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Old 23 October 2019, 14:12   #1
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Transom Crack

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.

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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?
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Old 23 October 2019, 14:57   #2
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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.
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Old 23 October 2019, 15:01   #3
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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
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Old 23 October 2019, 17:18   #4
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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
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Old 23 October 2019, 18:00   #5
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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...
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Old 23 October 2019, 21:19   #6
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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.
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Old 24 October 2019, 07:34   #7
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Sensible question and equally sensible replies I wouldn't worry!
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Old 24 October 2019, 07:39   #8
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However you check it bear in mind your 225hp can produce about a 2000lbs (1 ton) of static thrust so make the check realistic.
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Old 25 October 2019, 23:03   #9
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What is important, don’t let water penetrate what you have. A transom replacement is something you should only do once in a lifetime
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Old 26 October 2019, 10:25   #10
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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.
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Old 26 October 2019, 17:36   #11
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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...
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Old 26 October 2019, 21:31   #12
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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.
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Old 29 October 2019, 10:17   #13
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Quote:
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+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
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Old 29 October 2019, 10:29   #14
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Quote:
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Hoping that Maximus is not in a profession where anatomy matters...

Self employed since 19 yrs old
...does that count??
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Old 30 October 2019, 19:44   #15
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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....
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