How To Repair Rotted Boat Transom

Your boat transom—or the flat department that forms the square-shaped stern—is one of the nearly disquisitional areas you need to maintain. And, if you take a wooden transom, then yous know that you always need to inspect for rot to brand sure that everything'south in top shape. To help you with this task, we've put together this brief guide on how to fix a rotted transom on your boat and how to identify this problem.

How to Identify A Rotted Transom

The commencement footstep is to know how to find rot in your transom. You might call up that giving your boat a one time-over is enough, merely we're talking about rot here—information technology's not always going to make itself obvious. Wood can rot from the inside out, which means that past the time yous meet information technology, you might have a serious rotting problem on your hands.

Many gunkhole owners recommend that when your boat is out of the water and in dry dock, you should knock on the wood to get a sense of how it sounds. For boats with an outboard motor located outside the transom, you lot may need to remove it to investigate more thoroughly.

If y'all're able to but knock on the wood, you'll be able to get an idea of whether there'south rot on the within of the woods. If yous get a "hollow" audio, that's the sign that you lot need to investigate further by drilling into the transom. If you're able to hands penetrate the wood by poking it through this hole, it'due south a sure sign that yous have rot. If not, then yous know that the wood within is still in strong condition.

Some boaters also recommend that you apply moisture meters when your boat is in dry dock. A wet meter will indicate moisture levels, which is a sure sign that if rot hasn't formed, it may be on the cusp of forming. This is another good way to judge for rot on the within of the wood, only proceed in listen that information technology'south but one tool for diagnosing rot, and not necessarily the but tool you have to rely on for the task.

Repairing A Rotted Transom

One time yous've looked for water trapped in the transom and other issues that could have caused the rotting, it's time to call up about the wood itself. If yous caught information technology early on plenty, it might be possible that you can avert expensive repairs.

I method is to use a production like Git-Rot from BoatLIFE. This two-part liquid epoxy fills and restores the dry out rot within the woods using capillary activity to penetrate it without drilling it full of holes. You lot can inject Git-Rot straight into the wood for more thorough penetration. Make sure the woods fiber are dry though!

For more serious cases, it's possible that you may need to get the opinion of an expert, who might have to disassemble the transom. Only, if you lot tin can repair and strengthen the wood with dry rot in its early stages, you can do a lot to maintain the quality of your boat.

Shop More from BoatLIFE

Now that you know how to ready a rotten transom on your boat, are y'all looking for more than means to maintain your craft? Browse the boat revitalization and cleaning products available here at BoatLIFE for all of your needs!