cracks around bolt holes transom

touch107fm

Cadet
Joined
Sep 15, 2011
Messages
23
Hi all
Happy new year to all.
I have a 5.8 fiberglass boat and we have had it for about 7 months. It's about 7 years old, it has a 135 mercury 4 stroke motor on it. Its the factory motor on it and has less than 200 hours on it.
We have noticed recently or it's the first time I have seen some stress cracks around the transom bolt holes, I am unsure if it's from overtightened bolts on the bottom bolts (doubtful) , it's been caused by rough transport or the transom is on the way out. The transom feels solid but it's concerning as the water level seems to fill up from the bung plug by the outboard.
Q. What to do about the cracks ? I was looking at adding a support bracket on the inside of the transom side. It already has the 8mm plate on the outside of the boat.
As it's such a newish boat I am reluctant to think the transom is water damaged. It feels solid but I have been wrong before.
Q. Is the water outlet by the engine meant to be plugged (not the main bung plug )when the boat is going along the water comes in the hole by the engine I wasn't too sure if this was meant to be plugged or not . As it stands the lower bolt holes have the hairline cracks as seen in the pics and when the water comes in it makes me nervous that that water is getting into the transom.
Any advice ?







 

alldodge

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
42,276
Opinion
Bad install by the manufacture, a small washer was used and the Gelcoat is cracking under the stress. Should have used something much larger to displace the pressure over a larger area.

If they used a SUPPORT plate in would have been better
 

cyclops222

Lieutenant
Joined
Mar 21, 2024
Messages
1,474
The boat is a total loss due to so many DEEP cracks. Way too many appearing all over the transom.
See if the boat is covered by any warranty. I see a farther cracking non stop. Dealer would just keep putting a coat of glass on it. Until warranty ran out.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,164
The boat probably has a wood core and the wood is wet or rotted and the core strength of the wood is gone allowing the glass to giveway.
 

jimmbo

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 24, 2004
Messages
13,462
Being that there are cracks several inches away for the Bolt, I too will assume that that Core has deteriorated. Or was crushed by an Overzealous Rigger with an Impact Gun, and the Glass has succumbed over time
 
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