Finally making some progress...

[EJS]

I made a thread a while back about transom repair on my '78 Fiberform. Well, she has been sitting on the side of the house until yesterday. Took her to the shop and pulled the stern drive, motor, and transom plate. It all came out pretty easily, just one stud on the transom plate broke, it was rusted clear through basically. Im hoping thats an easy fix.. Also the front engine mount, where its held to the floor with two lag screws is basically mush. so Ill have to cut that out and put new wood in. Im not sure how to approach the transom replacement with the two 'step' up areas on the sides of the engine... Is the transom tucked behind these steps?(have to take some of the floor?) Or is it usually notched around them?

Thanks for any help!

Eric

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Finally making some progress...

take the Deck out, you're going to find more damage, if the mount stringer was mush.

 

[oops!]

Re: Finally making some progress...

hi ej...welcome

gee that looks like my boat.

stepped area is glassed into the trans

the high side of the step is the stringer
the lower side is 3 sheets of plywood stacked on top of each other.
this forms the motor mount paltform.

i got a link some where called easy transom removal with picks, i think it will show the design...any hooo

it all must come out!!!!

at least two feet out from the trans. but with your stringer config i would remove the whole rear section of the floor. leave the stringers in..youll have to cut them away from the transom. this will give you a good idea of the condition of the foam and stringers as well.

uasually the cap..(top deck) has to come off to give yourself enough room to get at the transom..
you can do it without removing the cap....BUT......!!!!!!!
its far easter to do it without....
dont know where you are but check around for plywood NOW... its gotta dry.

search these forums for kinds of plywpood......
having said all that...

there is another way......!!!!!!!
its called the seacast method....(seacast is a product).....td posted about it at the beginning of this forum....
i havent done it before so reguarding the process....i dont know about it..
others will...youll get the pros and cons......if tashasdaddy posts here, im sure he can advise what way he would do it in your particular situation...
understand this.......there is no easy way out....(unless you sell the boat)
but its worth it

cheers
oops

 

[oops!]

Re: Finally making some progress...

man td's quick

 

[EJS]

Re: Finally making some progress...

Well I worked on her again today and learned alot about how she is put together. I cut the old transom out, well most of it, I need to cut the floor back just like you guys said. I also found that some of the stringer is rotted, so I ended up taking the whole interior out and the fuel tank. She is bare bones now. I tapped on the stringers and they made a thud sound til 4 or 5 feet back, and then a sharp sound after that. SO maybe there is some hope.

Here is the transom, nice huh!?

The occupant of my old transom..

The transom is double layered, 3/4 ply, then a layer of fiberglass, then another 3/4 ply, and then the inner glass.

Motor mount was mush...

I will continue cutting tomorrow... I was gonna ask where to start, but it looks like I need to cut it ALL back about 5 feet.

 

[EJS]

Re: Finally making some progress...

Here is a pic of the stringer, its rotten at the point where its pulled apart, and where the oranger hammer is resting it sounds like good wood...

 

[EJS]

Re: Finally making some progress...

Well I spent some more time on her today. I dont think its gonna be alll that bad. Im up for the challenge at least. Ive started looking for materials and am going to cut into it some more this weekend I hope. At least get it gutted to where the thing is solid. One question though... you take out all the old foam right? Then re-inject under the floors when she is framed up and ready to seal over?

 

[EJS]

Re: Finally making some progress...

 

[EJS]

Re: Finally making some progress...

 

[oops!]

Re: Finally making some progress...

hey ej....

your picks arn't working on my puter...

just that annoying small red x that i used to get.

yup foams gotta come out...
you can lap joint the stringers

i just scrolled down and the picks are there now.

looks like your doin a fine job....and boy is that critter gonna be mad at you!

as far as the foam install goes....the 2 part foam is not the only flotation out there, it is the sugested method on these forums.

there is 2 ways to do it...

but before you do the foam/floor you have to finish the transom....when you add the transom. run the glass mat at least 6 inches overlap to the bare hull/sides /floor.

ok, foam
1st way.....after the stringers are glassed in add the foam...dont panic as it expands you can cut the excess off level with where the top of the floor will be.....after its level... add the floor and glass it over...lay the glass at least 6 inches up the gunnels.

2nd way....add the floor over the stringers...no glass yet...cut 2 holes in your new floor one fore..one aft. pour the mixed solution in the holes..it will expand and fill all voids. after the foam is set. fill the holes in the floor with the cut outs you kept and use a good sealant to glue them into place...then glass the floor as mentioned.

done....

but as said...it looks like your doin a good job.

cheers
oops