2003 BR 200 Transom/stringer construction

[Nicholas Del Rio]

Hello everyone,

Trying to get info about the structural components of my boat. The official Sea Ray tech support team responded to my inquiry:

“Thank you for your inquiry. The main transom panel is a special treated marine wood material. The main transom panel will extend to each side of the stern drive, but does not cover the complete transom. There will be some additional bracing on each side the main panel that is separate sections laminated into the transom.”

My question is what is the composition of the bracing, and what is its proximity to the main panel? How important are those braces in terms of structural integrity? I can see evidence of the main panel from the inside (pics attached of main panel and motor mounts that are presumably attached to stringers?), but can’t see any other lumps in the glass for where the supports are. Also, it’d be nice to know a bit more about the stringer system employed in this boat and whether transom/stringer failures are common with this particular year/model (I know that maintenance and owner care are most important factors). I just don’t have a good mental model for how this thing is put together, and feel that knowledge will help me better detect and prevent future problems when they (inevitably) arise.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Nicholas Del Rio]

Maybe too specialized a question, or something I should figure out for myself via more inspection?

 

[scoflaw]

Your not saying what your concern is. Is there a problem?

 

[ttmott]

The plywood sandwiched in between FRP mats terminates inward/above the hull sides and bottom. Those areas of transition have tabs and continuous FRP, roving, mat, and chop on the inside and are laid up in mat on the outside. Depending upon the year I believe the plywood is bonded to the stringers if the stringers are wood then the tabs, roving, mat, and chop is laid in. If the stringers are composit, I believe the plywood transom member is glassed over then the stringers are set then the final tabs, roving, mat and chop is done; this is because the stringers are hollow. One thing SR did in the later boats with a garboard is terminate the plywood above the garboard.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Any additional bracing (lumps) you see in the transom will be plywood. However, the floor and the stringers are composite and you may notice by looking at them that they are "one piece"... sort of a "uni-body" type construction. There will be some extra wood where the motor mounts are for extra security.

I see A LOT of Sea Rays. Generally speaking their transom layups and overall construction is top notch and it is EXTREMELY rare to see any issues. In fact, the only time I have EVER seen an issue with the plywood in the transom is when it is caused by an owner drilling into it and not properly sealing the hole.

 

[Nicholas Del Rio]

Thank you very very much for all your replies! I did notice that sort of unibody construction, which led me to these questions, since I couldn’t find anything that looked like a traditional stringer. Also, I didn’t hire a surveyor to inspect this boat prior to purchase (naive first time boat owner) and honestly didn’t quite understand the architecture of these things at time of purchase. And In this market, the seller would have never waited for me to hire a surveyor anyhow. Glad to know the boat has a solid construction. Again, thanks for your time!