Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: 1962 13' transom cracks
Posted by Surf Betty on 07/11/11 - 11:36 AM
#1
Hi I have a bad news update on my boat...well the new engine is great! so great that I've been taking it to the beach etc and having a lot of fun and, man, does it fly! Yesterday, I was at the beach and noticed that i now have new gel coat cracks on my transom to the right of the transadaptor on the top of the transom and along the outside of the transom at the top between where the transadaptor sits and the handhold. there are several cracks going in various directions. There are 4 old holes filled here where the old steering was connected. I guess these transoms are weak and 49 years is old for a boat. I'm reading up on the hull repair artlicles. I'm figuring these stress cracks happened either from the engine hitting bottom when beached or from going too fast and stressing the hull? I just hope I can fix it :( waaaa my boat! I'm sad. Just when i got it all nice and fixed up. any advice or words of encouragement? My friend said just seal it up with 5200 for the season and tackle the glass repair over the winter. I'm scared. It needs to dry out though before permnanent repairs. <sigh> :(
Posted by Phil T on 07/11/11 - 1:25 PM
#2
Take a dozen photos. Place a tape measure next to crack so we can tell the scale.
Decline your friend's advice. 3M 5200 is an
adhesive and is not appropriate. It will only make the long term repair harder.
If you want prevent water intrusion, a marine sealant is appropriate. Boat Life is one of the many brands.
Posted by John Fyke on 07/11/11 - 1:51 PM
#3
Without seeing any pictures, the crack probably goes down to the glass. If it is it needs to be ground down and fiberglassed.
Posted by Surf Betty on 07/11/11 - 6:54 PM
#4
thanks guys I am in the process of putting up the pics now. I have to do a lot of resizing. I wish I saw the thing about the measuring tape but I took some pics tonight and am posting them. Hopefully you can tell the scale from the surroundings. It's still in the water, but i will be taking it out this week to further assess the situation. The pics are on my personal page.
Posted by Turpin on 07/12/11 - 12:33 AM
#5
To me it appears to be a significant crack that should be addressed quickly before it ends in a catastrophe.
Posted by wannabe on 07/12/11 - 6:10 AM
#6
I would take a line from the outboard to a SECURE location on that boat !
Posted by kamie on 07/12/11 - 3:34 PM
#7
Pull the boat and break out the angle grinder. From the pictures, looks like that area of the transom has seen some work so I am sure wacking the bottom only exposed old issues that were hidden.
Posted by John Fyke on 07/12/11 - 5:13 PM
#8
The crack is severe to say the least. Unless you want your motor as an anchor you need to tackle the problem now.
Posted by Surf Betty on 07/12/11 - 6:43 PM
#9
Yes all of you are right. I am getting some professional advice on it. I tied a line to my motor tonight to secure it just in case. I'm pulling it out tomorrow night. The ramp is right next to my marina so it should be ok. It doesn't have to drive far to my yard, a couple blocks. The crack is over the top of the transom. It is a weak area where there were holes drilled before and it seems old repair work too. All cracks seem to be above the waterline. If I pull on the motor, the crack moves so that's not good. I had trouble posting pics to my PP last night, could not get them to size right with infraview and upload. I only got the one pic to work. I will try to get some more pics on here. Thank you all for your advice. It is so much appreciated.
Posted by kamie on 07/12/11 - 7:35 PM
#10
hang in there, she will be back out on the water pronto, i'm sure of it
Posted by ericswag on 07/13/11 - 6:21 AM
#11
Looks to me like the transom was weakened by the installation of the steering cable standoff AND the motor/tranadaptor is now putting stress on an area of the transom that was not originally designed to take it. I have been considering a transadaptor and wonder if ohers have seen new/unexpected stress with it?
Posted by thegage on 07/13/11 - 11:18 AM
#12
I've been using one on my '69 Whaler with a 30 E-TEC for a year now. No sign yet of additional stress, and I had the Teleflex stand-off before I got the E-TEC. I suspect that Surf Betty had pre-existing damage that one of the previous owners tried to hide.
John K.
Posted by Surf Betty on 07/13/11 - 1:52 PM
#13
John K, I think you are right about the pre-existing damage was hiding. I was wondering about your ETEC..is it mounted with 2 bolts or 4? If 4, where are the bottom 2 bolts? are they in the transadaptor or below it? Mine is mounted with 2 bolts in the adaptor and 2 bolts below the adaptor through the transom using 2 square metal plates against the wall of the transom. It was suggested to me that maybe it would be better with all 4 bolts through the adaptor?
Posted by Surf Betty on 07/15/11 - 5:22 AM
#14
What is the right wheel to use on an angle grinder to grind out cracks ? Also is fiberglass tape or cloth best to use on cracks? I'm getting my plan together for a fix to my stress cracks. And a shopping list.
Posted by thegage on 07/15/11 - 7:13 AM
#15
Surf Betty wrote:
John K, I think you are right about the pre-existing damage was hiding. I was wondering about your ETEC..is it mounted with 2 bolts or 4? If 4, where are the bottom 2 bolts? are they in the transadaptor or below it? Mine is mounted with 2 bolts in the adaptor and 2 bolts below the adaptor through the transom using 2 square metal plates against the wall of the transom. It was suggested to me that maybe it would be better with all 4 bolts through the adaptor?
As I have the manual tilt 30 it only has two bolts and two screw clamps. Mine is mounted on a jack plate. I'll take a couple of pictures later and put on my personal page.
John K.