Man vs. Boat (season 1).

[ezmobee]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

I would use thinner ply, like 1/2 ", I would precut all the ply and put them in one sheet at a time.

+1 on this

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

My 40+ years of woodworking has taught me that multiple laminations of thinner plys makes for a much stronger curved piece. I'd recommend 1/4" plys and if possible use my modified woodworking clamps to keep it in place. It might be necessary to rig internal bracing to ensure the transom keeps it's outward curve until the first coupld of laminations have cured. This is how andgott did his..(see pic below)

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

I like the 3 piece transom idea. Or just build up your transom out of 1/4" plywood? ....... What would be helpful is to take a Merc out-drive and put it up against the transom (or a template of one). If you could do that we could see what you really need to deal with in regards to the mounting issue. I think you need to address the curve around the mounting area, and the rest of the transom independently. That is my two cents for what it's worth!

Arch, thanks for stopping by (your .02 is worth a lot). I like the suggestion of using doing a mock-up with my merc housing, but for the fact that I have a giant, gaping hole in the back of my boat (OMC stringer molestation) where the key hole is going to go after a build-up the transom. maybe I could do it right above where that hole is if the curve is substantially the same.

My personnel opinion.
I would use thinner ply, like 1/2 "..... My only concern would be the flatness spec. for Mercruser system.
Good luck
Bob

Thanks Bob, I like this idea the best (assuming I was gong to remove the cap, or portion of it). I share the same concern about merc set-up flatness.

I'd recommend 1/4" plys and if possible use my modified woodworking clamps to keep it in place. It might be necessary to rig internal bracing to ensure the transom keeps it's outward curve until the first coupld of laminations have cured. This is how andgott did his..(see pic below)

Wood...very glad you stopped by... thanks for the advice and the picture. Those are helpful.

I tell you what guys, I really appreciate all you experienced guys showing interest in what I am doing and trying to help me out. Bending the thinner ply is certainly doable, but I have two factors working against me in terms of clamping to the hold the bend (assuming i don't pre-shape): (1) cap is still on the boat; and (2) no key hole cut until after I install the new transom; measure the x-dimension and then cut. I really do not want to pull the cap, but CC254 has me thinking about maybe just removing the very back portion of it. I am a little scared to cut it, but I am guessing it can patched and restored structurally and cosmetically with a little glass work and elbow grease.

Bottom line; I just need to pick a method, get in there; do it; try and make it work, and if I fail, try again. I feel like I have beaten this issue to death; I am just new at this and a little frozen with uncertainty.

I have taken a token from GT1M and WOG and done my own (very rudimentary and not to scale) drawings (arch, don't laugh, we lawyers don't have CAD programs).

Based on these, feel free cast your final votes considering my clampage limitations.

Option 1 - bending some ply:

Option 2 - 3 piece transom, stepped up with a 4th piece in the middle:


Thanks again!

 

[zopperman]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

I would be less afriad to pull the cap. If wood says to do the bent transom.. I would do a bent transom. Don't forget it also needs to be 2" for the merc setup...
Personally, the 3 piece seems easier to me, but I've never tried this myself.

 

[Outback Jack]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

I figure either way will work and after reading this it brought me back to another project of putting in a 3 piece transom. Dustin Jean did a fine job on making his and just thought I would post his thread to give you some ideas as to what his looks like. Pictures always help. Take a look it is a little different but will give you an idea of what type of gap he had to work with.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=510438&page=2


go to post#32

Jack

 

[oops!]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

Hmmm, let me just play that 3 minute mark one more time.

