Cracks in the transom

G

Gene&Mary

New member
I have a 2005 22' C Dory. I noticed some hairline cracks in top edge of the transom on either side of the transom where it curves from horizontal to vertical. Looking from the top, the transom is ~1 1/2" thick. The cracks are on the boat side of the transom thickness and at either side of the transom. It looks like the cracks are ~3-4" long along the horizontal and are not on the vertical. Hope my description of the location is good enough.

Questions-
1. What material is sandwiched between the front and back faces of the transom panel. Is it foam or something harder like wood?
2. The attachment for the motor isn't visiible from the boat so I assume it is in this space????
3. I would say the cracks were there for a while before I noticed them. Any problem using the boat until I can get it to the shop?
4. Anyone seen this problem before?
 
Posting some photos would help. But this sounds like cracks which have been fairly common in the 25's from 2002 to 2005. At some point the core of the transom was changed from wood to a foam--I do not know what year that is.

The biggest problem is that if the cracks are down to the core, there can be water intrusion, and eventually rot/delamination, if the core is wood.

No problem in using the boat, but you should have this repaired. I would approach the factory about this. The question, are these just "stress cracks"--basically thick gel coat, where there is a radius and different expansion contraction than the underlying glass, or is this a weak area, where there was not enough glass, as in some of the 25's?

When the boat is repaired, you need to grind into the crack until you are at the bottom. if there appears to be adequate glass, then you can just "V" out the cracks and repair the gel coat. If there is not enough glass, then the area should be relaminated, and then gel coated. Either way, the boat will be as good as new (or better). If there is rot in the core, then you will have to re core the transom. However, even in the bad 25's there did not seem to be any transom core rot.
 
I wonder how many C-Dory owners use a Transom Saver wile trailering? I have used them for ever on other boats, the type that props-up the motor and puts motor weight on the trailer.

Kevin
 
Montana Kev":1czvbihk said:
I wonder how many C-Dory owners use a Transom Saver wile trailering? I have used them for ever on other boats, the type that props-up the motor and puts motor weight on the trailer.

Kevin
Click to expand...

Kevin-

This is what I remember from prior discussions, some may have to be corrected by others.

1. Some say the C-Dory transom is so strong it doesn't need a transom saver.

2. Others say that the transom saver leg pushes back and forth on the motor as the trailer moves around, and therefore pushes on the motor, then on the the transom, actually making for more loading/unloading of the weight on the transom, and is worse than without it, especially on rough roads.

3. While many outboard motor manufacturers say not to trail the boat/motor with the little lever that locks the motor in the "up" position and/ or caution about leaving the tilted up motor to otherwise work the hydraulic pistons/cylinders over as the motor works back in forth in the tilted up position without the lock, many of our members put a wooden stick, say about 2" x 2" in between the transom clamp and the outboard leg, then lower the motor against the wooden piece to transfer the load from the leg to the bracket and transom while holding the motor tilted up. Some, I believe, use a bungee cord or two to keep the wooden stick from falling out on big bumps.

That's what I remember for now, more undoubtably to follow from fellow C-Brats!

Good Luck!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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