How hard is it? Is it worth doing on a 78 model boat? How safe?? Who could?? Cost, etc????
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How hard is it? Is it worth doing on a 78 model boat? How safe?? Who could?? Cost, etc????
I would think difficulty would depend on the type and model of your boat and your proficiency with and access to hand tools.
You just have to figure if it's worth the hassle to you.
If I really liked the boat or I just couldn't afford a new boat, personally I would fix it. You will probably have to make some modifications along the way.
Make a template of your transom before you rip the old one out. If all possible take it outwhol;e. When you replace the wood sel all the edges so the water can not get inside the wood. Really not that hard to do a couple of hours at most depending upon how hard itls to get the old one out. Make and type of boat would help. When you replace the transom use new stainless steel screws. A couple of sheets of plywood, glued and screwed and your good to go.
Home can make you a custom transom if you need a heavy duty one. Go over to The Aluminum boat modification site! for help if you need it.
Years ago I replaced mine in a old wood boat. They are not hard to do if you have done any wood working and have the right tools. Mine worked like a charm.
It's in a 78 Johnson Bass Hawk, 17 ft fiberglass bass boat with a 150 evinrude hanging off it. If it were an aluminum or wood boat I'd be willing to try it, I'm sure I could get something rigged up but I have NO IDEA how to go about it in a fiberglass boat.
Is there some form of braceing in the sides or is it just a couple inches of plywood sandwitched between two pieces of fiberglass????
I don't know that I would attempt something that involved for the '78 boat. After 30 years if the transom is rotten, I would suspect other areas are also starting to get soft also. Especially if you want to hang a 150hp off the back of it. You will need bracing to the sides and to the hull for a new transom. Bottom Line: I think the project would cost more than the boat is worth at this point.
I have to agree. Reasonably good older hulls without motors sell surprisingly cheap. It might hurt to spend the money, but you are probably just going to spend the same amount $20 at a time fixing the hull you have.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bombfixer
BBC has a Bass Boat restoration forum with several folks who have replaced transoms and a whole lot more. Check it out Here
If you decide to proceed with replacement, make ding dang sure you know what your doing and over build rather than underbuild. A 150 hp motor is more than sufficient to get you killed painfully from a transom failure from some area you guessed at. Hate to be a doomsayers but you need to make sure it's done right.
Also, check out what west marine has to offer in guidance an materials. Got a buddy that redid a 24' walk around using a deal that he basically mixed and poured in from the top. Course, his stringers and knee braces where intact and had access to prove it.
Wannabe...
check into seacast.com they show you how
Buckeye
I did my old 17GT bass hawk 2 years ago the transoms rotting were those boats down fall, it can be done but is going to be a job took me a week and about 300.00 bucks be sure to rebuild it with some sort of chair or atleast some gussets the stock transom had no support. I had an 115 merc on a jackplate hanging on there and she was a pistol to hang on to over 50 on the gps.