Aaaaaaaaannnnnd bam! Yup, there we go

baaa haaa haaa ....


sorry to laugh at your plight bud.......but that was funny.

thanks for showing the curve to the transom.....that is what i needed to see.

ok......you want my 2 cents worth?

many many of boat has been built with a small transom....

single piece transom about 26- 30 inches wide....for the key hole only. Tab it to the stringers......and glass the rest. bang...done.

the key hole, as you know, must be flat....there is no playing with that....it must be flat or your boat will sink. so that area will have to be pulled to the glass....but if you go just a foot around the keyhole ....that is enough. when you glass the round hole from the out side.. that will give you your flatness and parelellism from the out side.

if you wish.....then you can add the 1/2 inch ply in layers to the rest of the curve......but 4 layers of 1708 over the existing curvature outside of the small transom is just fine. no wood necessary
that will solve every problem you are facing.......geez bud...i wish i was there to help....we would have that done in no time.

since you are not taking the cap off......the cradles will be fine. to firm it up so it does not wobble when you are walking around in it......you can just put some 2x4's form the garage floor to the under side of the chine in the front and then possibly one set aft...... it will firm it up so it wont move.

cheers
oops

 

[Outback Jack]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

baaa haaa haaa ....


sorry to laugh at your plight bud.......but that was funny.

thanks for showing the curve to the transom.....that is what i needed to see.

ok......you want my 2 cents worth?

many many of boat has been built with a small transom....

single piece transom about 26- 30 inches wide....for the key hole only. Tab it to the stringers......and glass the rest. bang...done.

the key hole, as you know, must be flat....there is no playing with that....it must be flat or your boat will sink. so that area will have to be pulled to the glass....but if you go just a foot around the keyhole ....that is enough. when you glass the round hole from the out side.. that will give you your flatness and parelellism from the out side.

if you wish.....then you can add the 1/2 inch ply in layers to the rest of the curve......but 4 layers of 1708 over the existing curvature outside of the small transom is just fine. no wood necessary
that will solve every problem you are facing.......geez bud...i wish i was there to help....we would have that done in no time.

since you are not taking the cap off......the cradles will be fine. to firm it up so it does not wobble when you are walking around in it......you can just put some 2x4's form the garage floor to the under side of the chine in the front and then possibly one set aft...... it will firm it up so it wont move.

cheers
oops

I was going to suggest that but I thought I would let the more experience chime in...check out my thread you will see the small transom design used but again the hull is a different shape and the outer 2 transom pieces only tie into the stringers. Again I am just showing you some pictures because you said you were stuck, then you can decide which way you go

Jack

 

[oops!]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

not to suggest that you keep on this project during the christmas season.......but its the weekend.....we are looking for updates...lol

 

[archbuilder]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

Exactly, some of us are stuck in the mud and need inspiration! Nothing like watching someone roll around in fiberglass dust to get you motivated huh?

 

[ricohman]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

Great thread!
If I was restoring a boat this thread would be an inspiration. In the meantime I will just be along for the ride.
Good work!

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

I was going to suggest that but I thought I would let the more experience chime in...check out my thread you will see the small transom design used but again the hull is a different shape and the outer 2 transom pieces only tie into the stringers. Again I am just showing you some pictures because you said you were stuck, then you can decide which way you go

Thanks jack... Very helpful... I'm glad you reminded me of your transom set up... Although it's a different set up it sort of helped me visualize what I want to do.


Oops and arch, don't you guys worry... There will be no slowdown for the holidays... In fact I hope to have a day off here and there to get more work done. Just getting back in from the shop now...

I drove out there at 5 this morning (30 minute drive)...and, upon arrival realized I didn't have my key to shop... And owner is out of town... It had wiggled off my key chain somehow....i found it on my bedside table when I got back... I did get back out there this p.m. And was able to get a little done...

I spent the first part of the afternoon pillaging my parts boat... Yanked anything that might sell or have value to me... The gas tank was huge...prolly too big for my boat but maybe I can get some coin for it.. Removed the cleats, fuel filler and vent lines, gas cap, switch panel, gauges, stereo speakers, etc... I think I am going to use the gauges as shop gauges
since they are nothing special and I am ordering new faria ones... (Chesapeake white...like arch).

After taking some measurements and doing some mock ups with foam , I finally decided to go with a 28" in middle piece for the transom (I got these pieces cut/shaped). I will prolly do some wood flanks on the sides just for extra strength. It will essentially be a stepped-up, 3-piece, transom with a beefier/flatter middle portion. I surely respect the opinions of everyone that said to curve it, but that involves a lot of work and I was scared the outside of the transom (around the key-hole) would not be flat..

