weak transom!! Please help.

[jig n' jerk]

I have a 1980 18' fiberglass galaxy with a 115 hp merc. My problem is that the transom is starting to get very soft. It is to the point where you can visbly see the transom flex under hard acceleration and also hear it. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions to solve this problem. I do use a transom saver but I dont believe that my grandfather did.(it was his boat) The only thing that I came up with was to bolt a large piece of 1/4" thick aluminum to the out side of the transom and a little piece on the inside of the well and possibly add a few extra bolts through further from the well with large heavy duty washers on the inside. Please any advice or comments would be greatly appreichated(sp?).

Thanks,

Kurt

[Ufatz]

I know you don't want to hear this, but it may be time for a new boat. There was probably always "some" flex under hard acceleration, but it appears it has now advanced to the point where you might experience a sudden severe failure of the transom, which could result in loss of motor and sinking the boat. You need a personal inspection by a QUALIFIED marine inspector/builder. Personally I'd quit using the boat, or at the very least STOP the hard, bass tourney "hole shot" silliness. Take it easy, be careful,save your life or a lost motor.

[Darrell Larson]

Even with the transom saver on, I would not trailer the boat very far in that condition. Not only could you loose the motor, the people that are behind you may be in some danger if this motor breaks away from the transom while your moving. I would certainly take it in and have a professional take a look to see if it is worth trying to repair. It sounds as though you have some structual issues here, and just bolting on a piece of aluminum or whatever does not sound like it is going to solve your problem, it may give you a false sense of security. Take it in.

[Surface Tension]

It s hard to give you a fix without seeing the boat. It sounds like you need the transom replaced but you might be able to reinforce that area. You need to get it looked at. A boat builder not a dealer is where you want to go. Give Steve Bakken a call. Your transom is make up of wood covered in fiberglass, any cracks or holes in the transom will let water in but not out. In time the transom rots away. No amount of reinforcement will fix the problem if thats the case but it is repairable/rebuildable. Or the transom could have given in to stress from trailering or use on the water.

If thats the case reenforcement might be possible. In either case you need an honest opinion from a reputable shop.

[Swimmer]

Hey LA boy, get back to work! If I were you I would trash this boat and buy a new Lund Tyee. I'll provide the bait, for free!

[jig n' jerk]

Look at when I posted swimmer. By the way, if you can get mike to give me a 10k raise I'll buy one. This job out here sucks it went from three air handlers to 8 air handlers all on the roof. Plus its around 100 degrees on the roof. It sure does feel good to crawl into the airhandlers blasting 50 degree air at 30000 cfm. See you friday.