What does the inside of my transom look like?

[Canadamike]

Hello everyone,

I am going to mount a swim platform on both the starboard and port side of my transom but need to know how to fasten it. In the picture of the swim platform the top of the hand grabs will catch the top lip of the transom and should be easy mounting with a few acorn nuts and hardware. What I can’t see is where the bottom two screws will end up and if they will grab anything. Typically this would be wood and a lag with silicone would do, but there is now wood back there and from what i can barely see with my GoPro inserted through the 4 inch hole is aluminum supports and foam. Anyone have any pictures or the back deck removed?
I’m kind of stumped…..

 

[airshot]

Mounted a similiar unit to the back of my Islander a few years back. All I can say is...stainless bolts all the way thru, with aluminum or stainless plates on the inside. Do not use lag bolts anywhere on a boat. Washers and acorn nuts wont last. A quarter inch thick aluminum plate at least 1 1/2" or 2" square for each thru bolt, add lots of sealant then a lockwasher and nut over the aluminum plate. If you dont make it heavy enough it will work loose over time and leak, then you will have bigger issues!!!

 

[Canadamike]

Mounted a similiar unit to the back of my Islander a few years back. All I can say is...stainless bolts all the way thru, with aluminum or stainless plates on the inside. Do not use lag bolts anywhere on a boat. Washers and acorn nuts wont last. A quarter inch thick aluminum plate at least 1 1/2" or 2" square for each thru bolt, add lots of sealant then a lockwasher and nut over the aluminum plate. If you dont make it heavy enough it will work loose over time and leak, then you will have bigger issues!!!

Good to know its been done. I like your idea of a plate for the top hand holds instead of the acorn nuts and washers I think that will hold up well.
I purchased some 3 m 4200 for all the holes every though all four per side will be above the water line.
I’m still hoping someone has taken this back area apart already so I can see some pictures before I get started.

 

[airshot]

Yep, your gonna gave some work to do to get all the panels out of the way, might not be much fun but do it right the first time so you wont have the headache of having to do it over.....

 

[Canadamike]

Yep, your gonna gave some work to do to get all the panels out of the way, might not be much fun but do it right the first time so you wont have the headache of having to do it over.....

Got all the screws out of the back deck. But I removed some of the screws from the side pieces but still can’t get the back deck off. Am I missing something here guys?

 

[airshot]

They seem to out screws anywhere thay want, so keep looking, probably buried in the carpet where you cant see them

 

[Canadamike]

Do ya think that whole side piece has to come off to get the rear deck off? Maybe there are screws under the side piece? But the wincreen sits on this?

 

[airshot]

Who knows, but boats are normally screwed or rivets to hold the panels in place, unlike a car where clips are used.