open transom versus motor bracket!?!

[jowics159]

My last boat was an open transom and it will be my last!!!! Got into a really crazy bass bite one time in some snotty stuff and almost swamped the boat from behind. Swell direction was very confusing and to get into the bite i had to go stern into the swells!! Needless to say that i was standing in a couple inches of water at the helm.

New rig is a closed transom and I love it. Im not too concerned with stuffing the bow or taking waves over the bow while anchored up. If your anchored correctly I don't think that should ever happen.

[Fish The Drop Off]

I am also making that move. Going to full transom. I feel that with having young kids my wife and family are going enjoy it. Right now there is something about kids and that notch.

[roctheboat aka pigpen]

I have had both. Bracket boats are dryer. But if someone wraps there power pro around the prop. Its rough and it midnovember you will cuss trying to reach it. I still prefer a closed transom. More deck room and safer with kids on board. Make sure you check those old gradys for rot in their transoms

[Great White]

If you can afford a little newer 24 Voyager Grady with the eurotransom and SV2 hull started in 1996 until 2002. In 2003 it became the 258 Journey with the running bottom extending all the way to the transom. Much better ride then the offshore with the new hull design. Also much easier to fish from with the platform all the way across the stern. The newer hulls also have all bronze thru hull fittings and rot not wood in the transoms. I have had a 2002 248 voyager for 10 years now and have had very few issues with the boat. If you did start taking water over the bow you could always open the tuna door to shed the water in a hurry. I had taken many waves over the transom in my 20 overniter Grady in the rips but would just power up and the 50 gallons of water would just run right out the back. If we lost power however we could of ended up trying to hold on the the slippery bottom of a turtled boat. Go with the eurotransom if you can swing it you won't regret it.

[Ohana]

If you can afford a little newer 24 Voyager Grady with the eurotransom and SV2 hull started in 1996 until 2002.

GW is spot on. If you're leaning towards Grady try to get an SV2 hull if you can swing it. Personaly never rode an old style (we have an '02) but according to people that have rode both there is a huge difference. Grady rolled them out in different years

The SeaV2 hull design was implemented on Grady-White boats in the following sizes and years:
28 ft............1989
26 ft............1991
22-25 ft.......1992
208-209......1993
192.............1994
180.............1998

We used to run a mako w/ an open transom, we never had an issue taking water while running in a following sea, only while drifting or at anchor.

[Vitalsigns]

I have an open transom and took a combination wave and large wake over the bow, my fault a misjudgement, and had water up to my knees. The water took a couple of seconds to wash out and my shorts were not clean after. I have no reservations about that happening again under power but I doubt that the outcome would be the same if I was drifting. Never took a wave over the back that would do this but it's not that some have tried. Gotta keep your head on a swivel anyway, closest I came was anchored on a wreck and a big convertible coming home from the canyons couldn't come of autopilot to go around and waked me bad, had to spin the boat around on anchor to avoid getting swamped, A hole waved as he went by.

[fauthk141]

Thanks again for all the input. I really like the idea of the euro transom, I've seen a few mid 90s Grady CCs with that type of transom and it looks like the best of both worlds. I think I'm convinced that I want some "boat" between me and the ocean at the rear. If a wave comes over the back of an open transom yes it can drain quick but in my mind water doesn't belong in a boat in the first place. As soon as you get a foot of water in the boat I think you run the risk of shorting out electronics etc etc etc.

I've seen this euro hull on some Grady's, sea swirl stripers, and century boats in our price range so I might concentrate my search there. Thanks again all, great getting all the viewpoints on here.

[SurfDuffer]

I wouldn't touch a notched transom boat that has been converted to a bracket with a 10 foot pole. Best advise I can give on the topic.

[rcracerx]

I will NEVER own another notched transom boat.

Sold my last one quickly after coolers were floating on deck while fishing in the Del bay. Full transom now and I love it, but I do not have Outboards hanging off the back to fish around.

Rc

[BT3100]

Sold my last one quickly after coolers were floating on deck while fishing in the Del bay. Full transom now and I love it, but I do not have Outboards hanging off the back to fish around.

Rc

It's nice to be able to play that large striper right to the transom without having to worry about an egg beater in your way

[Mulv80]

There is nothing wrong with a notched transom and splashwell configuration. The problem with notched transoms occur when there is no splashwell. I have never had water on the deck of my Aquasport 215 DC, or even my Wellcraft V-20, which was a 20" transom. I have taken waves over the back but they have always been contained in the splashwell. Both designs have their advantages and disadantages.

[Hardtop]

It's nice to be able to play that large striper right to the transom without having to worry about an egg beater in your way

Agreed. Love my full transom Gulf Stream

[High Wire]

I'll never own another metal bracket OB boat again. No thank you. Integrated fiberglass euro-transoms are ok.
Bracket pros: extra speed, extra storage, nice and safe with children.
Cons: Aluminum brackets in saltwater corrode from the inside out. When you take a big nasty roller over the bow, theres nowhere for the water to go except down those little deck drains and that takes a loooonnng time. I can remember stepping into the cockpit ankle deep from 2 minutes of a thunderstorm. At least with a cutout, you can pop the spashwell coverboard and the water is gone. If you drift ass first into a curling 3 ft tide rip, the stern doesnt lift before your engine disappears under water! A sight you will never forget. The prop is way back. Its a fishing line magnet with kids (and the wife). I got plenty good hanging out there with a boat pole clearing line off the prop. If you dock without a finger pier, you need a 6 ft board to to get on and off from the stern.