Cracked gel coat near transom!

[ondarvr]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

Update: ok today I tilted the motor up and stood on it at the end and jumped a little and did notice that were the gel coat chipped off the transom was flexing back just a little barely noticeable about 1/8 of flex and that's will all 220lbs of me jumping on the motor

If its flexing 1/8 inch at the crack, then something is bad in there, could be the transom itself, or the glass isn't extended out onto the transom far enough and the bond has been broken. There should be zero flex in that area. I know its not what you wanted to hear, but in this case safety is a concern.

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

OK! I finally solved the mystery and know exactly how this happened. Turns out that when the cmc pt130 tilt and trim was installed the previous guy who installed it didnt place it right and when tilting the motor up he didnt realize the engine wasnt mounted high enough and the engine tilted into the top of the transom causing the big huge stainless plate that its all mounted to push out onto the transom and causing the tabing to fail and crack off. luckily he got it before more damage happened. Looks like Ill probaly take the engine off and lay some glass where the floor and stringers meet the transom just to beef it all up again. Thanks!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

Sounds like a good fix, shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

Sounds like a good fix, shouldn't be too difficult.

Sounds like a good fix ? .. erm.. what fix ?

You think that Motor with tilt In and of itself ripped the trans off the boat ? Now how can a fixed point on the trans rip the trans off of the Hull ?

Not too difficult .. hmm.. not from those pics im looking at..

Those crack are not 4" away from tabbing..

How ( step by step would you fix this Ond ? ) should he approach this repair .

YD.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

Sounds like a good fix ? .. erm.. what fix ?

You think that Motor with tilt In and of itself ripped the trans off the boat ? Now how can a fixed point on the trans rip the trans off of the Hull ?

Not too difficult .. hmm.. not from those pics im looking at..

Those crack are not 4" away from tabbing..

How ( step by step would you fix this Ond ? ) should he approach this repair .

YD.

Must be something in the water.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

Must be something in the water.

Agreed..

How would you approach this .. other than the bad water..

YD.

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

uhmmm.... OK i was thinking sand the transom down and also the floor and tab 1708 with various layers like described and with about 8 inches up the transom and 8inches onto the floor?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

When you're sure there are no other problems with the transom, grind it thoroughly with 24 or 36 grit, get right down into the glass, run it out the eight inches you planned on, you could even cover the entire transom with a layer.

The gel coat on the surface can hide all sorts of nasty things under it, when you grind it off you may see some white, or light areas, these would most likely be fractured glass and need to be removed (more grinding).

It's always a good idea to re-check the transom wood so you know it's in good shape before laying down more glass.

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

Would using 1708 fiber be good for this tabbing? And what affordable low cost epoxy would do a good job? I've been looking at west systems but it's just so expensive .

 

[steveclv]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

Why use epoxy? Unless the previous repairer used epoxy and then how did he apply gelcoat?

Just use unwaxed poly resin.

However I'm really concerned about how good a mechanical bond you will get between the old and the new. If it's not perfect then it's not going to add any strength to an already weakened transom.

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

Well I would start by grinding up the transom and then grinding the floor, sanding, then acetoning it all . Then I would lay the fiberglass down . I really don't think the transom is that weak I mean I'm sure its good to go now but just as extra confidence and safety I would lay the new tabbing down. The transom only flexes back 1/16 of a inch and is barely noticeable . It only happens when the motor is tilted all the way up and me jumping on the prop. Then the whole boat strapped to the trailer tilts backwards also. Thanks

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: Cracked gel coat near transom!

Ruled out bad transom for good now. Installed a new cmc pt130 tilt and trim because the other one was weak and when I pulled the old mounting holes I check inside and saw almost new looking wood and a no water dripping out. I even tried to push a screw driver into the wood and it wouldnt budge.