As I suspected last season its confirmed that my 1988 Wellcraft Classic has a soft spot in the transom where the outdrive is attached. Short diagnosis, water weeping at the point of one of the bolts for the outdrive collar. Tightened the nut and the transom begins to crush. So, thankfully, its on a jetdock (Bless you, Dusty!) and will get only limited use for the next two weeks as the grandkids will be here over the holiday weekend. Then it gets hauled and I plan to rebuild the transom after my shoulder surgery in September. Love the boat and all other systems, etc are strong so I'll do the deed.
Ah Crap! Transom Rot.
- Thread starter MikeeH
- Start date
Unfortunately older boats are more susceptible to water intrusion simply cuz of their age and the number of attachments screwed into the transom over he years. I found over 100 holes all together in my transom.
Also, wood doesn't even have to rot to become soft if it stays wet for long periods as transoms tend to do.
The other thing is 'The Can of Worms' aspect once you start digging around looking for rot or wet wood.
Also, wood doesn't even have to rot to become soft if it stays wet for long periods as transoms tend to do.
The other thing is 'The Can of Worms' aspect once you start digging around looking for rot or wet wood.
Hate it! You may want to consider a SeaCast repair as promoted here http://www.transomrepair.net/index.php?cPath=1
Yes, I had pulled the engine last year to replace the coupler and engine mounts. Don't think this is related but there was some "forensic" information revealed when the engine came out that may be related. Short story, I bought the boat from the original owner in January 2010. Older gentleman had the boat in dry storage for 10 years. Before that it was rack stored. Less that 100 hours but the first year issues like fuel pump, frozen starter, carb rebuild, etc were expected. Ran the boat for 3 years with no real issues. Two years ago when we replaced bellows, gimbal bearing, etc, we found water had entered into the top of the outdrive and damaged the gears and yoke so rebuilt that (gear oil showed no evidence of water and the O/D was performing OK but decided to fix what would fail in the future). When we pulled the engine last year to replace the coupler we found a very definite rust line about 1/3 of the flywheel so I replaced that. We figure that while the boat was rack stored no one pulled the plug so rain water likely gathered in the engine compartment to at least 8" deep and sat there for sometime resulting in all these issues. Some things you just can't see on a normal inspection.
Plan now is to pull the boat after the holidays, yank the engine and O/D then roll the boat into the garage. Sometime after I heal from the surgery I'll go about the task of cutting out the transom from the interior, clean out the rot and rebuild it with 3 sheets of marine plywood, epoxy and fiberglass. Some fun, eh?
Plan now is to pull the boat after the holidays, yank the engine and O/D then roll the boat into the garage. Sometime after I heal from the surgery I'll go about the task of cutting out the transom from the interior, clean out the rot and rebuild it with 3 sheets of marine plywood, epoxy and fiberglass. Some fun, eh?
I'm just beginning the process of replacing fuel tanks right now. It is not a pretty project.
One or both of them have developed pin hole leaks. We pressurized the port side yesterday and confirmed that it was leaking. I never even bothered to test the starboard side, just accepted that they both need replacing. we're going to attempt cutting through the bulkhead between the engine compartment and rear birth and hope to slide them out alongside the engines. I'm hoping this is going to work as plan b is not so pretty.
If you have access to it while repairing your transom, now would be the time to consider it.
One or both of them have developed pin hole leaks. We pressurized the port side yesterday and confirmed that it was leaking. I never even bothered to test the starboard side, just accepted that they both need replacing. we're going to attempt cutting through the bulkhead between the engine compartment and rear birth and hope to slide them out alongside the engines. I'm hoping this is going to work as plan b is not so pretty.
If you have access to it while repairing your transom, now would be the time to consider it.