Question about making 2 inch transom

[Adirondackice]

Hi. Its for a bass buggy with wood transom...I have read up..and know not to use PT wood. Also gluing pieces together is better than a 2 inch thick piece...just wondering...since plywood (all wood) is not the actual size that it sells for...what is the best way to make 2 inches? I was thinking 4 layers of 1/2 inch...and maybe 1 piece 1/4 more to make just over 2 inches...then sand down to fit in brackets? It seems to me I am missing something here lol...also...it is for a pontoon that will be trailered so for now I was gonna go with basic plywood with gorilla glue...it WILL be better than the rot that just came out!!! Just wondering what others have done to make 2 inches...Thanks
!
Assuming 1/2 in is really 7/16...that would be 1/4 in short??

 

[ondarvr]

You can get there in any way you want, it makes no difference, and gluing multiple pieces is no better than a single layer, just cheaper.

Well actually if you glue some of them at 45* it can be a slight improvement, but rarely done.

 

[CV16]

I used 4 pieces 3/8" thick and glasses them together. The cloth and resin gave me the extra to be at 2". And now there is no water intrusion. Use sealer in any hole you put in it.

 

[Ned L]

Plywood is not like dimensional lumber (2x4's etc). 3/4 plywood is 3/4.

 

[Scott Danforth]

2 pcs of 3/4" and a piece of 1/2", glued with titebond III and your done

 

[snowman246]

Use Titebond III. Gorilla glue is not water rated glue.

 

[gm280]

Plywood is not like dimensional lumber (2x4's etc). 3/4 plywood is 3/4.

Ned that is a "yes" and "no" to that statement. IF the plywood specifies 3/4", then yes it is actually 3/4". But the typical plywood today will probably state 23/32" and 15/32". Yea sad but that 1/32" reduction of thickness yields them a "free" sheet every 23 sheets coming off the line. So if it says 3/4" then it is true 3/4". But not too many places sell 3/4" anymore. JMHO

 

[Adirondackice]

Thanks for the replies! And true, although it may be marked correctly, I could only find 15/32 and 23/32 and so on...real frustrating when you are trying to get to an old fashioned "whole" number!!!!

 

[gm280]

Thanks for the replies! And true, although it may be marked correctly, I could only find 15/32 and 23/32 and so on...real frustrating when you are trying to get to an old fashioned "whole" number!!!!

Yea I understand what you are saying. But don't dispair, you still can use two pieces of 23/32" and one 15/32" and arrive at the 2" size you need. Once you apply all the glues and/or sealants, be it epoxy or polyester resins, you will have the correct thickness. JMHO

 

[Ned L]

Ned that is a "yes" and "no" to that statement. IF the plywood specifies 3/4", then yes it is actually 3/4". But the typical plywood today will probably state 23/32" and 15/32". Yea sad but that 1/32" reduction of thickness yields them a "free" sheet every 23 sheets coming off the line. So if it says 3/4" then it is true 3/4". But not too many places sell 3/4" anymore. JMHO

Yes,... Very true and I should probably worded my response a bit more as you did.

 

[Alumarine]

Use Titebond III. Gorilla glue is not water rated glue.

The Gorilla glue labeled Original Gorilla Glue is waterproof.

 

[Adirondackice]

The Gorilla glue labeled Original Gorilla Glue is waterproof.

Yes THAT is what I bought.. just under $19 for 18 oz...never done this before but it sounded like good stuff...thanks again for all the replies ..Friday I bought a shop crane and yesterday I pulled the motor...all by myself...I THOUGHT that would have been the hard part lol...even the ply listed as 1/2 or 3/4 on Lowes website...is not so when you look at specs!

 

[Watermann]

Just wondering why you're wanting to make the transom 1/2" thicker? If there's any channels or brackets the transom slides into then it won't fit. You say where the motor mounts it won't fit and you want to decrease the thickness by removing material. Sounds to me like a bunch of extra work, more cost in materials right down to new longer hardware such as motor mounting bolts and then there's the potential problems with reassembly. 1.5" thick transoms are an industry standard and handle motors with 100's of HP.

If you don't want the new transom wood to rot after sealing keep the boat covered.

 

[Adirondackice]

No Title

Hi...wish I could go with 1.5...but the brackets that the transom slides into are 2 inch!

 

[mjf55]

Looks to me the the inside deminsions of that bracked are 1 3/4 inches, not 2.

 

[Adirondackice]

No Title

A few pics of the rotted 2 inch transom...mushroom included!!! I just bought this boat and have not had it out yet...I am antsy but glad I'm taking care of this now...it could have been bad...
PS I just got back from Lowes with some 23/32...and picked up some titelock 3 cuz that had it...so now not sure which I will use this or the waterproof gorilla...prolly not a huge deal either way cuz boat will be trailered not docked!
Some of the other projects completed are: ordered and put together odd sized spare tire, ran extension for power tilt control so I can use transom saver...organized back of boat...they had a giant battery set on the welds of 2 pieces of aluminum instead of over the supports that are on each toon...wth lol...will it ever end so I can do some fishing before the ice gets here? TBD!

 

[Adirondackice]

Looks to me the the inside deminsions of that bracked are 1 3/4 inches, not 2.

You sir are correct...and thank you...that tape measurer sucks but on a decent one it is obvious...

 

[Adirondackice]

OK so after thinking for a bit...I still have the correct parts..so instead of two 3/4 (23/32) and one 1/2 (15/32)...I can use two 1/2 and one 3/4...and THANKS again this site is great and has helped me tremendously in a short time!!!

 

[Watermann]

Have you measured a good section of the wood you removed? It looks like to me that cavity the transom goes in is warped, as it opens even further in from your tape measure. I have to wonder if that swollen old wood transom is even 1-3/4".

 

[Adirondackice]

No Title

Yes I have...everything measures a solid 1.75...is that even a size for a transom??? Nothing would surprise me at this point lol!