'74 v-20 transom

[Destroyer]

Sorry, no one here can make that decision for you. It's entirely your call. However, I can direct you to www.youtube for several videos of people and their boats where the transom cracked and the boat either sank or had to be towed back to shore. And of course, earlier this summer just off the coast of New Jersey there was that family of four that all died when their transom gave way and they drowned.. but why bother even mentioning that. I'm sure it will never happen to you... right? (Of course I'm also sure they thought the same thing).

If inside your transom the wood looks like oatmeal then the structural integrity of the transom is gone. Simply put, it is no longer safe.

Look, like I've said a lot of times before. Boating is a a wonderful sport, full of fun and adventure. But if you do not, can not, or are not willing to do the maintenance required to your boat in order to keep yourself safe then perhaps it's better if you take up horseshoes or some other land based sport. That way you won't kill yourself or maybe some other person trying to save you when your boat sinks.

Sorry if I sound a little harsh, I don't mean to, but you have to realize the extreme danger that unsafe boating is. Fix your transom...we want to be talking with you, not about you.

[capitanmike]

well said destroyer. too late tho. they're already talkin' about me around here. i will muddle through and fix what needs to be fixed to be safe. or put it back together and give to the ex-wife. i saw in one thread where someone cut off the aft third or so of the cap to get to the rear deck. is that a realistic way to go? mike

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by capitanmike

well said destroyer. too late tho. they're already talkin' about me around here. i will muddle through and fix what needs to be fixed to be safe. or put it back together and give to the ex-wife. i saw in one thread where someone cut off the aft third or so of the cap to get to the rear deck. is that a realistic way to go? mike

I do not know what the proper way is for you, however I can say that in most of the posts the authors cut away the inside wall of the transom and did the repair that way. If you look carefully or lay a straight edge on it you'll see that the outside wall of the transom is curved. So by not disturbing the outside wall you don't have to fiddle around with trying to redo that curve. Do it from the inside...it's easier.

[capitanmike]

yup, to get to the stringers i'm going at it from the inside. conferred w/ the local fiberglass boat guy and he's gonna keep me from goofing up toooooo badly. will cut off the aft cap to fwd of the splash well, and maybe 3' of the deck to get to the stringers. i'll get photos as i go and see if i'm smart enough to attach them. it seems some others had probs w/ that. thanks for the input. mike

[capitanmike]

the back deck and forward face of transom came out just fine. entire transom plywood was oatmeal, very little deterioration in the stringers, thank allah. less than a foot it looks like. now i'll try to add pics.

[Bruce]

I'm new so i've not read all the threads here yet, but thats a damn slick way to fix a transom with a top cap like that.

[tsubaki]

I gotta agree!!

Keep the pictures coming!

[capitanmike]

got her all cleaned up, stringers cut back to good wood, (will rebuild and sister). looks like the aftmost layer (at least) were 3 separate pieces. i guess for a good flat for the motor. also they were all at an angle from vert or hor. any idea why that is?

[capitanmike]

hey bruce, i was gonna go in from the back side but destroyer aimed me in this direction. glad of it too. got a good look at the bilges and fixed the stringers too. mike