Thread: Replaceing Transom

I had mine replaced a year ago and paid a bunch for it to be done by the pro's a couple of towns over. Lots of folks will tell you they can do it, and it's not all that hard in theory, but as Wannabe said, if it isn't done right it can be a nightmare and wasted money. If your boat has an upper and lower hull, they have to be separated before anything is done. All the boxes had to be ground loose and reglassed after, motor disconnected and removed. Gel coat work to make it look good is also needed. Done right, it's a big job and pretty involved. Replacing the hull is a good idea but keep in mind that there's no guarantee that it isn't in the same shape unless evaluated by a pro or you educate yourself to know what to look for. You can take a pocket knife or small hammer and begin tapping on the top corners of the transom and radiate out from there, listening for change in the pitch of the sound. Solid transoms have a solid sound, soft or delaminated ones have a dull thump. That's just basics. It might be worth your while to find a pro that you trust and run it by them for a look see. Here's a pic of mine at its fully disassembled worst. I don't regret the money for a second, and all the other wood was solid so it's a good thing. My gel coat was excellent so it was worth putting the money into an '88 hull.