outboard bolts

[Winner bassboat]

the lower bolts that go threw the transom that bolt the motor and jackplate together are pulling threw the fiberglass any ideas ?

[PAR]

Yep, your transom is shot, baring any weird things going on like gorillas torquing up your transom to plate bolts late at night. You'll have to replace the transom core.

A quick way to find out is to lift your engine by hand (yes, I know it's heavy) while it's locked either up or down. Carefully look at the transom around the bolt areas as you lift up and release pressure. You'll probably see a lot of movement, puckering, distortion around the hole areas, possibly some dents have started to show, etc. The attachment should be rock solid (understandably) and no movement should be seen.

If you do see movement (very likely) then remove a bolt and stick you're finger in the hole (your finger has been in worse holes). You'll probably find it wet, mushy and full of what use to be wood, but is now pulp. The core is rotten, it happens. It's a common issue with small powerboats, particularly those with some age.

Do a search for transom replacement, there's been many different threads on the subject in the past, with a few different solutions.

[euro scott]

i agree with par, a short term remedy would be to install some aluminum plates extending as far inside the transom as possible to give it addl support ,the lower imo are not as bad as the upper bolts as far as stress goes but you dont say how big boat and motor or what size jack