Transom Crack

[totallydave]

Hi, confession... it's been a while since my last post.

I've noticed some cracking on my transom recently. I've looked back at photos a year ago when I purchased the boat and I can't see this, albeit may have been faint / hairline then.



I can't see any other cracks, and this one is very high, above bolts, so does not appear to be related to stress from the outboard bracket.

Any thoughts? Should I be worried?

[Last Tango]

If that's a Ribeye I'm going to guess that crack in the gel coat is along the line where engine-well moulding and the transom joint is.

I'd stick my fingers over it while the boat is accelerating and see if there's any movement. I doubt there will be. If not I'd gouge it out, refill and forget it.

PS....don't fall over the back of the boat while you're checking it.

[totallydave]

Originally Posted by Last Tango

If that's a Ribeye I'm going to guess that crack in the gel coat is along the line where engine-well moulding and the transom joint is.

I'd stick my fingers over it while the boat is accelerating and see if there's any movement. I doubt there will be. If not I'd gouge it out, refill and forget it.

PS....don't fall over the back of the boat while you're checking it.

Thanks, yes I'm guessing that the transom itself comes up to around where that crack is and the top is probably padded with either a separate strip of wood or foam up to the top of the moulding - I assume that's why my engine bolt is 3 holes down rather than at the top.

Will try your suggestion on next outing

[Lee argyle]

Originally Posted by totallydave

Thanks, yes I'm guessing that the transom itself comes up to around where that crack is and the top is probably padded with either a separate strip of wood or foam up to the top of the moulding - I assume that's why my engine bolt is 3 holes down rather than at the top.

Will try your suggestion on next outing

I’d just ( with the boat on its trailer ) grab the outboards leg and give it a good heave up and down, you’ll soon see any flexing and areas of concern

[ribber]

Once filled, I would reinforce the transom top edge with a stainless steel angle. Glued top and inside face, just to help spread the load. If the engine bracket bolts can also pass through the s/s on both sides of the engine, all the better.

It also acts as a chainsaw deterrent when some bugger rips the engine off, transom and all...

[gtflash]

On trailer jump up and down and look for flex. Maybe wedge transom or aft part of trailer to identify flex. Looks just like gelcoat.

[Dry Run]

Sensible question and equally sensible replies I wouldn't worry!

[Last Tango]

However you check it bear in mind your 225hp can produce about a 2000lbs (1 ton) of static thrust so make the check realistic.

[gtflash]

What is important, don’t let water penetrate what you have. A transom replacement is something you should only do once in a lifetime

[Maximus]

Ribeye are Leisure orientated Boats (fact) ...and if you bear that in mind you should be fine...the Transum is the "Backbone" of ANY RIB and as said ofcourse takes tremendous stress's and strain...probably just "flexing" but not ideal in any circumstances (unless caused by impact) IMO.
Stainless steel re-enforcement?...surly unless for specific reasons why sound that ever be necessary if the Boat is properly founded in the first place.
Water ingress is potentialy the real problem as gtflash says and should be properly checked for.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Ribeye are Leisure orientated Boats (fact) ...and if you bear that in mind you should be fine...the Transum is the "Backbone" of ANY RIB

Hoping that Maximus is not in a profession where anatomy matters...

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by Last Tango

However you check it bear in mind your 225hp can produce about a 2000lbs (1 ton) of static thrust so make the check realistic.

+1 gel coat is very brittle the transom moves an awful lot different materials move in different ways at different rates hence gel coats craze in some circumstances it's unnerving but the strength isn't in the gelcoat.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

+1 gel coat is very brittle the transom moves an awful lot different materials move in different ways at different rates hence gel coats craze in some circumstances it's unnerving but the strength isn't in the gelcoat.

No...(thank goodness) but it IS ....or defiantly meant to be..in what's moving/flexing/bending/stressing...underneath it

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Poly

Hoping that Maximus is not in a profession where anatomy matters...

Self employed since 19 yrs old
...does that count??

[butty]

I would be wary of hiding under stainless steel. Water can get trapped under and you can’t see what is going on. Stainless spreader plates on the inside of transom on the bolts can be done, but hiding a crack or repaired crack under a plate can only lead to false confidence....