what type of wood should be used

[74starcraft']

I'm in the process of restoring an aluminum v hull boat,I'm wondering what I should use for the plate on the back of the transom,the piece I removed was 1/4 inch treated,all the research I have been doing say to not use pressure treated wood on aluminum,so when I went to the lumber yard they said they don't have any 1/4 inch outdoor ply non treated,my question is can I use 3/8 as they said they have several options of that,or will that effect how the outboard performs at all,for now I'm running a 2stroke Johnson 8 hp,or can I use the pressure treated in 1/4 inch if I epoxy it?I only want to do this once as I just replaced the transom with 3/4 inch marine and epoxy,whatever I choose to use I want it to last many ,many years without having to mess with it.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

:welcome: to iboats 74SC

If you're talking about the board on the outer side of the transom like this



you can use any type of thin ply (except treated) just make sure you seal it up. Options for sealing go from paint to epoxy. do some reading of some of the many starcraft restore threads (those should get you started) and you will find many options for sealing plywood.

 

[74starcraft']

Yes,that is the piece I'm talking about,so I can use 3/8 then instead of 1/4 inch,as for sealing it,I got that covered with the $78 dollars a quart epoxy that the local boat shop had,great stuff a little pricy tho.well ok then thank you for the input and I will keep plugging at it.

 

[64osby]

Another option that others have done for the motor pad is to use cutting board material. It will never rot.

 

[jbcurt00]

Or solid/thick aluminum stock

 

[gm280]

Yes,that is the piece I'm talking about,so I can use 3/8 then instead of 1/4 inch,as for sealing it,I got that covered with the $78 dollars a quart epoxy that the local boat shop had,great stuff a little pricy tho.well ok then thank you for the input and I will keep plugging at it.

WOW, they saw you coming. That is so wrong to charge $78 dollars for a quart of epoxy... Sounds like you have it basically all worked out now. I would have used that type money on a 1/4" piece of aluminum for that size piece. And it wouldn't have cost $78 dollars or needed painted or sealed either, to keep it from rotting ever. Maybe for a future idea... JMHO!

 

[74starcraft']

Yup,78 bucks for the west system 2 part epoxy,quart size,with 32oz of resin and 7 oz of hardener,oh well,it's done the right way tho.I used it for the transom the whole thing was rotted and it came out very nice.I will use what is left on the wooden seat platforms.I just don't do business with them unless I really have to.

 

[studioq]

Love the cutting board idea. Absolutely perfect...

 

[74starcraft']

Yes,I think I may look into the ol' cutting board technique,I should probly stick with wood tho wouldn't you think the sun may warp those hard plastic ones?

 

[pckeen]

It might - but with a motor clamped on, my guess is it will last well.

 

[MTboatguy]

One of my boats had a piece of plastic under the transom clamps on the motor for over 20 years and it never warped and it was never covered, it was never out of the weather, most of the modern plastics are pretty stable even in the extremes of the environment.

 

[jigngrub]

Plastic is............. plastic! Aluminium plate it much more substantial.

A 1/4" thick by 12" square aluminum plate on the inside and outside will be your friends.

 

[64osby]

He is using an 8hp outboard. If the transom is solid there are no structural issues.

A motor pad is just a piece that protects the aluminum skin from motor rash.

 

[74starcraft']

Ok,problem solved,I was looking around the yard and found a half sheet of t1-11 it is untreated and 5/16 inch thick,the grooves on one side are very shallow I think they make this stuff in a couple different applications,anyway I cut it sanded it and BOOYA,it sucked up the epoxy just beautiful and is going to work perfectly,I will be rebuilding the 25 hp merc that came on the boat over the winter,I just got the 8 hp so I can do some fishing before the season is over.thank all of you for the ideas.

 

[Ned L]

Actually for a small outboard that is not through bolted, wood or plastic would be better than an aluminum plate. The outboard bracket can't really get a grip on the hard aluminum, so the outboard will have a greater chance of flipping off the transom when put over to the side in a turn.

Also, keep in mind that epoxy is not UV resistant so you will still need to paint the wod.