Transom strenghth and Evinrude 88 hp - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Transom strenghth and Evinrude 88 hp

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Transom strenghth and Evinrude 88 hp

Wayneman posted 09-25-2002 07:38 PM ET (US)
Hello again all. I am the owner of the $350.00 1964 Nauset with the bum 40 Merc. I found an Evinrude 88 in great shape for a good price. I know these boats could take up to 100hp. What if the transom has wood that is waterlogged in it? Won't this motor just kill the transom? I had the opportunity to try a 17 ftr with a motor like this and was really impressed with the performance. Any suggestions?
JBCornwell posted 09-25-2002 09:35 PM ET (US)
Hi, Wayne.
There is a remote possibility that you have rot in your transom. You can survey it with a small mallet or even drill some exploratory holes. If the wood around the holes that hold the bolts for your 40 looks good, the transom is probably good.
On the other hand, if you mount that 88 on it, you will know soon enough if the transom is weak. You can fix it then.
Good luck.
Red sky at night. . .
JB :)
acassidy posted 09-25-2002 10:18 PM ET (US)
I really do not think that the transom will have a problem holding the weight. I have a Johnson GT 100 1991 on my 78 Montauk and it handles it just fine. If you do have rot in the transom it might be apparent when you remove the motor and look in the boltholes through the transom for rotten wood. Anther way is to see if you can compress the transom anywhere, (C clap with wood pieces for padding) Or you can drill small inspection holes and Marine Tex and gelcoat them. If your bolt holes are free from rot then I bet that you are good to go. And remember that there really is not a lot of wood in the transom. But even if your boat has a bad transom, there is so much strength in the transom from fiberglass that your motor will not tear the transom off. You will see new stress cracks in high stress areas (splash well corners) if it is weak. That motor and boat combo should be very good for you. Archie
Cpt Quint posted 09-26-2002 09:21 AM ET (US)
I have 88 spl rude on 63 Sakonnet that Im certain from just age has some rot in the transom. 2 months ago while trailering down the hwy I hit a bump which split my trailer axle and threw the wheel off. The boat came crashing down on the wheeless axle.
I had to dry drag the trailer in 4 wheel drive to get it off a bridge, dead pull the entire rig on a flatbed and have the marina hoist the boat from the trailer.
Bottom line was 350lbs of pressure coming strait down 20 inches onto concrete with a 39 year old transom and not even a crack.
Ive seen alot of posts on transom weakness but havent seen one say the motor ripped the transom of their whaler yet.
Bigshot posted 09-26-2002 10:47 AM ET (US)
Uh....I ripped one off a 13' with a 25hp that was rotted. The entire port side carcked in the corner all the way to the bottom. Had to tie the transom up to get boat home. This was the old bulkhead style though which was not the greatest design and likewise changed.
Wayneman posted 09-27-2002 11:17 AM ET (US)
THANKS ALL! IN GENERAL, I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT NOW IN THE BOAT'S INHERRANT STRENGHTH. NOW I JUST HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN A 1980 EVINRUDE 60 AND A EARLY 80'S 88HP. BOTH ARE AROUND THE SAME PRICE. BUT EITHER WAY, THE SEASON IS JUST ABOUT KAPUT HERE ON THE HUDSON RIVER.
TightPenny posted 09-27-2002 12:41 PM ET (US)
Go with the 88.
I've had both a 60 and a 90 on my Montauk.
The performance of the 90 allows you to run at a much more economical RPM and still have the extra oomph for when you need it.
Bigshot posted 09-27-2002 01:59 PM ET (US)
88's were not made until 87 so that is a late 80's. I would go with whatever was the cleaner better shape engine. Throwing good maoney after bad is stupid when you are only sacrificing some speed. Money obviously is the issue here.
I had an opportunity to buy a used 1986 70hp Johnson with VRO or a new in the box 1984 60 premix back in 1989 for the same price. I took the 84 even though it was 5 years old.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Transom strenghth and Evinrude 88 hp
Wayneman	posted 09-25-2002 07:38 PM ET (US) Hello again all. I am the owner of the $350.00 1964 Nauset with the bum 40 Merc. I found an Evinrude 88 in great shape for a good price. I know these boats could take up to 100hp. What if the transom has wood that is waterlogged in it? Won't this motor just kill the transom? I had the opportunity to try a 17 ftr with a motor like this and was really impressed with the performance. Any suggestions?
JBCornwell	posted 09-25-2002 09:35 PM ET (US) Hi, Wayne. There is a remote possibility that you have rot in your transom. You can survey it with a small mallet or even drill some exploratory holes. If the wood around the holes that hold the bolts for your 40 looks good, the transom is probably good. On the other hand, if you mount that 88 on it, you will know soon enough if the transom is weak. You can fix it then. Good luck. Red sky at night. . . JB :)
acassidy	posted 09-25-2002 10:18 PM ET (US) I really do not think that the transom will have a problem holding the weight. I have a Johnson GT 100 1991 on my 78 Montauk and it handles it just fine. If you do have rot in the transom it might be apparent when you remove the motor and look in the boltholes through the transom for rotten wood. Anther way is to see if you can compress the transom anywhere, (C clap with wood pieces for padding) Or you can drill small inspection holes and Marine Tex and gelcoat them. If your bolt holes are free from rot then I bet that you are good to go. And remember that there really is not a lot of wood in the transom. But even if your boat has a bad transom, there is so much strength in the transom from fiberglass that your motor will not tear the transom off. You will see new stress cracks in high stress areas (splash well corners) if it is weak. That motor and boat combo should be very good for you. Archie
Cpt Quint	posted 09-26-2002 09:21 AM ET (US) I have 88 spl rude on 63 Sakonnet that Im certain from just age has some rot in the transom. 2 months ago while trailering down the hwy I hit a bump which split my trailer axle and threw the wheel off. The boat came crashing down on the wheeless axle. I had to dry drag the trailer in 4 wheel drive to get it off a bridge, dead pull the entire rig on a flatbed and have the marina hoist the boat from the trailer. Bottom line was 350lbs of pressure coming strait down 20 inches onto concrete with a 39 year old transom and not even a crack. Ive seen alot of posts on transom weakness but havent seen one say the motor ripped the transom of their whaler yet.
Bigshot	posted 09-26-2002 10:47 AM ET (US) Uh....I ripped one off a 13' with a 25hp that was rotted. The entire port side carcked in the corner all the way to the bottom. Had to tie the transom up to get boat home. This was the old bulkhead style though which was not the greatest design and likewise changed.
Wayneman	posted 09-27-2002 11:17 AM ET (US) THANKS ALL! IN GENERAL, I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT NOW IN THE BOAT'S INHERRANT STRENGHTH. NOW I JUST HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN A 1980 EVINRUDE 60 AND A EARLY 80'S 88HP. BOTH ARE AROUND THE SAME PRICE. BUT EITHER WAY, THE SEASON IS JUST ABOUT KAPUT HERE ON THE HUDSON RIVER.
TightPenny	posted 09-27-2002 12:41 PM ET (US) Go with the 88. I've had both a 60 and a 90 on my Montauk. The performance of the 90 allows you to run at a much more economical RPM and still have the extra oomph for when you need it.
Bigshot	posted 09-27-2002 01:59 PM ET (US) 88's were not made until 87 so that is a late 80's. I would go with whatever was the cleaner better shape engine. Throwing good maoney after bad is stupid when you are only sacrificing some speed. Money obviously is the issue here. I had an opportunity to buy a used 1986 70hp Johnson with VRO or a new in the box 1984 60 premix back in 1989 for the same price. I took the 84 even though it was 5 years old.