Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

[HalfFish5087]

Well today I decided to investigate the source of some gelcoat cracks just below the outdrive. So I got inside the boat and starting pushing around with a flat head screwdriver and have found that the very bottom of the transom has rotted out. It does not appear that the rot extends up much more than a few inches.

Question to all the experienced, is it worth it? Other than this I have had some fuel problems, but I believe I have found the source to a bad relay (Thanks to Don S for the help), and a bad fuel sending unit and that is really it. The floor is still solid, the vinyl is still in good/excellent condition and the motor has 164 hours on it. I have about $10k in the boat. I do all typical maintenance myself, but afraid this might be a little above me. As I'm not sure where I'm going to get a cherry picker big enough to get the motor out, lack the outdrive/motor alignment tool and any other specialized tools and also have never done any type of poly/gelcoat work.

Any idea what the cost would be if I just dropped the boat off at the mechanic? Or if I could come up with the correct tools, remove everything and have someone else repair the transom? Or if I did it all myself?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

Hi HalfFish5087,
I am by no means an expert, but I think with a little, well make that a lot of effort on your part...you could do a transom replacement and save a ton of cash...
If you have someone else do it you are going to pay a premium to get it done 100% right...and unless the shop doing the job comes with some amazing references and you are there to verify almost every step of the way, you will never know if the job was worth farming out...
You might save some green doing the removal/re-install yourself, but you still have to know the job is done correctly...

I am pretty sure you could come up with a way to get it all done yourself by...A- getting a tow truck to come out for an hour and pull the engine...B-Building a basic truss system with some lumber and rigging it to pull the engine...C- hooking up with someone here on Iboats or a local marina, that might lend/rent you the tools needed for alignment...

All the info about the how's, what's, where's and why's are available here on the forum, so you won't be lacking any advice or guidance...

In the end, whatever you decide is dependent on three main factors...
Your desire to do it yourself and a realistic dedication of time...
Your wallet...
and Your trust factor in having someone else do it...
Best of Luck,
GT1M

BTW, beautiful boat!

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

Thanks and appreciate your input GT1M. I was leaning towards the DIY option, but wanted to weight out the options. Guess, I'll start reading through all the repairs and make a game plan.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

That's a nice looking boat, HalfFish! I like the lines!

My '97 Larson had a rotten transom, too. I am a pretty good DIYer, but I have no experience with boat repair nor do I have much experience with engines, etc. So far, the project hasn't been too bad. (You can see my progress at http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...blems-larson-186-sei-i-o-bowrider-570875.html.) I was lucky in that, other than transom, there was not wood used in my boat. The stringers and bulkheads are all engineered fiberglass. I had enough wet foam that I decided to replace most of the deck, but only a bit near the back was showing rot.

In my case, it has definitely been worth it. It sounds sick, but I've actually enjoyed the project. (Well, grinding fiberglass wasn't much fun, but other than that...) I've learned an awful lot about my boat, and even though I would rather not have spent $$ on the repair supplies, I've learned enough (and gained enough confidence) that I'll be able save hundreds of dollars every year on maintenance. I may eat my words if I get the engine back in and can't get it to work, but I can always bring it to a pro at that point, if it comes to that. So yeah, it has been more than worth it.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

Jim

 

[StevenT]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

Well today I decided to investigate the source of some gelcoat cracks just below the outdrive. So I got inside the boat and starting pushing around with a flat head screwdriver and have found that the very bottom of the transom has rotted out. It does not appear that the rot extends up much more than a few inches.

Question to all the experienced, is it worth it? Other than this I have had some fuel problems, but I believe I have found the source to a bad relay (Thanks to Don S for the help), and a bad fuel sending unit and that is really it. The floor is still solid, the vinyl is still in good/excellent condition and the motor has 164 hours on it. I have about $10k in the boat. I do all typical maintenance myself, but afraid this might be a little above me. As I'm not sure where I'm going to get a cherry picker big enough to get the motor out, lack the outdrive/motor alignment tool and any other specialized tools and also have never done any type of poly/gelcoat work.

