Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

[BoatRookie73]

I'm new to boat ownership. I bought my first boat 2 years ago, it's a 1988 Polar Kraft. It's a 17ft aluminum bass boat. I've got a feeling that I was taken for a ride on it. I just had $250 worth of motor work done in it. I noticed when I got home and was loading my stuff back into it that the transom is starting to separate from the splashwell. If you lift up on the motor you can see the transom flex. The previous owner told me that he had replaced the wood in the transom about a year before I bought it. I've owned it for two years, but it's only been in the water about 5 times since I've had it. I do have a transom saver on it so I know that the transom isn't taking on all of the weight of the motor. I don't know what could be causing this. It's the original motor to to boat, so I know that it's not too big of a motor for it. I guess my main question is what are my options on getting this thing in running order, and can it be used the way that it is. Or is that too risky? I will try to post pictures on this. Any help will be appreciated!!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

ANY flex in the Transom IS to much!!! I would not advise you to use the boat with it in this condition. Safety is ALWAYS your first concern. Post those pic's. iBoats IS the largest Tin Boat Repair site on the WEB, so you will NOT have any problems getting the help you need.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

Welcome to iboats, lots of good help on this site.

Replacing the transom on an aluminum outboard rig is not too bad nine times out of ten.

You will want to use exterior grade(Arauco is a good one) or marine grade plywood and seal it with epoxy resin so it will last.

Check out some of the restoration threads, the cost is not bad and a transom can be done in a week or two easily.

 

[BoatRookie73]

Re: Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

View attachment 85758View attachment 85759View attachment 85760View attachment 85761View attachment 85762Here's some pics if they turned ok.

 

[BoatRookie73]

Re: Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

View attachment 85763View attachment 85764View attachment 85765View attachment 85766View attachment 85767Here's some more!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

Not sure How you're posting your pics but it is not working
Check out my signature or How to post your pics

 

[BoatRookie73]

Re: Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

I dont see a paperclip in the corner. I used the toobar at the top of the replay box. There's a tab to download pics, videos. I used the one for pic and downleaded pics from my computer.

 

[BoatRookie73]

Re: Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

Lets try this!!

 

[BoatRookie73]

Re: Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

There I think I may have figured out how to post pics now!! :facepalm:

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

Pics are loading FINE now!!!

 

[BoatRookie73]

Re: Transom Flex on 1988 Polar Kraft

Cool!! The top half of the transom is wood inside of the aluminum transom. I've got a feeling that the wood is what is allowing the flex in it. I don't know if they used cheap supplies.. I took one of the corners off earlier this afteroon and looked at the plywood. It wasn't rotten from the top, but I don't know if water got in around where the outboard bolts on though. They did use silicone around the bolts where the motor bolts on!! I don't see any weak spots in the hull itself. I'm assuming taking it down our roads here at home helped loosen it, but it shouldn't matter what the roads are like. I would think. Now that being said how hard is it to unbolt the outboard, and then replace the wood in something like that? Like I said this is my first boat and only bought used because I couldn't afford anything new. I've had it on the water before I saw this and it didn't take on any water, so I would say that the hual material should still be good. Just the transom is weak. I know that it would be best to use marine grade plywood, but other than that everyone might as well be talking Greek. I know very little about boats. I figured that this would be a good starter boat, on figuring out on how to fix it and what to look for in finding a different one when the time comes.