I recently found 1/8" gap on transom on the 4 bolts on starboard side. Rotten transom? See attachments. Port side has 2 inner bolts with 1/16" gap. Had plans to replace old kicker with new 9.9 pro kicker. Stopped my plan. Have 2003 150 Johnson carb on it now after the Ficht. Boat is in excellent shape, 2 year old electronics. Basically does everything I want it to do, other than adding an updated 9.9 again for pulling plugs and other options that I haven't used for awhile.
No signs of water stains in bilge area, always has been dry. Outside bolts look fine except there is one splashguard bolt on port side that is loose that I noticed last fall. Maybe soft there. Others look great. All outside holes attachments, motors & transducer board look like they are sealed properly. Only thing I have added is a couple transducers to board.
In retirement mode & house repair I don't see a new boat in the picture. A good size boat for my garage & what I fish in SD along with dock loading by myself. Is it worth fixing? I am assuming it probably has some poor wood in transom? I have used a lock & Haul transom brace for the past couple years. It seems to work great, no movement at all now. Had some big motor movement prior few years ago when trailering partially because of cable slack from Ficht change to newer carb 150.
From what I have read, bracing is probably not the way to go? Is it worth doing the transom rebuild? Will it last 10 years? Not leak & could you still add another 9.9 kicker? No warranty from what I can see. It would be hard getting a transom rebuilt during summer months, let alone giving up the fishing job. A trade upgrade in years would be possible, but still you are buying a used boat. Any Help? Is it worth the rebuild & wait?
Additional info to first post. Lost part of first post, due to power outage. 0389 picture shows that the lower right nut on port brace had no paint disturbance prior to my socket test. All 8 nuts had no paint disturbance on splashwell side. I also did see a slight gap on the top right motor starboard motor bolt on outside of the transom. Silicone seal was broken there.
No signs of water stains in bilge area, always has been dry. Outside bolts look fine except there is one splashguard bolt on port side that is loose that I noticed last fall. Maybe soft there. Others look great. All outside holes attachments, motors & transducer board look like they are sealed properly. Only thing I have added is a couple transducers to board.
In retirement mode & house repair I don't see a new boat in the picture. A good size boat for my garage & what I fish in SD along with dock loading by myself. Is it worth fixing? I am assuming it probably has some poor wood in transom? I have used a lock & Haul transom brace for the past couple years. It seems to work great, no movement at all now. Had some big motor movement prior few years ago when trailering partially because of cable slack from Ficht change to newer carb 150.
From what I have read, bracing is probably not the way to go? Is it worth doing the transom rebuild? Will it last 10 years? Not leak & could you still add another 9.9 kicker? No warranty from what I can see. It would be hard getting a transom rebuilt during summer months, let alone giving up the fishing job. A trade upgrade in years would be possible, but still you are buying a used boat. Any Help? Is it worth the rebuild & wait?
Additional info to first post. Lost part of first post, due to power outage. 0389 picture shows that the lower right nut on port brace had no paint disturbance prior to my socket test. All 8 nuts had no paint disturbance on splashwell side. I also did see a slight gap on the top right motor starboard motor bolt on outside of the transom. Silicone seal was broken there.
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