Any idea what the cost would be if I just dropped the boat off at the mechanic? Or if I could come up with the correct tools, remove everything and have someone else repair the transom? Or if I did it all myself?

Thanks for all the help!
View attachment 181521

Hal I purchased a used engine crane for $100.00 on Craigslist. It worked great. I removed the rear set of tires on my tandem axle trailer, raised the bow and I had plenty of clearance to lift the engine out. Also I purchased an alignment tool on Ebay for $35.00. Good Luck on your DIY project

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

IMHO . . . other opinions may vary . . . I would go the DIY route. A mechanic would be at least $2K maybe more like $3K as there is a lot of 'overhead' in the process of getting access to the transom, etc. regardless of how much rot there is to cut/replace.

Also, if the rot were localized, I would not do a full cutout of the transom . . . just the rotted area and a little extra to get into 'good' material. It will be a judgement call, based on what you find. Repair work is more subjective than a straight 'cut & gut'.

You can use a bit of Ethylene Glycol (automotive anti-freeze) to give the 'good' wood some rot inhibitor before you close things back up. I did the same sort of thing on the stringers of my 242, as they had mold/mildew spots growing underneath the resin encapsulation. So I opened them up and hit the area with EG then let 'dry' for a week or so before re-enclosing with fiberglass.

Here is my repair thread . . . http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...nger-bulkhead-repairs-w-many-pics-534913.html

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

That's a friggin' gorgeous boat with a hell of a powerplant so definitely worth getting back into tip-top shape. However, rot repair really is a DIY or forget it kinda proposition. Hiring it out costs a TON and many aren't real happy with the work they get for the money anyway. Too easy to do a shoddy job and cover it back up with new carpet and paint.

My buddy did the transom on an I/O boat and paid a local mechanic to pull out the motor/drive and then reinstall when he was done the transom.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

ezmobee, what did that cost (reinstall of motor and drive) in your neck of the woods?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

Thanks for all the input gents. Could anyone tell me what would be an estimated cost of DIY transom repair would run?

I'm going to assume that I would repair a majority of the wood on the transom which I guess would take at least a full sheet of plywood ($150). But how much does all the other items run; mesh, resin, etc.?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

To do that transom on that boat would prolly be somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 to $8 hundred bucks. ( 5 gals of resin, 5 yrds each of Mat and Biaxial cloth plus the stuff to make thickened resin for glue and fillets. But...Once you get the motor out and portions of the rear deck ( if needed) you may find other issues with the Motor Mounts, Stringers and Bulkheads. That's normally the case.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

To do that transom on that boat would prolly be somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 to $8 hundred bucks. ( 5 gals of resin, 5 yrds each of Mat and Biaxial cloth plus the stuff to make thickened resin for glue and fillets. But...Once you get the motor out and portions of the rear deck ( if needed) you may find other issues with the Motor Mounts, Stringers and Bulkheads. That's normally the case.

I just calculated what I spent on my transom, and that's almost exactly the figure I came up with! Of course, I did order what you suggested, so I guess you have a good idea what this takes!

Jim

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

Thanks for all the input gents. Could anyone tell me what would be an estimated cost of DIY transom repair would run?

I'm going to assume that I would repair a majority of the wood on the transom which I guess would take at least a full sheet of plywood ($150). But how much does all the other items run; mesh, resin, etc.?

What kind of plywood are you planning to get for $150 a sheet? It better install itself and do your taxes at that price!

Jim

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

No need to spend big $$$ on wood . . . exterior rated sheathing plywood is what many boat companies use . . .

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

Good quality exterior grade, MDO, underlayment, Arauco, A/C Fir...the most important consideration is that is be laminated using a waterproof glue...

 

[benjh1028]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

To do that transom on that boat would prolly be somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 to $8 hundred bucks. ( 5 gals of resin, 5 yrds each of Mat and Biaxial cloth plus the stuff to make thickened resin for glue and fillets. But...Once you get the motor out and portions of the rear deck ( if needed) you may find other issues with the Motor Mounts, Stringers and Bulkheads. That's normally the case.

