1992 Crownline - Transom Replacement

[Natesms]

You mean Cloth??? CSM IS mat.

Yes, sorry. Switch to a woven cloth.

 

[Natesms]

From when I was doing the removal / grinding. This job is not fun.

 

[Natesms]

Finished up glassing the transom tonight. I stuck with the CSM. 2 sheets of 3/4 plywood + 6 total layers of CSM + 5/16" of hull thickness should put me right about the 2" thickness. Tomorrow, I cut the hole.

Any suggestions on the best way to drill out the angled holes at the top for the steering arm?

 

[JASinIL2006]

Use a hole saw and come in from the side. Best to do that before you cut the keyhole. Otherwise, it's really difficult to get the hole saw the go where you want it to.

 

[Natesms]

Cut the keyhole and test fit the gimbal tonight. Was really happy with how it turned out. The transom ended up exactly 2" thick all the way around. Maybe plus or minus a 1/32", but it turned out great in that regard. Few pictures of the process.

To cut the angled holes I actually used 3 drill bits. I had a shallow hole saw with a long shank to get the pilot hole going and one of the sides started started. Then used a deep hole saw to cut the rest. I also used a paddle bit throughout it to drill flush with the transom to remove material so the hole saw could keep going.

Shallow starter bit:

I'd have to remove material to keep the angle going.

The 2 angled holes are cut, and now I'm cutting the keyhole. The blue tape sort of helped keep the scratches down but not as I had hoped. The relief holes at each turn worked out and gave me practice before drilling the bolt holes.

 

[Natesms]

This is how I drilled the bolt holes and it worked out great. The gimbal went right in, and the bolts are snug.

I used a couple of 2X4's as my guides. I put them square to the transom (actually used a speed square to make sure). I then clamped them. I would then put the drill bit into the hole and push the 2X4's against the bit until the boards stopped moving and the bit was flush against the boards. By doing this on the bottom and a side I was able to hold the bit flush with the boards while I was drilling. Clamping was tough and eventually I enlisted a 2nd set of hands but they turned out great.

(FYI - the hole in the middle of the 2 x 4 was leftover from clamping the transom while gluing...not used for this process)

 

[Natesms]

It got dark when I put the gimbal on. But I'm happy with it. Only half the bolts are in and barely snug but she looks good.

 

[Natesms]

OK, so now a question. I noticed 1 motor mount was slightly higher than the other when measure from the hull up. I'm worried I had the heights off.

I put the level across the rear motor mounts to get their position (in the driveway with a slight lean on the trailer).

This picture is of the level across the front 2 motor mounts. It's almost identical with regards to what the level says. Should I just leave them be and take up any minor differences with the front motor mount bolts and say forget the height differences???

 

[Natesms]

I took some measurements and leveled up the front motor mounts and feel pretty good about that when the motor goes back in.

I'm not good with fiberglass, I always try to do to much at once. My glass job on the motor mounts is horrible. So many air bubbles around the angles. Not even going to post a picture.

How many layers of glass do the motor mounts normally get? I'm at 3 layers of cloth right now.

 

[Natesms]

After being gone for a week, got her ready to drop the motor back in. I probably should have sanded the motor mounts down and fixed them correctly but I'm not messing with it. Where the motor will sit is in good shape and solid.

It's been triple digit heat index the last couple of weeks. Hope to get the motor in sometime soon, but with the heat wave my buddy isn't overly interested in doing more work in the evening so we'll see.

Got an 80 mile trip planned this weekend in the big boat, probably nothing for you on the ocean but that's a haul for me!

 

[Natesms]

Dropped the motor in last night. Took a bit to get it aligned but in the end it turned out pretty well. Had it to where the alignment tool would almost fall out, then snugged up the bolts and it's good, but not as good. I'll put another half turn into them before I call it done.

 

[Natesms]

She's alive...Hope to take her out on the 4th or sometime next week for a trial run.

 

[Michael.bovine]

Good job. Glad the motor dropped right in.

 

[Natesms]

Took her out yesterday and everything went great. She sounded good and felt good from idle up to 4,000 rpm. I figured I'd have a to-do list after the first outing but it went so well I put her right into storage.

It's a good feeling to get it all done.

Of course it's a boat and nothing is ever done. Still have to get to the impeller...