So I'm on the fence on weather to replace the transom in my boat. I pulled an exhaust tip and found some rot and figured the whole transom would be bad. I have read a hundred doom and gloom transom replacement posts and was prepared for the worst....making a new boat LOL After striping everything off the only bad spot is leading up from one exhaust hole and maby 2 inches below it. This section is only about 7 inches wide and about 12 inches long. The key hole is good along with the trim tab holes. Everything is dry as a bone. The rotted part is dry also. I have probed all the existing holes and they are all solid. What do you guys think? Replace or dare I say... fill.

There is a company out there that sucks resin in under vacuum for small areas it might be ok. It's like fixing a chipped windshield. It's only temporary.

I would use a drill and drill some test holes to see how far the rot actually goes ...you can always fill them with resin if the rot is only in one spot, but most likely if there is rot most of it could be wet and then you can decide if putting the time and effort into it is worth it....mine was the same way yours was it turned to dry mulch but after digging deeper the whole thing was bad.

Thanks for the responses. Well I did a lot more probing last night with a stainless tig rod. It appears I WILL be replacing the transom. The rot grew in size to 20 x 24 and way to close too the drive. Let the fun begin!

in general you can only passively detect about a fourth of the actual rot. Post up pics we'll get ya through it

If you need materials let me know, I'm just up in Toledo. I sell off excess from my shop to members here, the more i go through the better pricing get.

Thanks for the offer Dave! I haven't started ordering materials yet. I will look you up when I do. Pm me your number if you don't want to post it. By the way did you finish your book? I plan on starting pretty soon with the tear out. Hopefully I will have the time to post some picks. Not many threads on rebuilding larger checkmates.

hello, my nightmare begain as yours, pulled my exhaust tips out of transom and it was all rotted. I actually got a local surveyor to come to my garage, he brought his moisture meter. we checked the entire transom, it was 15 -18 percent, not bad. I thought I could patch or fill the rotted areas. then got a second and third opinion, with the help of dave goodmen, tiger fiberglass, dave replaced it all, transom and stringers. my thought was I am NOT going to put 1400hp in a rotted boat. the transom was totaling dry rotted, the main string was wet top to bottom. I posted a thread with a lot of photos. I guess, bottom line, you must decide where u are going with this boat., meaning keeping /sellng etc..good luck

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/f...r-transom.html

I plan on keeping the boat for at least 10 years... (We all know how that goes) So it's getting a new transom and whatever else I find. Iv taken it apart way to far not to go all the way. Hopefully I will have time this weekend to start cutting. Their are a couple of loose ends to tie up first. For some reason I dread washing the engine bay more than cutting it up. Lol I'm not sure weather to start a new thread for the rebuild or keep using this one.

have you done glass work previously? Prior experience is not necessary but a basic knowledge helps. Post pics and if you have any questions post 'em up. Lots of guys on here have been through it and there is a ton of first hand info available. The whole process is mostly about staying out of trouble. (materials choice and proper use)