G'day all,
I have a Savage Escort SF which is a 5.2 meter Fibreglass boat, and I think my transom might need replacing. Just wondering how I tell or know for sure please? I've not read up on how to do the transom myself as yet but if it does need replacing I plan to do it myself, so If there is a particular thread anyone can recommend I look at that can spell out the do's and don't and maybe some step but step instructions and or what I need and where to start etc that would be excellent. But for now if I can have some pointers on how to tell if it needs replacing I'd really appreciate it.
Also, I have a 125 2 Stroke Merc on her, how would I get my motor off and what to store it on while I make the repairs?
Thanks
Geoff
Originally Posted by garfield28
You can get a big screw drive and turn it around and tap the transom with the handle you will hear what's solid and what's moist or hollow the tone will change.
And you can make a engine stand to hang it on while you repair the transom and i ues a big tree to block and tackle a motor off or you might beable to use a engine hoist
Where’s Gazz when you need him 😄😄😄
Here's a great how-to on outboard stands:
https://forums.iboats.com/threads/bu...tional.262479/
A few 3m lengths of 90x45 MGP10, some 10-8 x 75mm galv timber screws and some decent castors and you'd knock it up in an hour or so. I'd perhaps double up the base rails that the castors attach to (ie 2x 90x45 screw laminated together) given your 125hp will be significantly heftier than the 55hp loaded onto the stand in the iboats link.
As to the removal - you likely have electrical, steering, gear select cable and throttle cable to deal with. None of them difficult but take photos on your phone to remind you how it goes back together and spray all the bolts, nuts, screws and connectors with WD40 or your penetrating lubricant of choice a few times in the week before to help loosen them up. Once they're all free, remove the four transom bolts and lift it off using an engine crane or block and tackle using the lifting eye that should be on the top of the powerhead.
If the bung is in a plastic insert take it out and see if any wet wood around it
being the lowest point in the transom the wood around the bung hole will be wet if any issues
grab hold of the leg at full up tilt and apply pressure to it and see if any flex
do the large screw driver trick when it’s quiet outside
if lots of fittings through the transom take them out and check for wetness around them
and if going to replace the transom leave the outer skin in and do it from the inside
Easier to have a nicer external finish in the end
hi garfeild , i used to have a savage escort , maybe tilt the leg up and rock off it and look at the top corners either side , the square corners and look for flexing or fine cracks or movement. mine had a 140 johnson on it and went hard , good luck
Thanks for that guys.
Have been working on the boat for a few months as it is just fixing up some spider cracks and a few other things so it's been pretty dry as it hasn't been in the water. I'll try and take some fittings off and if the hole it came from is wet, does that mean I have a problem?
Also, I have a really weird transom compared to most other boats (pics attached) mine is sort of like a pod setup but not. Anyone ever done any work on a transom like it? I'm not sure where the wood starts and ends. Also, if I do the transom is it a given to do the floor?
Thanks IMG20210117180245.jpgIMG20210117180258.jpg
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Why do you think the transom needs replacing?
Just that it is 30 years old and more so the left side and right side have had their share of holes drilled and filled with transducers, lights, pickups and the like.
If the floor needs replacing would I know through it being soft to stand on? When I walk on mine it feels quite solid but I just don't know.
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That pod setup doesn't look like a 30 year old design, but I could be wrong, just because things have been fitted over the years doesn't always mean they were fitted incorrectly, get the transom checked, or at a minimum, tilt the motor up and put all your weight on the prop end, give it a bit of a bounce with your weight on it (or get someone else to do it) and check to see if there's any flex in the transom. A tap with a solid object, (big screwdriver or light hammer) can sometimes reveal bad rot, because it sounds "dead" not a clean "clink"
Im with Noel here....I have a 40 year old transom in my boat and its still ok...but the floor needed doing 15 years ago...but underneath that the stringers were fine as well......if you find soft spots in the floor it will be a big enough job anyway. they are pretty easy to find.....you can double check by drilling into the soft spot with a small drillbit and looking what the wood looks like.
That looks a pretty complicated transom ..Id be getting someone with some experience to look over that before deciding to have a go..
As a boatbuilder said to me once...more boats are ruined by rainwater than seawater....start checking with the floor...
How would I repair the drill hole after I have drilled it?
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ok well its more a confirmatory drill..1/8thetc..than an explorationary drill in the first instance...... all being well.... for a small diam hole.....you can just fill with epoxy into sound wood ...youre going to be left with a small area which you can gelcoat match with an off the shelf repair kit....it wont colour match that well but it will be sound.A larger hole is a much bigger deal to make good...shrinkage around the hole if you just fill it.. can leave a depression over time and an ugly result ..to avoid that ..requires dishing a reasonable radius around the hole ..filling and laying some chopped mat levelling finishing and then colour matching gelcoat...if you want an invisible repair....more the realm of the pro than the diy..Im on the diy side but after a few years of doing smallish jobs it is possible to do it to a reasonable standard.
To be frank ..if your contemplating doing this...give yourself a chance...before you do anything to the boat ..make something using the techniques you will need to successfully do the bigger job.Build a small box glass it ,drill holes in it and repair them...make silly mistakes when it doesnt matter...theres plenty of time later to make some horrendous snafus after you take a chainsaw to the transom!!
maybe walk around in bare feet only on the balls of your foot and bounce a little to feel for irregulars
I can forward something to help you with replacing the transom. Step by step instructions.
PM your email to me and I will forward it on.
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