Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

[Gary H NC]

I was figuring up the cost of seacast for my transom replacement.It looks like i will need 4 of the 5 gal. buckets. at 230 bucks per bucket that is a big price tag!!
I could go back with plywood but could not put it in as one piece.
Would it be cheaper to just take it to a boatyard once all the old wood is cleaned out?
Its hard to justify a grand for 4 buckets of Seacast..

 

[Robj]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

Do it yourself, replace the wood with new. Should equal the cost of about 1 bucket of Seacast. this way you know it is fixed right. Should not be that difficult to replace your transom. If you take it to a boatyard, you will probably be paying more than a grand for the repair.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

I would like to go that route. Without taking the upper deck off there is no way to put a solid piece in.I'm worried that a pieced together transom won't be strong.I could do it in three pieces putting the sides into the risers then a solid piece across the center but how to bond it all together?

 

[Robj]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

Does your boat have an outboard or inboard? I replaced my transom and had to piece it to existing solid wood that was not rotten. My boat has an inboard and the wood in the transom was only about 2 feet by 2 feet. With an inboard most of the forces are taken by the stringers. The forces are much different with an outboard where the transom takes the load. Post some pix so others can comment.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[studlymandingo]

Lots of SeaCast!!

Lots of SeaCast!!

That sucks; I guess you are referring to the Chris Craft. Are you sure it will take that much SeaCast?​

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

Yep,The Chris with the outboard. I got the cap off the transom and have most of the wood out except the last foot or so in the bottom of the V.
Taking the deck off would be a nightmare. The upper is glued to the hull with tons of a hard resin.I'm trying not to cut the outside skin off the transom.
So it leaves the seacast or pieced together plywood. The wood would have to be installed in the side riser first,the the center section dropped in. its just the fact of overlapping it a bit and glue it together. Just un shure of how that would hold up.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

I was told if you cut the plywood to piece it in, the fiberglass mat in between layers would strengthen it up to hold but I am a newbie to this as well. I just did my first transom hopefully my last. I also have a question .as I was told fiberglass in between the plywood, I was told this after I had 2 pieces epoxied together do I need to fiberglass between the layers or is it going to be strong enough with a 3/4 ply and 1/4 ply epoxied together.

 

[croSSed]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

So the top is glassed to the hull, right? Another option would be to cut the splashwell out and after installing a new plywood transom, re-glassing/gelcoating the splashwell in. That's what I did. See here:

http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n103/tadpoleig/

TG

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

Nice job croSSed!

I bit the bullet and ordered the Seacast. About 2 more days of prying,pounding,drilling and cussing i should have the rotted wood out!
I just want to get this project finished and hang the motor back on.

I still have my new electronics,stereo and graphics waiting to be put on..

 

[Solittle]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

You said "Yep,The Chris with the outboard. I got the cap off the transom and have most of the wood out except the last foot or so in the bottom of the V."

I assume that you are aware that the wood in the last foot will continue to rot even after you pour the Seacast. Rot is caused by a fungus. Unless you get it all out or kill it it will continue to grow.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

All the wood will be out before i pour the Seacast. I'm going to clean and sand or wire brush the inside walls then wash it down with acetone before i pour that stuff in.
This is a one time deal and its going to be done right!

 

[Medic2556]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

Can you let me know if you had a positive or negative experience, because I am debating using this for my stringers.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

Will post the results. from everything i have read and it was a bunch,i think this going to be good stuff to work with. I'll snap some pics of the pour and the finished results. I'm going to try to get it finished next week. My engine is hanging from a chain hoist hooked to a tree.... Don't want to leave it that way very long...

 

[studlymandingo]

How's it hanging?

How's it hanging?

Well, you still got a phenomenal deal on the boat. Let us know how the seacast goes.

The oak tree in my backyard was instrumental in removing my 150 last weekend when I installed the new jackplate.​

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

Hey Studley,Those trees come in handy! I have an official "redneck yard"..

Not bad,I'll still have less than 3k in this boat when finished,new transom,good engine and new electronics... I got a buddy who is going to make me a SS cap for the transom and it will come down to cover the engine mount area. Should look pretty good..

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

About 3 more inches of wood and a few more bandaids and it will be cleaned out........ Been the job from H*ll...

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

Have you done the SeaCast pour yet?

I'm really interested in hearing about the result. The SS cap sounds pretty nice.​

 

[sdunt]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

I finally stumbled on the article I was looking for on doing a seacast job, its at: http://www.fiberglassics.com/mfg/transom.htm

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

Dang UPS truck didn't stop today
I guess i'll get it tomorrow.Try to pour it before i have to go out of town for over 2 weeks. At least it will be cured well before i hang the motor..

 

[DocEagle]

Re: Seacast,should i or shouldn't i?

Gary H, First off, you have a beautiful boat. I just purchased a 1979 Wellcraft V-20 Center Console, of course for under $500 it needs work. After removing the stainless steel plates off the stern found a rotted mess. Now I figure $300 to do a fiberglass/plywood build up and $600 for the Seacast. Have you found the weight of the Seacast to be an issue? And is it structurally as sound as plywood? Thanks in advance.