is there any was to check the strength of my transom? It seems solid but there is a crack along the top edge. by tapping on it it seems like a solid and consistant sound. The boat is a '64 18 skier.
If the crack looks like a hairline crack it is prolly just in the gelcoat. Drill 1/16 holes in the tip of each end of the crack about 1/8 to 1/4 deep to stop it from spreading. If the crack looks opened up there proly is some flexing going on and transom may be weak. Lookat inside of boat transom also for cracks
plantman Look at the resto section, this is covered in some detail there. Look down the length of the transom to see if it bows. That is a big indicator of a weak transom. Tap on the back of the transom, below the splash well, with a hammer. Work your way from the edges to the middle while tapping the hammer and see if the sound goes from a sharp rap at the outside to a dull thud as you approach the middle. Most transoms rot just on either side of the engine mount. You will hear a sound differential as you approach the center of the transom. Good luck. MarkBano
