Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

jbcurt00

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
25,200
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

Yes, if only because the little voice in your head tells you that you should take up some decking.

A bike pump will pressure test w/out the soapy water. But w soapy water you might see where its leaking, if it leaks.
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,930
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

How you gunna get the transom out without removing at least a portion of the deck? You should be able to inspect the back portion of the stringers at that time and what about the stringers surrounding the gas tank? Being that she's 40 + yrs old and the transom is bad, there's a very good chance stringers will need replaced too!
 
Last edited:

Sinkingslow

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2009
Messages
32
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

I have found the that the back one foot of one of stringers is completely rotten. The material that was used to cover the stringers was a light tin.(Never seen that in any u tube repair videos). I also have several holes in the outer skin of the transom. Once I have removed the rotted wood completely, I assume that the first step would be to seal off the holes on the outer skin with a layer of matting and fiberglass on the inside. Correct?
 
Last edited:

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,930
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

Are you going to replace the Transom?
 

Sinkingslow

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2009
Messages
32
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

Yes I am going to replace the transom. I guess that will seal off the inside, so that I can cover the outside with a patch. Never done any of this before so I am likely asking dumb questions.:)
 

GT1000000

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
4,916
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

Yes I am going to replace the transom. I guess that will seal off the inside, so that I can cover the outside with a patch. Never done any of this before so I am likely asking dumb questions.:)

There are no "dumb" questions...
Especially when it comes to restoring a boat and wanting to do it safely and correctly...
The only "dumb" part is NOT asking a question because you may think you know the answer and then do something really wrong!;)

And to partially answer your question, Yes, when you install your new transom plate, the remaining hole on the outside can be dished a bit all the way around so that it tapers into the new transom plate, then you refill the depression with enough layers of CSM and 1708 until it is the same height as the surrounding hull surface...then you just fair it out and refinish it...
This rough sketch applies...

 

Sinkingslow

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2009
Messages
32
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

Got the deck completely off. Now sending pictures.
 

kcassells

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
8,739
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

Here's what to expect;
PICT0061.JPG

PICT0062.JPG

PICT0065.JPG

PICT0066.JPG

PICT0006.JPG

There will foam to remove, wiring to rework, stringers to replace and bulkheads. All this info is available here for you to digest. My boat was supposed to float.lol!! Enjoy and have a GREAT time! Listen to that voice in your head...yes the next pc of wood needs replaced too, Nuts!
Congrats on the new boat. I'm sure it will be better and safer than the way the mfg. made her. She owns you now.
 

Sinkingslow

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2009
Messages
32
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

Having a hard time downloading my pictures. Thanks for the encouragement. She is starting to own me. It is fun to work on her. I peeled off the deck and I find several beer/pop cans, one metal funnell were all trapped under the deck. There was not a bulk head in the rear only an opening for trash to wash back up under the deck. Being a newbie I guess I will try to copy the pattern of the stingers but with add a block/bulkhead( I may not be using the term correctly). I will put a pvc drain to allow water to drain out. I will try to post some pictures tomorrow so you can understand better what I am referring to. The stringers are wobbly and pretty much rotten on the end near the transom. I will replace the stringers re glass. I will tear out the foam. Where do you obtain foam to put back in when the fiberglassing is done? The factory foam was not wet, but I had to tear into it to get to the stringers. The stringers were not protected very well from the factory fiberglassing. Any thoughts???
 

kcassells

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
8,739
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

There are various places to get the foam. I still hasven't gotten that far yet. But google it around and look at the price options.
Go up top to advance searches too. Just enter the keywords and you will get practically every thread that has "foam" mentioned in it.
Look forward to some pics. Pain in the butt! they are.
I,ve read here that you can download "phot Bucket" and pics are easier to lay in.
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,930
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

Yup, Photobucket is the best way to post your pics. Once you open your free account, use the IMG code to copy and paste your pics into your iBoats post.
 

Sinkingslow

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2009
Messages
32
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

Still trying to put in some pictures.
 
Last edited:

Sinkingslow

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2009
Messages
32
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

008_zpsf63f58a6.jpg.html] This is one pic.
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,930
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

When you are Photobucket when you click on the pic you have an IMG code window If you copy the contents of that window and paste it into your iboats post your picture will appear.

 

Sinkingslow

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2009
Messages
32
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

I noticed that the stringers on this boat are 1 x 8 in the middle and 1 x 6 on the starboard and port side. They seem thin. Would a 2 x 8 make the boat too heavy? I also wondered about using a non wood composite like dextrex. As I write this question, I believe that the material could actually be a light material just to let the fiberglass mold to. Your thoughts?
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,930
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

That question has been posed multiple times and the general consensus here on the forum is that dextrex is not suitable for stringers. It has no structural integrity when used in this fashion and fiberglass will not adhere to it. You can use 2x material for your stringers but we usually recommend using plywood for fabricating your stringers. It's lighter and actually stronger than 2x lumber. Laminating 2 pieces of 3/4" ext. grade plywood together will yield a 1 1/2" stringer that will be extremely rigid and once encapsulated in resin and glass properly will last for decades. It's all in the link I posted earlier.

Don't forget to "PIN" yourself on the iBoats Members Map...https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=935424
 
Last edited:

kcassells

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
8,739
Re: Renewing a rotting transom- What is the best entry point?

Yup those plastics are great burt have no structural intregrity at all like wog said. They are great for wet areas, easy to cut, mold and paint. There are decorative applications that they can be used for on boats.
probably you should just stick to the 1" using 2, 1/2" plys pb together but more likely 3/4" exterior graded ply/bc would do just fine. Ply has more structural strength than solid planks anyhow.
If im wrong anyone can please chime in.
My entire boat had 3/4" planks vs. ply and I'm putting it all back together with the above mentioned.
Keep us posted....Nice pic.
 

Sinkingslow

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 27, 2009
Messages
32
I ran out of time to commit to this project but I am back at it. In preparing the wood(exterior grade for stringers and marine grade for transom) what type of resin is best, epoxy or poly? Also need to buy some "chopstrand" to mix up some "peanut butter". Having never done this I am open to suggestions. I ripped out all the wood and am putting in a new transom, stringers and deck. Sooo... I guess I have two questions. Epoxy or Poly? Where do I get the "chopstrand"?
 
Top