy. Once the fiberglass has cured, repeat this step until four layers of fiberglass and epoxy have been applied.

What is a transom saver?

Its name would imply that the transom saver is a device designed to protect your boat’s transom from undue stress while trailering your boat. Aluminum boats also seem to be more prone to damage (broken welds, popped rivets) than heavier, reinforced fiberglass transoms. Ranger Boats is another transom saver advocate.

How much does Seacast cost?

Seacast Product Name Price Buy Now 1 Gallon Seacast™ transom / Stringer Kit $109.95 Buy Now 5 Gallon Seacast™ Self-Leveling for Decks / Floors $232.95 – $252.95 Buy Now 2 Gallon Seacast™ Self-Leveling for Decks / Floors $154.95 Buy Now 1 Gallon Seacast™ Self-Leveling for Decks / Floors $109.95 Buy Now.

How do you stop transom rot?

The best prevention for wood rot, is to remove all wood from a boat and use a material that will not rot. Finally, most boat manufacturers are moving this way with wood free transoms and wood free in the remainder of the boat. If a piece of wood is in and near water over a long period of time it will eventually rot.

How many layers of fiberglass does a transom have?

You want each new layer extending far enough to catch more hull and more transom than the previous piece. Then you cover the whole transom with about 4 layers of 1708 to get your thickness.

How strong is Seacast transom?

Seacast™ is nearly three times the strength of a marine plywood transom. Seacast™ is only 3 tenths of a pound lighter than marine plywood, which will not endanger, alter or negatively impact the structural integrity of the boat. Seacast™ does not crack, creep, rot, or freeze. Seacast™ has excellent impact resistance.

How do I know if my transom is bad?

Typically you will see the transom flexing under power, or flexing when applying pressure to the outboard (by hand). You may also see large stress cracks in the corners where the transom meets the sidewalls. For fiberglass you could take a core sample using a hole saw to see if the inner wood is wet and/or rotted.

How do you tell if your transom is rotted?

Bad rot will lead to totally deteriorated wood and a lot of flex in the transom when the outdrive unit is under load. If you’re not experiencing that, then your transom overall is probably okay. You can probe with a piece of stiff wire around the screw holes and see if there is any severe softness.

How do you test a boat transom?

Look for any signs of transom bowing or deformation. Look for any signs of the motor mounting bolts and washers being pulled into the transom. If the customer knows his boat, he will not have any issues with you to tug up and down on the bottom of the motor with the motor tipped fully up.

How thick should a transom be?

Outboard transoms are pretty much standardized at 1.5″. Most use two layers of 3/4″ ply, but a stronger method is three layers of 1/2″. Transoms are typically reinforced with knees, usually a couple at the rail and two or three on the bilge stringers, to transmit torsion loads to the bottom.

What is a transom shield on a boat?

Raybo3 the transom shield is considered the plates on the inside and outside of the transom that hold the drives on and connect it to the motor.

Should a transom Flex?

The flex/movement in the transom should not be enough to transfer stress to that part of the boat. It is not an integral support of the transom.