Boat has transom plate with signs of fiberglass repair

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gulfbreeze

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Hi, last week I went to go look at a boat for sale. Its a shetland 17. The transom has a metal plate on the back with signs of fiberglass repair on top. I tapped the back of the transom with a rock, sounds pretty tight on the bottom part, as I got to the top left and right corners of the transom where there is no plate it made more of a hollow sound. Of course tapping the metal itself didnt make any sounds other then the sound of metal, not sure what type of metal the plate is made of. I also got the transom and rocked it back and forth, didnt see or feel any flex.The thing is, the plate covers about 70% of the transom, not just a metal sleeve on the top., goes down almost to the drain hole, the plate KINDA forms an upside down pyramid. Having owned 8 boats throughout the years my gut feeling is to walk away,I have never owned a boat with a plate, always bought boats where the transom was original and visible

but im curious what you guys think
 
Sounds like a repair, which isn't ideal.
But is it sound and does the price reflect the condition of the boat generally?
I'd guess the transom has go damaged, maybe the wood inside the grp rotted from the bolt holes, somebody repaired it and covered it with a plate to protect it from the outboard instead of trying to get the gelcoat to match?
It may be fine or not.
 
I acquired a 10 foot Bonwitco last year which had a small aluminium alloy plate covering some damage. It looked a bit dodgy and proved to be nearly corroded through from the inside. It had been well sealed against the hull, but no longer.

I'd be worried that your plate covers up poorly repaired damage, at worst just a smear of sealant. Especially if it's an odd shape for the boat.

Can you see how sound the transom is inside, below the clamping area? Or is an internal moulding in the way?
 
Old boats like this have usually suffered water ingress into the transom. I've mounted a fair few outboards on small planing boats and when drilling through the transom the ply inside is often very soft. Probably the reason for a metal plate.
The two lower outboard mounting bolts are below the waterline and tricky to get a good permanent seal.
Some transoms get hacked up where a short shafts is fitted to a long shaft boat so they hack 4" off the top. Then years later someone else builds it back up for a long shafts.
 
James_Calvert said:
I acquired a 10 foot Bonwitco last year which had a small aluminium alloy plate covering some damage. It looked a bit dodgy and proved to be nearly corroded through from the inside. It had been well sealed against the hull, but no longer.

I'd be worried that your plate covers up poorly repaired damage, at worst just a smear of sealant. Especially if it's an odd shape for the boat.

Can you see how sound the transom is inside, below the clamping area? Or is an internal moulding in the way?
Click to expand...

Not my plate, I aint buying this one. Id be going against my own advise, I have had a couple of boat builders give me tips on transoms over the years. When I saw this plate my alarm bells went ringing, shame really bc the rest of the boat is in good condition. Its always something. As far as seeing inside the transom, yes moulding in the way, and the moulding has been re-fiberglassed, badly done to by the looks of it.
 
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