Transom Trauma ?

A forum for discussing boat or trailer repairs or modifications that you have made or are considering.
Post Reply
User avatar
Tumbleweed
Just Enlisted
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2014 11:07 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Gulf Coast - Mississippi

Transom Trauma ?

Post by Tumbleweed »

2005 26M – 50hp Yamaha
While working with my steering slop I noticed an uncomfortable sight.
This is the port side of the motor well as seen from the inside aft berth.
Photo on left was with flash - photo on right with no flash.
It appears that some of the fiberglass hull is separated forward from the transom just under the motor mount port side.
This appears to be a defect rather than trauma induced, for sure: It is not good to see blue boat color when looking at the transom from inside the aft berth!
Anyone ever seen this before?
What could have caused this?
Will 5200 fix it forever? (no leak yet)
Or should it be repaired professionally?

I will do what it takes to make it right. Thanks for suggestions.
Lester
http://s1371.photobucket.com/user/Tumbl ... 1.jpg.html
vizwhiz
Admiral
Posts: 1388
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:48 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
Location: Central Florida

Re: Transom Trauma ?

Post by vizwhiz »

The fiberglass layers should be pretty translucent. The gelcoat is opaque and stops the light from passing through. What you are seeing is probably just a spot of thin gelcoat that isn't thick enough to stop all the light from passing through. Take a bright flashlight and have someone shine it around on the outside of the hull (or pull your car headlights close to the side) and you'll probably find other places like it.
User avatar
Ixneigh
Admiral
Posts: 2464
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:00 am
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Key largo Florida

Re: Transom Trauma ?

Post by Ixneigh »

Tap the area with a small steel hammer. Delamination will be very evident by sound.
Ix
User avatar
yukonbob
Admiral
Posts: 1918
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 6:54 pm
Sailboat: Other
Location: Whitehorse Yukon

Re: Transom Trauma ?

Post by yukonbob »

I have the same thing in roughly the same spot with a 70 hanging off the back. No issues
User avatar
Tumbleweed
Just Enlisted
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2014 11:07 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Gulf Coast - Mississippi

Re: Transom Trauma ?

Post by Tumbleweed »

Thank you Vizwhiz, Ix, and Yukonbob.

You guys are right on !

I had to pull the boat out for bottom paint and one of the businesses next door deals with glass work - the glass guy came over and looked and said it was solid and needed nothing done. Mind-at-ease!

Thanks for responding to my apprehension of trauma.

Well done.
Lester
Post Reply