Where Is a Vessel's Transom Located?

On a motorboat, the outboard motor is attached to the transom.

The transom of a vessel is the flat outer surface of its stern--in other words, the back of the hull. In motorboats, the outboard motor is attached to the transom. Not all vessels have a transom.

Appearance

The stern (back) of a vessel may be classified in several ways according to its shape. A vessel with a transom may have a "transom stern," in which the stern is raked (angled) aft, or it may have a "reverse transom," which is raked forward.

Modifications

A transom may be open, with large holes to allow water to drain or to reduce the weight of the hull, or it may be notched, to better accommodate an outboard motor.

Types of Sterns

In a vehicle with a counter stern, the transom does not touch the water; instead, there is an aft-raked extension below the transom. A vessel with no transom at all is said to have a "canoe stern" or "cruiser stern"; this is more common with modern warships.

References

• Taylor Made Systems: Glossary
• Department of the Navy: Naval Historical Center: "Cruiser" Sterns