How to Make a Canoe Transom

The transom is the flat back end of a boat, or the part of a double-ended boat that attaches to the motor. If you're tired of paddling your canoe, install a transom so you can lean back and let a small outboard do the work for you. A removable transom also offers the advantage of switching to paddling when you want the exercise, or in waterways where motors are prohibited. For those who need to give up canoeing for physical disability reasons, adding a motor can prolong your enjoyment of this peaceful mode of seeing our nation's lakes and streams from water level.

Things You'll Need

  • Wing-nuts and bolts
  • 1-by-6-foot hardwood
  • 8-inch-square marine plywood
  • 1-by-2-foot strips of hardwood
  • Marine glue
  • Clamps
  • Saw
  • Drill
  • Stainless steel screws
  • Marine paint
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a section of the 1-by-2 to 8 inches, then screw and glue to the edge of the plywood. Place the plywood against the end of your 1-by-6 transom board, forming a T with the transom pressing against the center of the plywood piece and clamp in place. Glue and screw on 1-by-2 pieces above and below the transom board, the length of the plywood, to reinforce the attachment. Frame the plywood square with 1-by-2; glue and screw each one.

    • 2

      Measure the inboard of your canoe to determine the size of the clamp needed to hold the transom onto your canoe. Cut the 1-by-2 scraps to the width of your 1-by-6, then screw two lengths together, one horizontal and the other vertical to its width, forming an L shape. At the edge of the plywood piece, drill a hole through the long leg of your L, and the 1-by-6 transom for the wing nut bolt, to clamp this onto your canoe inboard.

    • 3

      Measure the stern of your canoe, about 12 to 18 inches from the tail. This is where your transom clamps on. Measure your transom board and install the second inboard clamp at the correct width. Attach another piece of 1-by-2 to the transom board where it snugs up against the inboard of the canoe; keep the clamps in place on both sides.

    • 4

      Secure the transom board to the canoe with the clamps and wingnuts, testing to see if it is secure. The plywood motor mount should be perpendicular to the canoe, and steady enough to bear the weight of the motor.

    • 5

      Seal the whole removable transom with marine paint. This makes it look snappy and preserves the wood to help it last longer.