How to Inspect a Boat Transom

A boat's transom is located on the back area of the boat or, in other words, on the stern. The transom is a flat or slightly curved area made of wood, fiberglass or steel that connects the two sides of the hull. If the boat has an outboard engine, the transom is where the outboard is usually mounted, such as on a small fishing boat or a dinghy. The transom on a sailboat can also incorporate a platform, used for loading items or as a swim platform. Inspect your boat's boat transom regularly for damage, such as cracks.

Things You'll Need

• Boat soap
• Screwdriver
• Wrench (if necessary)
• Hammer (if necessary)
• Ladder (if necessary)

Instructions

1. Haul the boat out of the water, using a truck and trailer if the boat is small enough, or pay a marina to haul the boat out of the water with a lift and place the boat on stands. This step is not necessary but is preferable so that you can also inspect the bottom of the transom (which is usually in the water).

2. Remove the outboard motor from the transom, if applicable for your boat's model. Loosen the nuts attached to the mounting bolts, which hold the outboard motor on the transom, with a wrench. Unscrew the nuts completely and remove them from the mounting bolts. Pull the mounting bolts out from the mounting platform and transom. Lift the outboard motor up to pull it off the transom and place it on an engine stand.

3. Remove any other items from the transom, such as a portable swim platform. Lift up the portable swim platform by its hooks and store it out of the way.

4. Remove any thru-hull units in the back of the transom, if the boat is a motorboat and if applicable for the boat's model. Unscrew the thru-hull units and use a hammer from the inside of the transom to lightly tap out the units.

5. Gently wash the transom with soap and water to remove any dirt or debris. This will make it easier to see any hairline fractures that may be in the transom.

6. Visually inspect the transom, looking for cracks or chips, starting at the top corner and working your way across the top, down one side, across the back and up the other side. Look at the bottom of the transom, including inside the thru-hulls (if applicable), if the boat is out of the water. If you can see the inside of the transom from inside the boat, also review this area. If the boat is on stands, use a ladder to assist with this step.

7. Pay particularly close attention to the top of the transom, where the outboard engine may be mounted, or to the transom bottom, which has constant exposure to the water, when doing the inspection. These areas are most likely to develop rot (more applicable for wooden or metal boats rather than fiberglass boats) or stress cracks from the weight and pressure of the engine.

8. Run your bare hand, with the palm facing down and applying moderate pressure, over the entire transom. This will enable you to feel any irregularities in the transom that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

9. Remove the strip at the top of the transom by unscrewing the screws holding it in place. This is only applicable to smaller fiberglass boats that have a wooden frame inside. Press on the wood to see if there is any rot developing.

Tips & Warnings

• One other but more expensive option is to pay a marine surveyor to do a full, professional inspection of the hull, including the transom, if you do not have a lot of experience with boat construction and the boat is of significant size.

• If you do identify any cracks or rotting in the transom, repair the transom immediately.

References

• Seacast Transom Repair: Step-by-step Seacast Transom Repair
• Boat Builder Central: Transom Replacement
• Rot Doctor: Rot Repair in Fiberglass Boats
• Marine Parts Man: Installing an Outboard on Your Boat