Thoughts on the safety of my Transom?

This is my first post. I just purchased a 70's glasspar with an 85 evinrude. I got a very good deal but the boat has some issues. The floor is a little soft especially toward the middle between the front seats and there is rot on the transom. I can push a flathead screwdriver about 1/4" into the transom wood around the bilge area, it is a little more solid further to the sides and higher on the transom.

The previous owner reinforced it with an aluminum cap rail as well as a steel frame that runs the full depth of the transom on the outside (pictures attached). It is bolted solidly to some steel plates (maybe 3"x3") on the inside of the transom

If there is any flex in the transom it is almost imperceptible. I only intend to run the boat for this season maybe 7-10 days then look into more serious repairs over the winter. Do you think this is taking a big risk? Aside from replacing the transom is there anything else I could do to improve it? I intend to run it on mostly flat water and not put more than 800lbs in it.

Any thoughts are appreciated and feel free to ask any questions.
Sorry for being a little long winded.

Cascadian

Re: Thoughts on the safety of my Transom?

Welcome to iBoats!

Seeing your transom configuration makes me cringe!! Having said that...Tell me what you have done to detect FLEX in the transom as it sits today? The soft spots in the deck indicate to me the Stringers are bad and we already know the transom is. These ARE the Main structural supports for the superstructure of the boat. Your best intentions of running on calm water and light loads cannot account for that sudden storm or crazy boater putting large wakes in your way which can cause YOUR boat's HULL to FLEX since it's superstructure has been compromised this could cause a catastrophic failure to occur. I guess what I am sayinig is this. Could you run it this year and get by...YEP you could.... Would I, NO WAY!!!!! IMHO you would be putting your self in Harms way and taking a BIG RISK.

Fish from another boat and fix that one OR Junk that one and buy another boat. But... That is JUST my opinion.

Re: Thoughts on the safety of my Transom?

Thanks for your reply. All I have done to attempt to detect flex is lift the motor from the down position maybe 1-3" and almost let drop back onto the transom while eyeballing any flex. It appeared to have very little if any. I also hauled the boat about 70 miles yesterday and hit a few pot holes and some dips in the road that made me cringe, but after inspection it didn't look like there was any additional damage or cracking at all.

I guess another option is to get a lighter less powerful outboard for the season and sell the one I have? Do you think that is worth considering? Maybe a 40-50 horse that is 40% lighter.

Edit: I will post some pics of the inside of the transom when the weather here clears up...

Re: Thoughts on the safety of my Transom?

As I said before, It is NOT just the transom you have to consider. The weak floor(deck) is telling you the underlaying superstructure is weak and all boats are built off of the transom going forward using the stringer system for support. If the whole underlying structure is wet and rotting then the entire structure of the boat is at risk from the stresses of wakes and waves and the motor. I KNOW you don't want to hear this but I MUST make you aware. SAFETY IS the Number 1 issue and IMHO the pictures you have posted indicate to me that this boat is HIGHLY SUSPECT from a Safety point of view. But again, I am only one guy and it is only my opinion.

Re: Thoughts on the safety of my Transom?

I hate to say it but I tend to agree with Woodonglass. Could you probably get away with using it and be fine? Possibly, but is it worth the risk? If things were to go south, it would happen in a hurry! A boat with no transom is essentially a shovel for catching water :-O Granted I am only able to see the pics you've posted, but given how the previous owner tried to beef it up, he/she knew there were some serious issues. Ultimately the decision is up to you, but base you decision not only on yourself, but also on the others that may be with you (and possibly the people that may come to rescue you!)

Re: Thoughts on the safety of my Transom?

I dont see much that can make me speculate at this time..

Need more inspection and pics please..

That last set was not telling me anything ..

YD.

Re: Thoughts on the safety of my Transom?

Thanks for the additional thoughts, I didn't realize how unsafe the boat could be. I just went out to take some better pictures. The floor is actually only soft in one spot about the size of my shoe, just to the left of the driver seat. The rest of the floor seems solid. if I jump on it it does give a little though (I weigh 220lbs). There was a repaired crack on the upper right of the transom (pictured) so the beefing up could have been for that purpose, and not to address the underlying structure of the hull.

To my eye the transom wood doesn't look terrible but it is soft toward the bilge area. If you have any additional thoughts based on the new pics please let me know. I know it is still a risk, but any advice is appreciated.

Should I consider cutting out a small section of the floor around the soft spot to get a better look?

Thanks

Re: Thoughts on the safety of my Transom?

A couple more pics...

Re: Thoughts on the safety of my Transom?

Yup..its gone..All gone.. ( 1st pic on the new pics ).

Welcome to the resto forum ..

YD.

PS. start looking around with the "search" button thingy .. good stuff here..

Re: Thoughts on the safety of my Transom?

Thanks, looks like I will have to cut my losses. I don't have the time for a big project. I paid $1,200 so hopefully I won't take too big of a hit on it. I will label it as a running project boat (with disclosure on the transom) and hope I can get $1,000. Cheap lesson learned I guess.

Cascadian