Quick question about a wierd transom cut

[mogfisher]

Hey guys. I'm done with the demo on the transom area and it's time start construction. The old transom piece had a SEVERE angle on it where it met the two side panels. The main transom board was double 3/4 and the two side panels were half inch scraps (you might remember the thread I started about that) I don't see any good way to make that cut on either side of the transom so it lays flat with the two sides like it did originally. I'm wondering if it matters. Yes, there would be a step, but I could fill that with glass and peanut butter. The pics below should illustrate what I'm dealing with.

So as I see it I have 3 options.

Cut the transom straight and deal with the step. Will this be strong enough?

Cut as much of an angle as I can and fill the rest.

Figure out a way to cut the original angle on the board.


This is for an 89 Tracker 1800TF that will take a 150 mercury outboard. Thanks for any help. I'd like to get this sucker in there today so I can lay some glass!

Transom Starboard side from the top where it meets side panel.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Quick question about a wierd transom cut

Hi fisher..

yea me personally would take the longes measurements for the outside angles..cut square and take that cool grinder and bevel your angles a few times where it fits some what ok ( just dont cut to square fit ).

Its only wood ..not glass

Even if square cuts are made and gap filler used ... I dont think it would be a big problem in the the long haul.

YD.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Quick question about a wierd transom cut

If you take a couple of pieces of scrap and overlay them(I've enclosed a drawing showing what I mean) You can figure your angle for your cut. Then use your peanut-butter to bond the two together. My Glass supplier actuallu had a pre-mixed filler/adhesive called "gunk" which was incredibly strong. They explained it was because the fibers were woven into the filler and not mixed like is normally done. I'm not sure, but I know it dried super strong and hard. I dropped a glob on the concrete and when I tried to scrape it off after it dried I had a hard time getting it up. Sorry the scan is sideways, but I hope it helps.

 

[mogfisher]

Re: Quick question about a wierd transom cut

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I got it pretty good. What I actually ended up doing was tipping the transom blank on end to cut it because the angle was so crazy. I think it ended up cutting like a 20 degree angle with the blank stood up. The 10" table saw blade was almost long enough to cut through it all. I had to do it in about 5 cuts or the saw would bog down but it made it through. I then took a sawzall to cut the remaing 1/2 inch that the saw couldnt get. I used my grinder to fine tune it and it fits pretty good. Still going to have to use a bit of filler for some gaps but overall I'm happy with it. I didn't really want to try this because I didn't think it would work but it did. Now I can stick it in there and glass the thing. Thanks again.