Transoms vary an awful lot, but do they really?
Some transoms are handsome for sure, especially amongst the ‘classic’ fraternity, others less so.
What they all collectively share is that the shape has a great deal to do with the overall look of a vessel, its hull lines and runs aft. Some rise up above the waterline whilst others squat , by design, into the sea.
Squatting causes drag – the tumbling back of the water flow instead of running clear. My own Finesse 24 suffers from ‘prop squat’ under power causing a drag from the transom – under sail the transom sits clear and pretty…
Modern yachts, in general, have been given by their designers a retroussé stern in the fashion of a sugar scoop. This has several fundamental uses, ease of swimming from, alighting from dinghy and stern mooring access…
A modern ‘sugar scoop’ hind quarters…
Some aft ends are flat others a wine glass shape – especially with deep keelers – whilst others mimic the ‘barge’ shape. Many others often bare a resemblance to the bawley behind, akin to a babycham glass -remember those?
I wandered recently around a yard on the River Crouch and looked at a few transoms noting a few more in passing on the water…
A Stella’s stern – a typical wine glass…
A southerly’s transom next to a steel built semi deep draft vessel – remove the angularities from the steel boats behind and the shape is profoundly similar to the modern GRP boat’s…
Above and below are two similar types. Top a Memory class day sailer and below a small traditionally built cruiser from 50 or so years ago…
Note too how there appears to be a similar level of immersion down to the tuck.
These two, above and below, represent two motor cruiser types. Maverick is a classy planning vessel designed for speed, whilst the other represents a more traditional displacement type and very common amongst ‘gentleman’s yachts’ of the inter war (1914-18 & 1939-46) era.
I have added: the shape is mimicked by yachts, a typical barge transom.
The 1900 registered Ironsides, now largely a steel vessel, at her mooring below N. Fambridge. She’s owned by the yacht station manager Toby Lester and his wife … living aboard with their young son … brings back memories for me!
The Elizabeth Anne at Tollesbury – she is currently for sale. The vessel is a good example of a barge-yacht from the 1930s – then the type was popular with cruising yachtsmen (and women too, surely…).
The Angela & Peter owned by ‘JP’ Lodge at her mooring at Tollesbury … currently being fitted out.
So there we are … just a few of the types that can be seen and appreciated around the N. Kent, Essex and Suffolk coastal rivers…