Crack in transom - HELP!

[j.davis]

I have an opportunity to get a nice little fiberglass bass boat for ridiculously cheap but the reason is there’s a crack in the transom and the engine doesn’t work. Engine doesn’t matter to me because I’d be using it as an electric only reservoir boat anyway and have the trolling motors already. I’m just wondering how I’d go about repairing that crack. I’ve never had a fiberglass boat before.

[TheRodFather]

If it was me, and the crack was well above the water line, and I was pulling off the outboard (less weight on the transom causing stress).

 

I might think about buying it and making a repair just for cosmetics, or not repair at all if doesn't look terrible and isn't letting water in when sitting in the water.  A glass boat is going to be a lot heavier than a tin, so a large trolling motor and plenty of battery will be needed.  Not sure how big the water you want to fish is, but a standard 55lb 12v trolling motor is going to be slow going.

 

Repairing the glass isn't all that hard, especially if structural integrity isn't a big concern.

 

[Way2slow]

If your not planning on running an outboard motor on it, the crack is not a major problem, even if it has a rotted transom.  It's more than easy enough to repair and add if needed, add some reinforcement to hold even several electric TM's.  Even if you have never done fiberglass, there's enough how too's on the net, and something like that would be a prefect project to learn on.

 

Just understand, you are starting off on the heavy side using a glass boat for and electric only.

[Big Rick]

Cheap doesn't often mean good deal. In fact, it often means a money pit. That said,  please understand that if you get a glass boat on a stump you often need the big motor to get off it. If you don't have that big motor then you're getting wet in order to get free. Glass boats displace WAY more water than all the other options. 

[Fishes in trees]

How cheap is " ridiculously cheap?"  Big Rick is correct in that should you get a fiberglass boat stuck on a stump, it is often a challenge to get off of it if you don't have a big motor.  Prior to getting my current boat, I used to have a Water Buster - a 10' mini boat, similar to a Pelican or a Pond Prowler, and I became very aware of deep stumps once I got stuck on them a couple of times.  It is a challenge to get off of them.

 

That being said, I think that a very cheap fiberglass boat would make a great lawn ornament, something for kids to climb on and play in.  Put it right next to the swing set.    I've also seen them lined with a tarp and changed into a cool tub, let it set in the sun long enough and it is a hot tub.

[j.davis]

Boat wouldn’t fit the trailer so it’s a no go. Ridiculously cheap is $100 with a minn Kota maxxum on the bow and two leather seats worth the money alone. After seeing it in person it would have definitely been over kill for the reservoirs I planned to use it on. I’m just going to find another tinny with a wider beam and build it up to what I want. Thanks for all the input though everybody.