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Outboardman...take a look at this plz.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 1:15 pm
by aunt betty
My transom has cracked again. Third time now.
First it cracked on the corners.
Started doing it again so I took it to the welder and he put that big piece on the center. It's u-shaped and wraps around.
Now it's cracking at the edges of the piece.

The metal there is very thin and sort of just covers the plywood.
The question is...should I even bother having it re-welded?
It's cracking in the HAZ (heat affected zone)

Weld it up and the cracks will just form again at the edge of the new weld.
Time to give up?
Run it til it falls apart?

Telling mama I need a new jon boat might not be such a good idea at this time.
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Re: Outboardman...take a look at this plz.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 1:16 pm
by aunt betty
If you want better pictures of the whole transom let me know.

Re: Outboardman...take a look at this plz.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 2:04 pm
by aunt betty
Took some pics to show how well-braced the transom is.
IMO its run it til it falls apart.
The wood in the transom is solid and has been doing the work for decades.
Boat is 39 yrs old.

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Re: Outboardman...take a look at this plz.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 2:42 pm
by Deltaman
AB, you could always more plate to both sides to strengthen. Had a similar issue with an old aluminum boat when I was in school and funds were tight. I just added a 1 X 4 treated board across the inside of the transom, and clamped the motor down over it. That was enough to keep it stiff enough along the top of the transom to hold. Somewhat of a Democratic fix, but it worked.

Re: Outboardman...take a look at this plz.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:10 pm
by aunt betty
Thinking about adding a 1.5" square tube on top. Would have to cut it to fit because of that piece the welder added.
Then I could raise the motor up another 1.5 inches too.
The way it runs now...the fin on the motor is about an inch and a half low.

The metal is there just for looks sort of. No way is that structural as it's only 1/16th thick aluminum...maybe .100".
Something like that.
The plywood is the beef in that assembly until that u-plate was added. Gee that stiffened it up.
I think I'll just run it and watch that crack until it starts growing.

Now before you worry about my safety...I'd much rather die in my favorite hunting lake than the fema camp that my future holds for me.

Re: Outboardman...take a look at this plz.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 12:50 pm
by aunt betty
Got it welded up again.
Ready to go. 18 days and it's on.
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Re: Outboardman...take a look at this plz.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 10:32 am
by outboardman
aunt betty wrote:Got it welded up again.
Ready to go. 18 days and it's on.
20171010_120647.jpg

20171010_122233.jpg

I would suggest welding some plates over top of the welded area for extra support

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Re: Outboardman...take a look at this plz.

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 10:37 am
by aunt betty
Me2. Next time it cracks I'll have them make a piece for the top and weld it on.
Thinkin 1.5" square tube with it notched to go around the plate that's already there. I could use the transom being that much taller to get the motor up where it needs to be.
Me putting it up higher is possibly what broke it.
Was trying to get that upper cavitation plate thing to run right at the surface.


You can see how I had it bolted on high in this picture. Was wishing I had another 1.5 inches up "UP".
It's sort of obvious that I cracked the transom last time out. No cracks in that picture.