Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

[Huron Angler]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Glad to see you are getting back to work on the rig

Clarkcraft.com has epoxy resin cheaper and I can say it is quality stuff.

That is one nice boat and worth every penny and minute of restoration

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

I would absolutely reinforce the corroded aluminum. Rivet in a large patch panel of some sort.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Wow, that corrosion and rot sure did a number on your transom! Wow! I don't see anything that isn't fixable though. If I were in your shoes I'd probably cut/grind out all of the real bad corrosion and seal up the transom aluminum with paint. Then I head to the local steel sales place and pick up a brand new piece of aluminum, cut it to size, notch trowel on 5200, stainless steel bolts, and walla! New transom! No trying to bondo, JB Weld, fill, sand and so on only to have a cobbled transom skin eh!

Have fun, great rig!

 

[rockb]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

...Then I head to the local steel sales place and pick up a brand new piece of aluminum, cut it to size, notch trowel on 5200, stainless steel bolts, and walla! New transom!

The majority of the aluminum of the transom seems sound. It is just the part that was behind the wood backing piece seen in the picture below. Would I need to cover the entire transom or just the part that was behind the wood + 5-6 inches?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Check out post #89 and #90 here...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=364279

I had a giant hole in mine and ended up welding it up. If I were to do it all over again I would do exactly what Joe did there. Aluminum isn't all that expensive. By slapping on a whole new piece like that you completely skip all of that patching/sanding with bondo/JB, and don't even worry about it breaking, cracking, chipping or anything silly like that. My opinion, easier and super solid, maybe cost just about the same too.

I know the corrosion is just under that wood piece there, BUT, that would be arguably the most important part of the entire boat, eh!

Cheers!

 

[rockb]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Here is the wood bonded together and dry fitted into the transom.

In case anyone is wondering it took 15 pumps in the Gallon Size West System 105 Resin and hardener for each side. 30 pumps (15 for each side) then clamped them together yesterday afternoon. Then another 15 pumps to coat the one side today.

Going to go see a welder tomorrow about the bracket.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

That transom looks great, nice work. It should last a very long time with that epoxy on there. I have been impressed at the strength of my deck after several coats of epoxy.

This rig will be a nice one when you are finished with you project

 

[rockb]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Got the forward side of the transom painted with white EasyPoxy today. Need to go get a grinding wheel to grind off some places where the epoxy dripped and made lttle bumps of hard epoxy. Made it a little snug when putting it in.

Do I need to put the splash well in before re-mounting the engine? Does it provide any structural regidity to the stern to help support the engine?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

You'd want the splashwell back in before you used the boat but I can't think of any reason why it would need to be there just to rehang the motor.

 

[rockb]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

If I were to do it all over again I would do exactly what Joe did there. Aluminum isn't all that expensive. By slapping on a whole new piece like that you completely skip all of that patching/sanding with bondo/JB, and don't even worry about it breaking, cracking, chipping or anything silly like that.

Looks like there are several grades of aluminum sheet. Would the 5052-H32 be sufficient?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Looks like there are several grades of aluminum sheet. Would the 5052-H32 be sufficient?

I think that would be the ticket! I am trying to remember the correct thickness in my research...

...maybe .1"??

Just off the top of my head.

 

[rockb]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

I am trying to remember the correct thickness in my research...

...maybe .01"??

Just off the top of my head.

It looked to me line the boat was made out of 1/8" so that is .125". I could be off though. I'll check when I get back home.

I was figuring on just getting a piece that is the same size as the wood on the outside of the transom and placing bolts every 4" or so around the perimeter. I'm getting some angle welded to the transom bracket tomorrow. I'll check with the welder and see what he thinks. Maybe it won't be much more to just have him weld the extra piece of aluminum in place.

Does the piece of wood on the outside of the transom perform any real function?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Does the piece of wood on the outside of the transom perform any real function?

No. I eliminated it from my last two projects.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

It looked to me line the boat was made out of 1/8" so that is .125". I could be off though. I'll check when I get back home.

I was figuring on just getting a piece that is the same size as the wood on the outside of the transom and placing bolts every 4" or so around the perimeter. I'm getting some angle welded to the transom bracket tomorrow. I'll check with the welder and see what he thinks. Maybe it won't be much more to just have him weld the extra piece of aluminum in place.

Does the piece of wood on the outside of the transom perform any real function?

Yah, that sound right actually - I corrected my thickness typo. I think they used .1" and .125" in different parts of the boat. In your case I think you could go either as you are doubling up essentially.

 

[rockb]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

If I get the piece of aluminum now and just mount it with 2-3 crews then remount the engine can I have the aluminum piece welded to the transom later or will the welding process screw up the engine? Not sure what kind of electric current will be flowing through everything.

 

[rockb]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Got the bracket welded up yesterday and the transom wood in today. Miscounted somehow on the fender washers. I'll pick some more up tomorrow.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Dont forget to coat the bolts before you tighten them. Looking good

 

[rockb]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Dont forget to coat the bolts before you tighten them. Looking good

Those are just dry fit at this point. Waiting on the piece of aluminum to reinforce the part of the transom that deteriorated.

For the 8 bolts at the edge of the transom I squirted a pretty good bit of 5200 in the holes prior to inserting the bolts. Should that be sufficient? If not what should they be coated with?

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Your right on track. Almost ready for the water.

 

[rockb]

Re: Just Picked up a 198? Starcraft

Got the engine back on. And partially running. It will now run without cycling the choke but it will only run with the throttle about 1/2 WOT and is still pretty rough.

When I get the mechanics worked out and have it all back together I'll wire brush the rest of the transom, fill holes, and re-paint.

Now I need to round up some rivets so I can put the splash well back in. Maybe someone on her has about 50 or so left over from a previous project. If not I'll get some next week from Mcmaster Carr.