13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

[VaBeach1234]

I have removed all the wood in the transom of my 1985 13' Dell Quay. See attached link:

http://www.putfile.com/vabeach1234/images/128054

This boat is a foam filled boat just like a whaler. Do I just remove the wood and replace it with seacast or do I need to remove all the foam in the transom out to the boat sides/gunwales? The reason I'm asking is, I have cracks in the port and starboard corners where the transom meets the sides of the boat. See image at link:

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=6021620

Originally I was going to just remove the transom wood and replace with seacast. Then sand down the cracked corners and place more fiberglass there where it has cracked then gelcoat over the new fiberglass which should reinforce the corners.

One note, the transom hung off the trailer bunks by 7 inches. I have since move the boat forward on the trailer so the trailer bunks are directly below the transom. Do you think this might have caused the cracks in the corners?

Thanks.

Ken

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

you solved the cause, now do the complete transom, spread the load all the way out. imho.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

TD is correct, Get as much foam out as possible and do the Seacast out to the corners as much as possible.I would not feel real secure with the corners being filled with foam.

 

[VaBeach1234]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. I guess I need to order another 5 gallons of Seacast $$$.

But it will be done right and last longer than me.

Thanks for the input guys. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Ken

 

[VaBeach1234]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

Okay,
I talked with Bobbi at Seacast. It was recommended that I remove the foam at least 1 foot past where the original transom wood stopped on each side. This pretty much puts me out to the sides of the boat. What i did find interesting is that I need to attach dry fiberglass mat to the exposed foam. The seacast is a core material and must be encapsulated in fiberglass. When the seacast is poured, it will wet out the fiberglass mat. This may be a little tricky to do so I might have to remove more of the cap to install the mat. Also, if the transom gets wider, it was recommended that I only remove foam that is equivalent to the original thickness of the wood in the transom. My transom gets thicker at the base (about 3 inches as opposed to 1 1/2" thick at the top. So as long as I can maintain 1 1/2" cavity down the transom and place dry mat against the exposed foam it will work.

Bobbi did recommend the option of screwing or tacking the mat to the foam from the exterior.

I think I need smaller hands. This is gonna be fun. Be prepared to see pictures of scratched/bloodied up hands. They are still healing from when I started all this work.

Ken

 

[VaBeach1234]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

Well, I have started pouring the first pour into the transom of my Dell Quay 13'. I've added some additional pictures to my putfile account. Check it out:

http://www.putfile.com/vabeach1234/images/128054

I also added a video, it's big so be prepared. Here's the address to that:

http://media.putfile.com/Seacast---First-Pour---Dell-Quay-13-Transom-Repair

The first pour I think I was a little intimated by the amount of fiberglass strains that I was puting in. It started to thicken up but was still flowable. If I could do it again, I'd put more strains in than I did. It looks like 2 five gallon buckets aren't going to do it. I'll need to order more. The transom gets too thick at the bottom because of all the foam I had to remove.

As for laying the fiberglass mat against the inner skin, well that couldn't have worked better. The seacast pushed the mat right up against the existing fiberglass and foam. As for the flowablity of the seacast. I poured it in on the port side of the boat and it made it all the way over to the starboard side and leveled out. Tapping on the hull helped push some air bubbles to the top. So far I definitely recommend this product. I think the hardest part is going to be capping the transom and making it look right.

I'll keep you guys updated. Second pour to come soon with more pictures. I'm pretty sure I'll need to order more seacast before I can fold the fiberglass mat over to cap and tuck it in.

Ken

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

The job is looking great! I think it will turn out just fine.
On mine i left about 3/4 of an inch at the top after folding the mat over.Then after it cured i filled that with Evercoat Tiger Hair fiberglass filler.It was easy to work with and is paintable.

 

[VaBeach1234]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

Thanks Gary, that's a great idea about the fiberglass filler.

Well I have finished pouring the seacast. 3 pours !$!$! I wrapped the fiberglass mat over the cap and tucked it at the outer skin as suggested by seacast. Now, I plan to place resin filler with fiberglass strains between the top of the seacast and the original cap. I cut the cap off in four sections so I'll put them back one at a time. After the filler sets and the cap is reattached to the top of the transom, I'll grind down all the joints/saw cuts and the place 3 mats of fiber glass over the joint. Then come back and sand and then paint. Here's the link again.

http://www.putfile.com/vabeach1234/images/128054

Ken

 

[VaBeach1234]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

Well, it's done. I've finished the fiberglass work and painted the affected area. So far I've pulled a 180lb guy on a tube with no problem what so ever. No transom cracks and the transom sounds solid when you tap on it. In fact, it's so solid that I screwed the motor clamps down as tight as I could without the inner transom gelcoat cracking, what a difference from before. I'm very pleased with the out come and would recommend Seacast to anyone. Unfortuantely, because I removed too much of the of the inner foam I had to use 2-3/4 five gallon buckets. That's a lot for a 13' boat, $$$$. But I figure I spent close to $800. That's better than the shop doing it for more than twice that.

Oh, the only thing I'm disappointed in is my crappy paint job. I plan on sanding it down this winter and doing it right. The night I was painting I had a spot light behind the boat. I painted the rear of the transom and then started on the inner face of the transom in the motor well. When I finished the inner face, I stepped back to admire my work and found at least 40 bugs had embedded themselves into the paint. I was so pissed I whiped them off and applied a second coat and said forget it, I'm going boating.

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Check out the final pictures:

http://www.putfile.com/vabeach1234/images/128054

Ken
Chesapeake, VA

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

i'm adding this link to the seacast sticky. thanks, for the great pictures.

 

[das fisch]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

what about the question regarding roller placement under the transom, or 6 or 7 inches back? i have the same scenario, crack at joint of keel and and transom and one on the sides.
no questions about the fix, just the roller placment.

 

[VaBeach1234]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

Das Fisch,
I did a quick search on google for boat roller placement. This website came up first.

http://www.shorelandr.com/pages/forum/f_trstep2.html

Check under section F of the above website. It states that the end of bunks/rollers should be flush with transom and has a picture.

Hope this helps.

Ken

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 13' Dell Quay (Similar to Whaler) Seacast Transom Repair

i always extend my bunks 4-6 inches beyond the transom. this allows you to adjust the boat on the trailer in the future, if equipment is added to the bow.