HalfFish, your boat looks identical to mine (LXi 214), however mine is a 1995 model. You have a big advantage (as does Jim above) in that Larson did away with wood stringers starting in 1997 and went to fiberglass over a foam core. Therefore, any additional rot should be limited to the deck and/or motor mounts (Jim - are these wood?). Just wanted to give you a heads up in case you're hestitant based on "what other probems might be lurking" once you get into it. Your worst-case scenario isn't that bad. Mine was a complete disaster, but still worth it IMO.

Just go for it. You'll be surprised at the degree of difficulty, and may actually enjoy the restoration project (except grinding fiberglass - that is a job spawned from Satan himself).

Ben

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

No need to spend big $$$ on wood . . . exterior rated sheathing plywood is what many boat companies use . . .

View attachment 181661

Don't mean to sound like a smart *****, but could this be why she is in the shape she is in now? I thought the price for marine plywood about 5 years ago was about $100, so I just assumed that it would be around $150 these days.

HalfFish, your boat looks identical to mine (LXi 214), however mine is a 1995 model. You have a big advantage (as does Jim above) in that Larson did away with wood stringers starting in 1997 and went to fiberglass over a foam core. Therefore, any additional rot should be limited to the deck and/or motor mounts (Jim - are these wood?). Just wanted to give you a heads up in case you're hestitant based on "what other probems might be lurking" once you get into it. Your worst-case scenario isn't that bad. Mine was a complete disaster, but still worth it IMO.

Ben

Thanks for the heads up. Sorry about yours though.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

Don't mean to sound like a smart *****, but could this be why she is in the shape she is in now?

The reason for the rot in the wood is not the type of plywood itself...it is the permeation of water to the wood that causes the rot...I don't know all the details, but I have read that it is also a Fresh Water phenomenon, Salt water supposedly doesn't allow the fungus that causes rot to get a foothold...unfortunately, most of the water that usually enters the bilge is rain water...
For the manufacturer, it is usually a cost/profit thing...
The way most of us do transoms around here, it will probably outlast us...

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

On my Larson, the primary point of entry for water seemed to be the bolts that attached the swim ladder to the transom. That was where the rot was the worst. I also was surprised how little fiberglass there was on transom plate. Following the layup scheme that Woodonglass recommended, I probably have 2-3 times the fiberglass on the transom that the boat originally had. And you can be sure I'll take great pains to carefully treat any thru-hull connections!

Re: the motor mounts on my '97 Larson, they seem to be made primarily of fiberglass. There looks to be some wood encased in fiberglass where the engine mounts are screwed down, but I didn't find wood lower, near the hull, when I drilled test holes. All I hit was really thick fiberglass. That fit what the Larson folks told me when I contacted them. I didn't cut out the mounts, because they seem solid, so I really am conjecturing about how they're made, but the wood seems to be mostly a bed to accept the lag screws for the engine mounts.

Jim

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

Got three rough quotes today and I got anywhere from $2K to $3.5K to do all the work and $600 to $1,000 just to pull, store and replace the engine and outdrive. So I'm officially going with the DIY route.

My first hurdle appears to how to lift out the motor. I live in the city so trees are out and I called 25 rental places and only one has a towable engine hoist and its rented out for another month (my fear is that the regular "cherry picker" lifts just aren't going to go high enough). So I'm either going to build me a frame or call a wrecker. Did some checking and looks like I could build a strong wood frame and grab me a chain hoist for around $200. I'm thinking of two 2 x 10's 10' long bearing on two 10' tall 4 x 4's, 2 x 4's for lateral and rack bracing and lay a 2 x 6 flat on top to keep her from twisting. I would use a 2 ton chain hoist in the center. Any thoughts?

My goal is to get the motor and outdrive out this weekend and get this project rollin!

 

[Levinz11]

Re: Is it worth it? '98 Larson 5.7GS DP Lower Transom Rot

Sounds good. Subscribed