My 1977 sceptre

[Wooley]

Hey guys I got this beauty for $350 with a trailer . I've put a 225 ocean pro on it . I'm redoing all the teak wood customizing the seats. I have a silver dollar sized piece of rot on the port side of the transom . Do you think if I cut that piece out I can put some resin and fix it without redoing the entire transom ? It's has a nice aluminum transom on the outside

[Wooley]

Here is another pic of her

[DonV]

To answer your "silver dollar" question, I seriously doubt it. See that rather large piece of aluminum across the transom? the odds are it's there because the transom is shot! It's just a major problem waiting to happen. Nice score though for $350.

[Eric B]

Hey Wooly,

Great find!!! Unfortunately Don is probably correct. That plate is just a band aid. If you have an extra long flat head screw driver try pushing it in the rotten area. If you go side to side inside the transom and it feels like Cole slaw throughout you will have a better idea of the extent of the issue. Otherwise your first ride in chop might be very short. If you look around this site you will see lots of tips and methods to replace the transom yourself for $800-$3000 depending on how you go about it and the materials you use. I had mine done professionally at it was only $3500. Safety of yourself and crew should be your first priority. Where are you located? We can help better with that info.

[Wooley]

I live in Florida . I'm going to check the extent of the rot . I don't want to lose this gem I found .

[Bushwacker]

Nice rig! However that rust streak below the port transom towing eye indicates you've got some crevice corrosion going on there, so I suspect entire transom is wet. (When plywood gets wet, the water spreads in all directions because if follows the grain, and grain direction changes 90 degrees in each layer of wood. Also "stainless" steel only remains stainless in the presence of oxygen needed to create the protective layer of chromium oxide, and there isn't much oxygen inside that damp transom, so those towing eyes will rust just like they were plain steel!) I'd pull that towing eye and check it because I suspect you'll find that the 3/8" bolts are really only about 1/8" thick inside transom!

Don's right, that fancy aluminum plate is just a band aid! You have a lot of weight and bending load on that transom that may be too much for just 1/4" thick fiberglass (if the plywood is mulch), so before you launch it, jump up and down on the lower unit and check to see how much deflection there is in the skin of transom!

[Wooley]

Originally Posted by Bushwacker

Nice rig! However that rust streak below the port transom towing eye indicates you've got some crevice corrosion going on there, so I suspect entire transom is wet. (When plywood gets wet, the water spreads in all directions because if follows the grain, and grain direction changes 90 degrees in each layer of wood. Also "stainless" steel only remains stainless in the presence of oxygen needed to create the protective layer of chromium oxide, and there isn't much oxygen inside that damp transom, so those towing eyes will rust just like they were plain steel!) I'd pull that towing eye and check it because I suspect you'll find that the 3/8" bolts are really only about 1/8" thick inside transom!

Don's right, that fancy aluminum plate is just a band aid! You have a lot of weight and bending load on that transom that may be too much for just 1/4" thick fiberglass (if the plywood is mulch), so before you launch it, jump up and down on the lower unit and check to see how much deflection there is in the skin of transom!

I'm def going to take the time to inspect the entire transom. I plan on keeping this beauty .

[Bushwacker]

You have a pretty rare model! One of only 168 total and 30 made in 1977!

[Wooley]

Originally Posted by Bushwacker

You have a pretty rare model! One of only 168 total and 30 made in 1977!

I know brother . That's why I'm going to do the right thing and do whatever needs to be done to secure that transom . I'll get the cherry picker pull the motor and do repairs I have a few friends that will assist

[Wooley]

Getting there