In some boats and ships, a transom is the aft transverse surface of the hull that forms the

stern The stern is the back or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite the bow, the foremost part of a ship. O ...

of a vessel. Historically, they are a development from the canoe stern (or "double-ender") wherein which both bow and stern are pointed. Transoms add both strength and width to the stern. They may be flat or curved and they may be vertical, raked forward (known as retroussé), or raked aft. In small boats and yachts, this flat termination of the stern is typically above the

waterline The waterline is the line where the hull of a ship meets the surface of the water. A waterline can also refer to any line on a ship's hull that is parallel to the water's surface when the ship is afloat in a level trimmed position. Hence, wate ...

, but large commercial vessels often exhibit vertical transoms that dip slightly beneath the water. On cruising boats, a counter stern may be truncated to form a "truncated counter stern", in which there is a part of the stern that approximates a transom. Although that standard stern transom is typically vertical, they may be raked such that there is an overhang above the water, as at the bow. A reverse transom is angled from the

forwards. On smaller boats such as dinghies, transoms may be used to support a

rudder A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, airship, or other vehicle that moves through a fluid medium (usually air or water). On an airplane, the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw ...

, outboard motor, or a wind-generator pole. On cruising yachts, the transome may hinge outwards (when at anchor) to form a swimming access platform, and to provide a lazarette for deck items and leisure toys.

Etymology

The term was used as far back as

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...

in the 1300s, having come from

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

''transversus'' (transverse) via

Old French Old French (, , ; ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France approximately between the late 8th [2-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...

''traversain'' (set crosswise). 2007 Collins dictionary

Gallery

File:Sea Scooter transom.jpg, Flat transom on a dinghy with mount points for a

. File:The Bermuda cedar (Juniperus bermudiana) transom of Spirit of Bermuda, 2016.jpg, The Juniperus bermudiana, Bermuda cedar transom of the Spirit of Bermuda File:Coble on shore at Boulmer (2) - geograph.org.uk - 1381157.jpg, Raked transom with rudder mount points. File:CS 30 Sailboat Kelsea 0297.jpg, Reverse transom with rudder mounted under the hull. Image:Merc 50 hp.jpg, Transom-mounted outboard motor. File:Irwin 44.jpg, An Irwin 44 with a fold-down transom. Image:Offshore Racing Sailboat.jpg, Reverse transom with access platform. Image:Illustrated marine encyclopedia 341.jpg, Traditional timber construction with horizontal transom members in pale yellow-green (6) and turquoise (7).

References

{{Sailing ship elements Sailboat components Watercraft components Ships Watercraft