Wild Bill
Well-known member
First let me say I am very pleased with my 2004 23 SE with Yamaha 224 FS with 1900 hours. It is wide open and has caught a ton of fish all along the east coast. It is very stabile in rips or big waves. I fish on a number of other boats one of which is a deep vee with a V8 350 HP Yammy and another with twin 250’s. They run faster and smoother in rough water but rock like crazy once we stop to fish. Most of my fishing is on the drift and the 23 SE may take a little longer to get there but is a real pleasure as a fishing platform.
I do extensive long distance towing over some pretty rough roads. My transom developed a long crack that extended the length of the motor well and a little farther. I do not think they were caused in the water but by the heavy motor bouncing up and down on the highway. I now use a MyWedge which helps take the shock off the trim and tilt hydraulic system but does little to help the transom. Note, I did not have a cracked transom but only the joint where the transom meets the floor. I took no pics because it was hard to see.
I had the dealer repair the cracks under warranty but it was only a cosmetic repair and did not last but a few months. Trying to do a more lasting repair, I ground down about 1/4" until I could see no evidence of the crack. Filled the crack with glass reinforced resin and then applied the gel coat. My repair lasted a year.
Talked to a professional glass man and he said he could reach down the hatch in the back and apply three layers of tri-axle Kevlar matt and resin and then apply new gel coat. He also applied one layer of tri-axle Kevlar matt to the outside at the motor well. I do not know how he could stand working by reaching down in that hole. Looks as he did a super job. My first trip was to Montauk across the GW Bridge and CBE. Terrible road and traffic. So far that bouncing did not produce any cracks. My glass man says what he did greatly strengthened the transom and guarantees no more cracks. Time will tell.
Just wanted to let guys know that cosmetic fixes did not last at all and that there is another solution to the problem. It took two days and he also fixed spider cracks about six inches along the gunwale in two spots and some chips underneath the hull. Considering how nasty it was working down through that hatch, I think the $800 price was very fair.
I do extensive long distance towing over some pretty rough roads. My transom developed a long crack that extended the length of the motor well and a little farther. I do not think they were caused in the water but by the heavy motor bouncing up and down on the highway. I now use a MyWedge which helps take the shock off the trim and tilt hydraulic system but does little to help the transom. Note, I did not have a cracked transom but only the joint where the transom meets the floor. I took no pics because it was hard to see.
I had the dealer repair the cracks under warranty but it was only a cosmetic repair and did not last but a few months. Trying to do a more lasting repair, I ground down about 1/4" until I could see no evidence of the crack. Filled the crack with glass reinforced resin and then applied the gel coat. My repair lasted a year.
Talked to a professional glass man and he said he could reach down the hatch in the back and apply three layers of tri-axle Kevlar matt and resin and then apply new gel coat. He also applied one layer of tri-axle Kevlar matt to the outside at the motor well. I do not know how he could stand working by reaching down in that hole. Looks as he did a super job. My first trip was to Montauk across the GW Bridge and CBE. Terrible road and traffic. So far that bouncing did not produce any cracks. My glass man says what he did greatly strengthened the transom and guarantees no more cracks. Time will tell.
Just wanted to let guys know that cosmetic fixes did not last at all and that there is another solution to the problem. It took two days and he also fixed spider cracks about six inches along the gunwale in two spots and some chips underneath the hull. Considering how nasty it was working down through that hatch, I think the $800 price was very fair.