Transom replacement???

[BigMike8o9]

I have a question for you experts, I was going to replace my transom because I was going to a bracket. The original is in great shape. What a surprise!
I think because it was on a rack and covered it stayed nice. Should I just ad-on to whats there? It would sure be a lot easier then pulling a solid no rot transom.
It's a 86 walkaround.
I will also build up the stringers and rewinforce the transom for the brackets. Any thoughts?

[ScottM]

BigMike,
Even though that transom may appear in good shape, there's probably some dampness in the wood core. After 19 years, it's bound to happen even if the boat was rack stored and the moisture meter didn't pick anything up (they're not always accurate). You might want to drill some core samples first to see how good the transom is. If you don't get any damp wood or water weeping out of the holes, you could probably go ahead with slapping the bracket on. Are you just leaving the transom open or enclosing it? If you're enclosing it, then you may want to redo the entire transom at the same time.

[warthog5]

ScottM Said it pretty well. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

The only thing that I would add is if it does prove to be dry Hemco has a filler panel to close it in.
http://www.hermco.net/bracket.htm

The addition of a livewell back there may not be a finished off enough piece to suit you. Then it would be a custom deal.

[Finster]

I agree too with what Scott said. The other thing to consider is dry rott. Over time that seems to happen. Tough an '86 is probably a little new for that.

My thought is, if your going threw the trouble of putting a bracket on, and all that goes with it, just do it right the first time. Putting in a transom ain't no big deal.

[ocuyler]

Putting in a transom ain't no big deal.

Maybe for you...

[ScottM]

Putting in a transom ain't no big deal.

Then why do you keep hassling Patton to help you out tough guy? [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Ed]

Sorry gents....but I am going to disagree (politely).

Even if the original transom is in good shape, he cannot simply slap on a bracket. The transom was not designed for this.....and the combination of the bracket's weight plus the vertical, horizontal, lateral, stress that it will place on the transom will cause it to fail miserably.

The original transom will need to be reinforced from the inside with additional supports (knees, crossmembers, etc)before the bracket can be added.

In my opinion, you should start from scratch and rebuild/rengineer the entire transom so that it can support a bracket.

[pogden]

Putting in a transom ain't no big deal.

Then why do you keep hassling Patton to help you out tough guy?

Simple...he needs someone to hold the open the beer can and slip the straw in cuz his hands are covered with epoxy and fiberglass [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[BigMike8o9]

Thanks guys, I agree with Ed on the reinforcement and thats what I had planed. The knees and a conecting platewith an aluminum channel to even load across the stringers.
I quess my thought is if the orriginal is in good condition wouldn't it be hard for me to get the same adhesion to the boat(more air pocketd and thick resin areas) behind the new transom.
I noticed Hermco cuts out the whole transom sometimes. I think in sears scale of good better best, Thats best.
I don't know of a hermco type company out hear (I wish) and even with all my boat experience I could not do the buetiful job they do.
I will core the hull but the bolt holes were dry and clean.
I may rethink the hermco ad-on.
Thanks , you guys are the best. I know of no other website except maybe classic miko site that has this great kind of knowlage. I go to a lot of boat making sites too.

[warthog5]

Good point Ed. That part had slipped my mind when thinking of this.
Installing tose piece's is pretty difficult if the floor hasn't had some cutting on it.