Ranger guy needing guidance on a 97' Chanp SCX202

[crashxx]

My neighbor and I are looking at a 97' SCX 202 for our two boys to fish out of. We've found one that's clean but has a crack in the transom. (see pic). Is this a big deal? Are the transoms wood or all glass? Anything we should be sure to check out? Any help is greatly appreciated.

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[kris_tx]

I would think that has transom problems. If it’s cheap enough then maybe worth it to fix. How’s the rest of the boat?

[crashxx]

The rest of the boat is super clean for its age.

[pmgoffjr]

He knocked something pretty dang hard.

[crashxx]

Would this be a pass or play in you all's opinion?

[kris_tx]

How much $$$?

[crashxx]

$14,500

[kris_tx]

Do you have a fiberglass shop that can check the transom?

[STLBassBuster]

I'd walk away from that at $14,500

[MMosher]

That'd be a hard no for me.

[jdrautoworks]

That is water entry into the transom; check out my thread here. I quit posting but I did fix it but it was a PIA more so than anything else I've attempted. Honestly these boats are shit made (pardon me) but I've in 23 years of owning boats have never seen such a shit show, all different shapes and sizes all I'll give the Champs is they ride good sort of. That repair DIY if done right with a SeaCast type product will cost you about $2K, the transom is two sheets of 3/4" plywood that is glassed between and gelled into the inner and outer skins and is nailed to the kickers and knee braces.

This is he second late 90's transom I've done on a Champ and have never seen so many delamination issues, random crap and contamination in between the structure and the glass.

I'd pull a lower mount bolt and if its trashed offer the fellow 6K and DIY with the kiddos. Fix the issues and build some learning time with the young men/gals.

I'd be willing to bet if you tried to snug up the out drive bolts it would break out around the casted mounts. My transom was solid until I cut it open and picked half of it out by hand.

[Dads190]

Lol

[190SCR]

at $14 500 that's an easy no.

[86 inches]

I'm going to disagree. While the photo makes that look like a potentially lethal crack, that's a common place to get stress cracks. I would either evaluate the transom myself or have a professional check it for water intrusion. It might be fine. What's the rest of the transom look like.

Here's one with a crack in the same location and the transom is rock solid. The crack has been there for at least 20 years and hasn't grown.

[BalsaBee]

Where's the splash well drain holes? I don't see any in your pic. Looks like they've been filled. Not a good sign if that's the case.

[86 inches]

Hmm... does the splashwell drain from the bottom on that model.

[kris_tx]

97 splashwell drains at bottom

[Groma]

I have the 171 1995 and it has no drain holes n the bottom just the 2 holes on the back of the splash well. It never drains fully i have to use a towel to clean it out every time it come of the lake .

[BassinB]

Pass at 14,500 in my opinion. I have had my 203 transom (non splashwell) replaced due to water intrusion. Cost me around 3k all said and done with some other minor fiberglass work, but that same guy told me he passes on splashwell transom champions because they are not nearly as easy to replace as the non-splashwell boats.

[95202DCX]

looks to me like someone that shouldn't touch boats...doesn't know the difference between a torque wrench set to 50lbs and a ratchet with a 3 foot cheater pipe let alone how to install transom bolts in the correct direction...

white gel is real easy to repair if that's all that happened there!