DIY: Transom Inspection
Fiberglass transoms normally end their lives as strong as they started, because fiberglass is impervious to water unless someone does something stupid like not sealing a drilled hole. For those who own wooden boats, a soft transom could be the kiss of death for the boat. Without a strong transom, any type of out drive or outboard motor can become unstable and impede the efforts to trim the boat. That's the best case scenario. Worst-case scenario would be transom failure resulting in the loss of the motor, and possibly the sinking of the boat. That is why the owners of wood boats need to inspect the transom every so often for weak spots and repair them before they become a problem that is financially unfeasible to repair.
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Instructions
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Take the boat out of the water. Look down the length of the transom from both the port and starboard sides, inspecting for imperfections such as peeling and/or flaking paint, bubbles or lumps in the transom. Peeling paint, bubbles or lumps indicate waterlogged wood.
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Gently tap the transom with a small aluminum hammer. Start at the top of one side of the transom and slowly work straight down to the bottom, while tapping several times. Move over approximately 2-inches and repeat. Keep moving over two-inches at a time and tapping from top to bottom until reaching the other side of the transom. A strong tapping sound indicates strong wood, while a dull thud indicates a spot that needs attention.
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3
Raise the motor or out-drive up to the top of its travel. Grasp the lower unit and move it up and down. Watch for flex in the transom. A good, stiff transom will not flex. If any movement in the transom is noted, you won't need any repairs will be necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Tapping too hard with a hammer will result in hammer spots on the transom.
