2016 Alumacraft transom rotted completely out.

[RBoyd1971]

Bought a 2016 15/42 Alumacraft from a guy I work with. It looks like new except some slight marks where a trolling motor was clamped onto the transom. Upon a closer inspection once I got it home, I discovered all the wood had completely rotted out of the transom. I pulled the nails holding the HIN tag on out with my fingers. It's completely covered with riveted on aluminum. I've never seen this before on such a new boat. I currently own 7 boats and just sold number 8. I asked him if it had ever been submerged and he said no. There aren't any water lines anywhere to be seen either. This doesn't speak well to the wood Alumacraft puts in their transoms. Anyone else seen this? I guess I'll make replacing it a winter project. Going to be tough though, it's got some extra pieces the go from the bench seat to the transom that are the same width as the bench seat. I plan to put it all back with the same type solid rivets. Thought I finally bought a boat I didn't have to work on before using it. Oh yeah, that's right it's a boat.

 

[roscoe]

Would really like to see a couple photos of this. thanks.

 

[RBoyd1971]

Right now all you can see is aluminum cause it's completely covered. I plan to take it all apart to replace it later, probably first of October. I'll take a bunch of photos then. You can put a C-clamp on it where the motor would be and it'll squeeze down to 1/2"or less. Rotten wood dust falls out when you bump on it

 

[roscoe]

bummer.

well, atlas it will be easier than a transom and stringers in a glass boat.

 

[RBoyd1971]

Finally got around to working on the AlumaCraft. The transom wood was completely rotten due to moisture coming into contact with raw unsealed wood.. Felt like paper and something ate large holes in it. Looks like carpenter ants. Wasn't termites. Got a new piece of CDX cut and sealed with polyester resin. Probably start putting it back together this weekend. Will take a couple of photos off it apart tomorrow. Hard to believe this thing is a 2016 model.

 

[RBoyd1971]

New piece of wood. For some reason they only put a 1" thick transoms board. Would be difficult to go thicker due to the brace spacing and seat modules that go all the way to the transome.

 

[roscoe]

strange

 

[ahicks]

I had to do a 99 17' Polarcraft a couple of years back. Of course there were few rivets as they are an "all welded" boat. I cut as necessary (angle grinder) to reveal the dust that used to be plywood, dug all of that crap out, then laminated a couple different thickness of ply pieces together and cut it to fit. Proud of my work, I took it to a welder I use frequently, to have the cuts I made welded up.

He told me "next time, bring it to me when you are ready to start, we can talk about where the cuts need to be, you take it home, do the cuts, clean it all up, bring it back, and I will make you an all alum. transom you'll never have to screw with again....."

Lesson learned here. That will be the last time I ever replace a wooden transom in an alum. boat. -Al

 

[racerone]

I took all the powder / flakey wood out of my project.----Composite materials / carbon fiber / West System epoxy going in.----No wood or foam under the floor either.-----Sad how they built these boats years ago.-----But somehow folks are expecting these boats to last forever.----Many do not realize the poor choice of structural parts / materials in them.

 

[vroom ZOOM]

I wish I saw this thread earlier. Alumacraft and lund are notorious for this, especially the new ones. The pressure treated transom wood somehow reacts with the aluminum and pinholes form, then the whole thing starts rotting. not uncommon for 5-10 year old lund and alumacraft transoms to be completely rotted out. lund covers under warranty but not sure about alumacraft...

 

[RBoyd1971]

The aluminum was fine, but there was hardly anything left of the wood. I erroneously stated above that I put CDX in there, but it's ACX exterior grade plywood, not treated. I laminated two half inch pieces together with tightbond III and coated it with fiberglass resin. I put sealant in all the holes where there are bolts and rivets as well. I put solid rivets back where they were except through the transome wood. I don't think those long rivets were the best choice for a well sealed transome. They didn't use any sealant anywhere, just raw wood.