I'll post some pics and video tomorrow once I get it uploaded, edited, etc...

Stay tuned and thanks again for your interest, help, support, etc...

 

[Hydra-sport_Road-kill]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

I've kept it zipped for the past fifty and some odd posts on this transom issue, some odder than others if you take into account the suggestion to combine basket weaving with the process. It seems to me the lengthy conundrum and swivet over how to proceed stems from a fear of what might happen if you remove the cap. How would you proceed if you had not this fear? Maybe the fear is due for repudiation. Patric, I know you have read through a great number of these resto threads like me and I can't recall any that did not remove the cap to get full access at what is being worked on. I can't figure how you would even theoretically or satisfactorily go at clamping it all up. Do what you think is best but don't do what's second best out of fear of the unknown. You've come a long way bro -- stay the course.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

Patrick,

OOPS is spot on about your Transom. Build the Center Section to spec for your Outdrive and then I'd use 3/8" to bend and blend in the sides. CSM and 1708 and PB will do the rest. Once it's tabbed to the hull, she'll be stronger than factory. Just make sure the angles and thicknesses are at factory specs. If you don't know what that is...Google it.

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

Ricohman:
thanks for jumping on board... glad to have you and appreciate the kind words.

Hydra:
YOUR BACK!!! thought you had run away with the metal boat cult or something.... Good to hear from you again... Your witty banter has been missed.

Wood and others:

The ways Oops suggested is the way I have ultimately decided to do it.... It solves a lot of problems... it eliminates the concern about getting a unified large transom piece under the cap (and pinch points)....and also keeps from having to try and bend ply or basket weave...

The wifey actually gave me a yard pass to go work on the boat tonight after work, which was very cool, considering getting 4 kids fed, homework, bath, bedtime is no small undertaking at our house.... Just got back in from the shop.... I got the center transom pieces cut.... 26 inches wide. They are becoming a single unit as we speak with the help of some PL glue and many a clamp.

Will have some photos and video soon.... Last week's video was only a couple of minutes so I figured I would gather some additional footage before posting another one.

Progress is happening....the battle of man vs. boat continues.

Thanks guys,
Have a good one,
~rpm

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

The wifey actually gave me a yard pass to go work on the boat tonight after work, which was very cool, considering getting 4 kids fed, homework, bath, bedtime is no small undertaking at our house....

Well she is way awesome!! I know about these challenges. Hey, you have any extra "yard passes" laying around, send em to my bride

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

...and also keeps from having to try and bend ply or basket weave...

Dang it!, No Basket Weave???!!!

and here I thought, maybe, just maybe...:facepalm:

 

[Outback Jack]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

Thanks jack... Very helpful... I'm glad you reminded me of your transom set up... Although it's a different set up it sort of helped me visualize what I want to do.

No problem but the post I made earlier shows a 3 piece design and he done a real fine job. My 3 piece design by looking at it and experience with making fiberglass products from scratch uses the design of the boat for strength...that is why there is an area in between the center piece and 2 side with no glass. I would not leave a space in between a 3 piece transom if it is straight accross, but that is just my opinion.

Weather has sure changed and I feel it just like you . I was out testing the temps in the garage with the furnace and my back up propane heater going . I think I might be able to get back to work soon...but I am enjoying the break before I have to get back to work. Looking forward to an update and how you decided to go.

Jack

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

Okay...
You have patiently endured the transom debate of 2011, which I appreciate. To reward you, I have a couple of videos heading your way:

The first is me taking apart my parts boat and starting on my transom:

Will post second video as soon as the youtube upload finishes...

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

Here is the second video:

 

[zopperman]

Re: Man vs. Boat (season 1).

I like the cutout for the trash can on the fiberglass table. I did that in the back of my bar and I usually fill it with ice for drinks, lol

Teh syringes are great... I had a million leftover from my IV treatments last year that I would have loved to have used, but I wound up donating them..

Good work, keep it coming!
It helps to use a router to round teh edges and 1708 will round over that very easily.