transom/splashwell

[ptt]

I have this crack in the corner of the transom/splash well.
I raised the motor half way and stand on the motor, and the crack does not flex,
Is this something I should be worried about, also is there something out that I can fill this with, I don't want to chance water seeping into the wood.

Thanks
Scott

[DavesZ21]

I had the same issue on my old boat. I had it repaired because it was an eyesoar. It cost about $350 on my boat..

[ProcraftMike]

If you are not concerned about the appearance, I think I would just seal the cracks it up with some gelcoat from a gelcoat repair kit. Chances are if you repair it, it will just show back up again anyway.

Boats by design, have to flex somewhere. Normally it is just the gelcoat that cracks, as it doesn't flex like fiberglass does.

[ptt]

Thanks guys, It's going to be hard to match the fleck I think.
If I did get it repaired, has anyone add some wood glassing together the splash well and transom. Wouldn't this stop the flexing?
thanks
scott

[ProcraftMike]

You could sand it down to the glass and repair it with some epoxy resin and cloth. But, you would still have to finish it somehow. You could just change the paint color for the splash well, or something like that. Unless you have some autobody or previous glass experience, I would leave it to an expert.

[Garfish]

You know if these cracks have been here very long and the boat has gotten wet there is bound to be some moisture in the crack maybe even down into the transom. You don't say how old the boat is but more than likely the transom is plywood, and it will rot, you need to have some one certify for you that this hasn't already occurred. This could be devastating if you cosmetically cover it up and the motor falls off. I've got a friend who has an old Bass Hawk ( with a rotted transom) and he allowed his mechanic to talk him into some threaded rods from front of the splash well to the transom, now with a 200 John on there this doesn't make sense, and in my opinion is very dangerous and not using common sense.

[merklerob]

if the tramsons gone the tye to the front over the motor well is a dangerous fix. if the transomis gone the stringer are usuall gone too. at 60-80 mph its not safe. determine the actual status of the transom and stringers. you'll find these crack in a lot of boats. if the transom and stringer are sound then start looking in to a knee brace system.

[ptt]

Thanks for all the replies.
The boat is a 1994 astro 20ft fish/ski, with a 200 XRI. I purchased the boat from the original owner last year. The boat was hardly used the owner told me and from the shape it's in (gelcoat wise, etc) I believe him. I've been researching the BBC for the last year regarding this issue.
Last weekend I did the rubber hammer test, all positive! Then I did the ohm meter test no reading, all positive. I'm convinced that I don't have any rot in the transom. From these two tests.
Next thing I going to start investigate, is adding some knee's.
The crack you see in the picture above, looking from the bottom, I can see stress on the glass, to stop this, can I add some glass mat underneath? If so, what materials do I need?
And also, adding knee's, can I just make a template cut the wood and glass it in, adding the glass to the existing glass? If so what do I require the mat type, resin, expoy, etc.
Thanks again for the help guys!

[Jignpig1]

ptt,
How is the rubber hammer and ohm meter tests performed?

[ptt]

How is the rubber hammer and ohm meter tests performed?

I have seen/read that with a hammer listen for a hollow sound or use a coin.
ohm test is a easy way to see if you transom has moisture it in. Works the same way as a moisture meter.
If you take the positive and negative touch the two bolts the "U" clamps on your transom the meter will read. Leave one of the leads on a bolt, take the other lead, touch one of the motor mount bolts, if it reads anything you have moisture, (water is the conductor)
If the meter doesn't show a reading your in good shape, I did this on every bolts/screw on the transom, 4 motor mount bolts, I also have two transducers, and speed pick up attached on the transom, I checked everything, no reading anywhere