87 offshore transom repair question?

[Chuck_NJ]

While doing a some repairs on my one year new to me 87 offshore which included fuel tank and hose replacement, through hull fitting and hose repreplacement. While upgrading the electrical I removed the live well and noticed these cracks on the transom knee stringers. This boat has a bracket and a 250 etec ho.I am 250 lbs and can jump up and down on bracket with no flex in transom. I will provide better pictures next week after I power wash the bilge . I also searched the forum and found a few post about this issue did not seem terrible but I am open to suggestions. The cracks on the knee are on the inside sides of the knee facing the bracket bolts . On the opposite side facing the battery compartments there are no cracks irs odd they are not on both sides if the transom is flexing.The red circles are all on the inside of knee facing bracket bolts on the opposite side the green circles there are no cracks .

thanks in advance

chuck

 

[PointedRose]

I’d say it’s not totally unexpected in an older hull. You could likely do some simple fiberglass/epoxy repairs. Doesn’t really matter what it looks like if you can just sure it up a bit. West marine has a cheap fiberglass pamphlet with a lot of information.

Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance Book | West Marine

Check out our Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance Book and more from West Marine!

www.westmarine.com

 

[Chuck_NJ]

I’d say it’s not totally unexpected in an older hull. You could likely do some simple fiberglass/epoxy repairs. Doesn’t really matter what it looks like if you can just sure it up a bit. West marine has a cheap fiberglass pamphlet with a lot of information.

Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance Book | West Marine

Check out our Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance Book and more from West Marine!

www.westmarine.com

Thanks will pick up a copy tomorrow. It does not look bad to me but I wanted to ask other owners what they thought.

 

[PointedRose]

Thanks will pick up a copy tomorrow. It does not look bad to me but I wanted to ask other owners what they thought.

You could drill a couple exploratory holes to see if there’s areas of rotted core. Or poke with an ice pick or pocket knife. If it doesn’t feel solid, it would need more work to cut out sections and build back up with solid material, but I think it’s patchable without a huge fuss for a while.

 

[Chuck_NJ]

You could drill a couple exploratory holes to see if there’s areas of rotted core. Or poke with an ice pick or pocket knife. If it doesn’t feel solid, it would need more work to cut out sections and build back up with solid material, but I think it’s patchable without a huge fuss for a while.

I did poke it and it’s solid. The Rear of the transom has no ripples or delimitation so I am crossing my fingers that it will hold out without any catastrophic failure In the immediate future I really love this boat and would not be afraid to rebuild transom down the road. Just not this year

 

[SkunkBoat]

Hey Chuck_NJ this is also Chuck in NJ.

The gelcoat in the bilge was sprayed in a half assed manner and it is quite common to see cracks and peeling, especially such an old boat. You need to determine if the glass tabbing is cracked also. You could use a coarse sanding wheel and get thru the white to look at the glass...

In a lot of spots on Gradys they left cut edges of plywood unglassed.

and of course probe for rotten wood and test the flex of the bracket/transom

 

[Chuck_NJ]

Hey Chuck_NJ this is also Chuck in NJ.

The gelcoat in the bilge was sprayed in a half assed manner and it is quite common to see cracks and peeling, especially such an old boat. You need to determine if the glass tabbing is cracked also. You could use a coarse sanding wheel and get thru the white to look at the glass...

In a lot of spots on Gradys they left cut edges of plywood unglassed.

and of course probe for rotten wood and test the flex of the bracket/transom

I am 250 lbs and have a etec 250 ho on bracket and I can jump up and down on bracket no flex. What are the glass tabings?

 

[Chuck_NJ]

I am 250 lbs and have a etec 250 ho on bracket and I can jump up and down on bracket no flex. What are the glass tabings?

Is it like the photo below. If so the cracks are on both knees but only on the inside facing the bracket bolts the outsides are perfect

 

[SkunkBoat]

Is it like the photo below. If so the cracks are on both knees but only on the inside facing the bracket bolts the outsides are perfect

yes. The white gelcoat is not structural.. You need to look at the fiberglass that is connecting the wood.

 

[Chuck_NJ]

Thanks to all those who responded!

 

[Fishtales]

Get some bilge cleaner and maybe some hull cleaner as well and give the bilge a good wash down so you know what you have. I agree with folks here, I'd re-glass with the west system and monitor.

 

[hooked on Grady]

those pieces of plywood on either side wrapped in glass should be looked at. For me, the one on the left was split open like your one pic and there was rot so I am hitting it with git rot than wrapping it with some new glass.

 

[Bird Blaster]

I have some gelcoat cracks in mine. The fibreglass or rock solid underneath. I think the spray in is cheap.

 

[hooked on Grady]

Bird Blaster, what kinda birds? as we have a Wiemeraner and an English pointer, we blast pheasants and chukars. sorry I know this probably not the place for this.

 

[hooked on Grady]

long as you can't poke through anything you should be good, you could spray it after cleaning with some acetone but they would like come back as they are probably stress cracks from flexing/age, whatever.

 

[Bird Blaster]

Bird Blaster, what kinda birds? as we have a Wiemeraner and an English pointer, we blast pheasants and chukars. sorry I know this probably not the place for this.

Pretty much ruffled grouse and spruce hens here. My last Britany was good w birds. Our current one (11) was a rescue so he's been gun shy. I just bust the birds myself now!

 

[hooked on Grady]

I figured Grouse. My first gun dog was a Brit. Liver and roan(brown) great dog.