Framed Single Skin Laminate Transoms

摘要

Outboard motors traditionally mount to the transom of a boat using "C" type clamps. These motors require a transom to be approximately 2 inches thick to accommodate the mount. This type of transom is still the most common style today. Modern outboard motors are bolted to the transom, thus the requirement for a thick transom is no longer appropriate. This study compares a traditional fiberglass over plywood transom to a framed single skin transom design. Both designs were analyzed using the finite element method to determine deflections and ply-by-ply stresses for identical load cases. The framed single skin transom has significantly lower deflections and stresses than the GRP plywood transom. It also weighs less, has a lower material cost, and requires less labor to build.