OldGuyDIY $6 Repair Pontoon Boat Aluminum Transom Cracked Welds Galvanized 3/8" Chain Carriage Bolts

[@marclebrun641]

Just did your fix on my old boat, works like a charm 😅

[@OldGuyDIY]

Thank you for commenting. I am glad the technique helped you.

[@dannyhowell3171]

I thought this is very cool idea thanks

[@OldGuyDIY]

I am glad you like it. Thanks for commenting.

[@BRENT3143945]

WAIT YOU WELDED THAT RIGHT?!?

[@OldGuyDIY]

No welding in this application. Still holding strong, several years later.

[@larryfetters212]

What a great idea!!!

[@OldGuyDIY]

Thank you, I am glad you like it.

[@vinceka637]

After 18 months, did that carriage bolt bend or wallow out the hole through the plywood? That's a big torque load now transferred from an aluminum frame (that wasn't strong enough to sustain it) now being carried by the sheering strength of a carriage bolt.

[@OldGuyDIY]

No, everything is still tight and good. I don't think it is a torque load so much as tensile strength. When the motor is pushing the boat, it is basically pulling steadily against the chains I installed while the lower unit pushes the boat forward. I suspect the weld broke because the previous owner trailered the boat a lot without a transom saver. The motor was bouncing around like a 65 pound weight at the end of a 24" aluminum lever.

[@jamesnordseth3799]

Hope there is no saltwater, galvanized and aluminum bad mix

[@OldGuyDIY]

No saltwater in SE Michigan. Thanks for commenting.

[@macski6924]

MY ISSUE I had a similar issue with my pontoon boat. All my welds were intact but two of the four bolts securing the transom to the bottom of the boat had begun to pull through that aluminum rail you refer to as a "transom bracket" at 0:54. There was maybe a half inch of space between the bottom of said 'transom Bracket' and the top of the transom where it goes under the boat. A FIX To address this issue I took the bolts out, jacked up the transom with motor still attached and installed two large square galvanized washers to distribute the weight around the bolts. PROBABLE CAUSE Anyway having to do this job got me thinking about what would have caused the issue in the first place. The most plausible answer I came up with is: Towing the boat on its trailer with inadequate or no support under the motor. The constant bouncing had to put a lot of stress on those two points. HISTORY I never noticed this problem before but only owned the boat for two years and had it out exactly three times. My boat came with nothing to support the motor. I even drove it home that way. I can only imagine that the previous owner never supported it. Before I noticed this issue I usually just ratchet strapped the bottom of the motor to a crossmember on the trailer. I now plan to create a wood support to allow me to transport the boat with the motor as close to its highest "trim" position as possible. This too will be secured with ratchet straps. My thought is with the higher angled position a greater proportion of the motor's weight will ride on that support. From one old guy to another...

[@OldGuyDIY]

Thank you for the description of the similar issue you encountered and the fix. It may help someone who watches this video.