Project out of control

[Robj]

I am currently working on a 1992 Excel Bowrider that I bought for a winter project. I am in the process of replacing the stringers and floor. I knew the transom needed some attention, but I did not think that I could pick the wood out with a screwdriver. Anyways it is rotten, at least the bottom half. The boat has a 4 cylinder volvo inboard, and the wood in the transom is about 2 feet wide by 2.5 feet tall. It appears that only the bottom half is rotten. I was thinking replacing it from the inside, cutting half of the skin off, and then replacing only half of it, there are two pieces of ply, so I would stagger the joint. I know that epoxy is the right stuff for the repair, but all the other work that I will be doing is with poly, so I want to avoid expoy if possible. Can I use a thickened poly to bond the new wood to the transom? Any other suggestions?

Thanx

Rob.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Project out of control

if you haven't pull the drive and the engine, and replace the complete transom,. or you are wasting your time.

 

[Robj]

Re: Project out of control

The drive, engine and transom plate are off. I looked at the transom again and inorder for me to replace the whole thing, it requires me to remove the top half, grind rivets etc, something which I am definetely not going to do. The rot did not go that far, the wood at the top is solid. I will cut it as close as I can to the top, overlap the plywood joints and replace them. I will grind the outside skin with 24 grit, clean it up as best I can, lay a layer of mat, some putty and then the plywood. Cover the ply with mat and wr. I think it will be a good fix. Any other suggestions are always welcome.

Have a great day

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Project out of control

If the rot is not too bad, try Git-Rot or similar non brand product. I did a section of transom about 3 1/2 feet long and 6 inches deep. The stuff worked just as well as it claimed. Once I mixed it, I thought to myself, "this will never penetrate the wood." But it did--sucked in almost as fast as I could pour it.
Although it is epoxy, it never hardens to a brittle state but stays slightly flexible, so the wood is stronger than original. It is pricey though: 30 bucks for a 2 part quart and that only fixes 105 cubic inches of wood.

 

[Robj]

Re: Project out of control

Thanx Frank,

I was planning on using git rot, but it is beyond that, I dug the wood out with a screw driver it was that soft. I think my biggest challenge is to get the poly resin to bond to the transom to make the repair.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Project out of control

If you're going to attempt to bond wood to wood, then go with epoxy... Epoxy is a glue. Poly is not.
- Scott