aluminum plate for transom

[montygates]

I'm looking for someone who can custom cut and possibly install some quarter inch or three eights inch aluminum plate to shore up a weak transom on my 1984 Cajun Ricky Green. It has a 150 Mariner. I live in North Texas. (Valley View)
Thanks

[cajunduex]

if ya need the plate the transom is probably trash. i have a 82 cajun and the part of the transom that was original was jelly it was so rotted......i would check it out good before doing just a plate, doing that could cause you to drop a motor on the bottom of the lake. if ya need any advice let me know...been there done that

[302w]

I had a cajun as well and all I can say is to go easy on it if you want to get more time outta it. The only thing that I can think that might actually work is if you take the motor off, and dry out all of the wood in there some way, fill it up with "Git Rot" and let it sit for about a week.

[ProcraftMike]

You are trying to put a band aid on a gaping wound. Play it safe and repair/replace the transom the right way. Fix it right, that way you know what you have. Believe me, if you just use a plate, you will have an uneasy feeling about the boat everytime you use it.

[montygates]

Thanks for your replies and advice guys. The problem I have is my budget. ($500) I'm just trying to get a couple more seasons out of her and I don't have access to any shop facilities.
Thanks again, J.W.

[Skeet'r89]

I replaced the transom in mine a couple of years ago for not much more than that. Yes I have a garage but most of the work was done outside.Check out all of the threads at the top of the forum and you wil see that most of us didn't have anyplace fancy to repair or rigs.

[biothree]

A few years ago I had a Terry Bass with a weak transom and a small pocketbook (that part hasn't changed). Denton Fiberglass recognized that I could not afford them. They recommended that I talk to a young fellow who worked there and lived in Krum. He did my transom at home in his spare time for $350, I beleive it was. I agree with procraftmike, start with a good transom and add the AL plate if you so desire. I have an AL plate on my 16' 10" SKeeter but it is because I like the insurance and the "tuned" 150 Rude applies a lot of stress.

[montygates]

Hello Biothree.....Do you remember the man's name from Krum? Was it Kenny Brearly?
Thanks, J.W.

[North Texas Fiberglass]

Be extremely careful using an aluminum plate. What will happen is that once the transom completely rots out, you will not have any support on the back end of the boat. The transom must be strong enough to support not just the weight of the engine, but the entire boat iself. (when you come off a wave and the boat is partially airborn, all the weight goes straight to the transom, thus it must be strong enough to support the weight of the boat.)

If you plate it, eventually you will have nothing but the 1/8 th of fiberglass on the transom supporting the plate. When it finally breaks loose, you will end up really tearing the boat up. And if the engine does fall completely off the boat, the engine will try and turn around while it is running, and flip itself back on top of the boat.

[cliffgibbs]

I believe it was Kenny. He lived on Hwy 156, west side, just north of Krum. I appreciate all you guys.

[montygates]

Thanks Cliff