Fiberglass transom repair help

[Artdude47]

Hi all,

My boat has recently had an unfortunate incident with a tree after the old trailer broke. I now how a nice bit of impact damage on the transom area and am wondering how to go about repairing it. I have only one picture now. Will be posting more tomorrow. So to try to explain the damage a little before I add more pictures. All of this is on the transom to the left of the motor. The motor is in/out. All of the yellow looking gunk is tree sap that has since been cleaned off. The top damage is definitely the worst but its not below the water line. The other cracks are very shallow and just long and skinny. I'm wondering the best way to repair it, the repair doesn't have to look perfect but it must be sturdy. THanks in advance.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

OUCH!!!! Make sure and post some Inside pics too! This is gunna take some fixin!!!!!!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

Yea, that will need some work. You will definitely want to get inside and see what things look like from that vantage point.

Those freaking trees just come out of nowhere. More pictures, but in the one you provided, I think there is some damage below the waterline . . .

 

[Artdude47]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

Thank you for the quick replies guys! Yes there is damage below the waterline. All three of the smaller cracks are below the waterline. The one big one is above. Like I said before I'm not super interested in making it pretty as long as it's usable. The transom is still very sturdy and can handle the motor running full force without any sign of stress. None of the damage is very deep into the boat and definitely doesn't go through the foam. More pictures will come tomorrow of different angles close ups and the inside. Thanks again.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

Make sure and tell us the Make, model and yr of the boat as well as an over all view of the stern both inside and out. It may not appear that bad to you but the pics will tell the tale.

 

[Artdude47]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

Make: Bayliner Model: Capri 1954 Year: 1997. In/Out 140 mercruiser.

Detailed pics from all sides soon thank you for the quick responses and help. I love this boat and am definitely very worried. I'm mechanical but I've never worked with fiberglass before. I've done plenty of research and I think I know how to go about it. But I decided for advice specific to my case. I did take it to a local repair place, the man looked at it for less than five minutes, never touched the boat and didn't look at the inside at all. He said no less than $4000 he would completely rebuild the transom to make sure its sturdy. From what I understand a repair can make it as sturdy as new.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

Yes, Anything can be repaired back to like new condition. It's just a matter of how it has to be done. Post of some pics and we'll see if it's something you can and should attempt of if you should leave it to the pro's.

 

[Artdude47]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

Hi all, sorry I didn't get more pics of the boat up yesterday. I didn't get a chance to go to the storage area. I have pics today though.

 

[Artdude47]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

And the inside. This is the area inside the boat behind a compartment at the bottom directly behind the damage.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

Can you determine if there is any flex or sponginess in the middle or lower section of the transom from the inside or outside of the transom along crack? The interior pic does not appear to show any cracking is that correct? What about higher up on the inside...is it showing any signs of damage.?

 

[Artdude47]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

Theres no cracking on the inside pictures. Higher up on the inside still no cracking. The crack on the top of the transom does run over the top side of the boat as pictured above though. As far as I can tell even around the damaged areas the transom is sturdy with no signs of flex.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

Outside looks worse than the inside, but you will probably have to fix it from both sides. Boats sure don't have those 5 mph bumpers like cars do . . .

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

Would you mind giving us a bit more specifics on exactly what happened? In order for the Outerskin to have cracked in that manner the wood core of the transom had to have flexed a great deal. Details would really help.

 

[Artdude47]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

First, I must admit that it was dumb I was using the trailer I was. It was in very rough shape and I was saving to replace it. I was launching at a bad boat ramp near a friends house. Bad meaning fully gravel 30ft downhill to get to the ramp. Getting back in from the water the trailer got caught up in a hole in the gravel and broke free from the truck. Both boat and trailer went downhill just a couple feet right into a tree.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

So how fast do you estimate it was going when it hit?

 

[Artdude47]

Re: Fiberglass transom repair help

No more than 5mph.