My 91 ranger has a cracked transom. How do you go about getting out the old core to install new? I know it is a composite material, I've seen how you do a transome with wood in it but not sure about a composite. I plan on using sea cast and adding some bracing in the bilge to reinforce the transom so I can install a hydro. plate.
Any suggestions? Rollo?
Thanks guys
How did you crack it? Stress cracks or structural cracks? That transom is polltruded fiberglass (solid fiberglass board). It's not necessarily a composite. It should never fail unless the boat gets wrecked. I'd call the manufacturer.
I am with Perfect storm do you have any pics?
is the knee braces broke?
Found out it was knocked off trailer by a previous owner. Yes it is cracked at both top motor mounting bolts, and does flex when pushing on lower unit. the splash well is cracked out from the transome also, I sealed it with 5200 for now.This year ranger doesn't have large braces like the newer ones. I looked at a 93 362 and it has braces from the top of the transom down and lock into the stringers.
Mine has 1 small brace from the transome to the step in the center thats all. My plan is to redo the entire bilge battery comp area and ad the braces,fix the transome cracks and finish off the splashwell with black gel. If the transome is pultruded how do you fix that?
Scott
I don't know if you will want to do it. Contact Ranger first as that stuff is super strong, can't rot and probably won't just pry or grind out of there like wood will. It's definitely polltruded glass as ranger had it in their boats since late 1987. Their customer service is known to be exceptional. With some transport effort on your part they may make you very happy for a reasonable price. I'd check with them first. There was a post here a while back and a guy had his motor torn off of a Ranger transom and the transom was fine. They sure don't want you out there with a broken "indestructible" transom.
I agree. From what I've seen and heard Ranger NEVER intends for their boats to be able to come apart at the cap. On most boats you would remove the cap and be able to get to the transom. There is a demo on the Ranger website showing how the transom's are constructed.
First i would do as above try Ranger...
if you don't like what you hear .look at the top of the forum and pull the cap and dig in....solid fiberglass transoms and composites are installed just like a wood transom just made of a different material.they still cut them and lay them up and clamp them in...........Not sure if ranger is laying there in a bed of chop ar using a glue..But i would bet chop to avoid any de lams(air voids)
Ranger does not build boats any different than any other manufactures it is still tha basic principle you have a hull and a deck and it goes together... and the gunnel trim hides it.........
The basic build is the same but the way they use foam throughout the boat, you can never take off the cap. I guess it can physically be done but it won't come off like a regular bass boat cap would. Cutting out the splashwell is the only option on that boat. I would leave that to ranger.
Well said. That was exactly my point. According to Ranger you can remove everything, take off the rubrail and the zillion or so screws and that cap still isn't going anywhere.
I was thinking of replacing my "All Wood" transom this winter and I think I've figured out how to do it and make the boat still look great. The only noticable difference will be a slightly larger aluminum trim cap over the transom.
Scotty34, If you decide to try it yourself, send me an email and I'll try to send you a copy of the drawing I'm making showing where I was going to cut mine and what original parts I was going to leave back there to keep water out. It's still in the planning stages but at least I'll know it's done the way I want it done when I do it myself.
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