Transom Repair

[davidjor]

I am looking at a seacraft 23, the transom has been replaces several years ago but I am not sure if they replaced it from the inside or outside? Does it really matter? Would, should it prevent me from purchasing the boat?

Thoughts as to as to the "proper" way to replace a transom, from the inside or outside?

Thanks

[Lordwrench]

either way is just fine,the method used depends on the particular situation or configuration of the rot and desired repair and the repairers perogative.It makes no difference as long as the overall repair job was done correctly.

[FishStretcher]

In my opinion, the outer skin keeps the water out of the (usualy plywood) core. The core transfers to load to the inner skin and makes the sandwich core construction of the transom stiff in bending. It also resists the point loads of the O/B mounts or outdrive. But this could be resisted with lots more glass.

The inner skin has the important job of taking the thrust load and the cantilever load of an outboard and connecting that to the hull via the knees and the stringers.

So it can be repaired either way- as has been shown. I think it is a little easier to get at the outside, usually. And perhaps safer structurally if you aren't quite sure of how to reconnect the stringers to the transom. And a lot more fairing work.

Caveat- I haven't done this. I have done some structural analysis on it.

I will do mine from the inside very carefully, maybe. With a lot of glass and a lot of thought to the layup schedule. Or not, depending on my confidence on the secondary bond in vinylester, and my confidence in my ability to develop a good laminate schedule and actually develop a void free laminate.

[wattaway2]

I did mine from the inside the outer glass was much thicker then what was layed up inside . as a full transome we beveled the top edge to allow for easier layup of the glass watch the area where the vents are I had to grind down the plywood to get clearance to keep the vents in the same place