282 Transom

[fordfisherman]

Looked at a 282 for sale this weekend. The center screw on the aluminum cap had pulled thru and the end cap sealant on both sides is in need of replacement. I can see a little staining at the bottom engine mount bolts in the bilge. No movement or cracking on the transom. Tapped on it and all sounded normal. Run or negotiate?

 

[Hookup1]

What year? In my opinion all Grady White owners of older boats have a transom in their future. All in denial. There are so many ways for water to get in there most of which are inaccessible. Mine was a Greenwood XL plywood transom that should not have rotted out. It did. My Yamaha/Suzuki dealer who does a lot of repowers has had more GW transoms rebuilt than all the boat manufactures in his shop put together!

The swollen bag cap and the engine mounting bolts punching out inside (wet swollen transom) are two things the indicate a problem.

You can get a good trusted surveyor. Negotiate and plan on $10K to 15K to have it done. You have to decide if you want the project. But remember this one when you look at the next one.

Thread '1997 Islander 268 Transom Rebuild Project'

May 30, 2026

Committed this weekend to rebuilding my transom. Been watching it for 10 years. Finally time. Some flex on starboard side. Cracking under rub rail. Swollen transom under bang cap. Cracking around hold down u-bolt.

Both engines electrically/mechanically disconnected from the boat. Four bolts on each engine hold them in. Got steel shipping frames from Robbie at Bluewater to hold the engines while I do the reconstruction work. Replacing plywood with Bluewater Coosa Board. Stringers suspect too.

• Hookup1
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Tips, Modifications and Electronics

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[Legend]

Most owners have the aluminum bang cap replaced at some point - not a big job if done when repowering - a more expensive job if they have to remove the engines. As previously stated the only way to be sure is to hire a pro to inspect it. Mine is 22 years old and we had the transom glassed over and capped with a new vinyl cap four years ago - at that point there was no internal damage or transom issues.