SeaCast Transom fix..

[Gary H NC]

I did the Seacast pour this evening on my ChrisCraft. Followed the instructions but ended up with about a 6 inch air pocket about 4 inches below one of the engine mount holes.
After it hardened i notice the hollow sound in the hull
I thought i would take a paddle type drill bit and drill down to the hole from the top and then fill the void.
Well the bit came thru the outside of the transom and cracked the fiberglass skin about 5 inches!
So now i have to replace the skin in an area about 5 inches by 6 inches..
Can i build this up with poly resin and cloth and then sand it even with the rest of the transom?
I know i will need to paint the transom now..
After all the work to not damage the outside skin....It was not good!

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

No pain no gain........sorry to hear that Gary, i know your frustration's. Though id paint a few stripe's on a new boat and it turned into a nightmare....... but i about got her licked, stay with her i still say that's a lot of baot you did well..

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

Thanks TG, I guess its off to the paint and body parts store.If i can get them to match the color close i'll be happy. The hard part will be glassing a vertical surface.
At least all the holes from the previous owners fishfinder and electronics will be gone too..

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

didn't you talk about an aluminum mount plate? would that cover it. just so the the patch is solid. sounds like the got the angle of the dangle wrong. you will over come it.

 

[sprdty]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

i have a question, how does using seacast stabilize the transom?

what does it actually adhere to? apparently not wood.
dont you have to remove all the wood between the inner & outer shell of the transom so that the seacast can adhere to the inside of the inner & outer shell?

how does it bond to the very bottom of the transom and up the side matting to both port & starboard sides?

i have gotten the seacast info kit & even the little sample they sent me had visual air pockets.

not to put the product down, but other than filling the void of removed wood arent we just assuming that there is some type of chemical reaction bonding to the upper sides and bottom transom?

giving a false sense of form fitting bonded transom that is stronger in thickness only filling in the empty void

but is not actually able to transfer the force of the outboard to the rest of the boat!?!

oops im over thinking again.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

It almost fixed! I have one more layer to go then the final sanding. It was not really that big of deal.
Paint shop is going to match the color and a friend will shoot it for me.So really the transom will look better in the end than what it would have anyway.
The paint shop said the Dupont base coat,clear coat will work fine.
I used 3 layers of cloth with poly resin then built it up with Evercoat Tiger hair. I will sand it smooth and go over with a finish coat of resin.

About the Seacast, It does bond to the hull very well.All the wood was removed,the fiberglass scuffed and acetone washed.
I let some of it dry on a piece of cardboard.I beat the crap out of it with a hammer and it did not break!It is some very tough stuff!!
And it DOES float!
The air pocket was my fault for not working it down in that area.After the skin was removed the air pocket was really small and would not have been an issue anyway but now i know its fixed..

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

i have a question, how does using seacast stabilize the transom?

what does it actually adhere to? apparently not wood.
dont you have to remove all the wood between the inner & outer shell of the transom so that the seacast can adhere to the inside of the inner & outer shell?

how does it bond to the very bottom of the transom and up the side matting to both port & starboard sides?

i have gotten the seacast info kit & even the little sample they sent me had visual air pockets.

not to put the product down, but other than filling the void of removed wood arent we just assuming that there is some type of chemical reaction bonding to the upper sides and bottom transom?

giving a false sense of form fitting bonded transom that is stronger in thickness only filling in the empty void

but is not actually able to transfer the force of the outboard to the rest of the boat!?!

oops im over thinking again.

Yep,over thinking!! It does exactly as it says...I would never use plywood again.

 

[sprdty]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

hey,
thanx, i had considered it - as with anything if i couldnt see it in action or knew of anyone that had longterm durability its kinda of a 50/50 gamble.

so i sold the boat.

it would be interesting to hear from you after 6 to 12 mons of use.

again thank you for putting me in time check.
there was no offense intended thanx for not taking that way.

respectfully,

sprdty

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

No problem

I will test it hard for sure. After the hammer test i think it will last.
I drilled my drain plug hole back out and it was very hard to drill through.
I capped the transom off with thick woven cloth and 3 layers of the thin cloth and about 1/2 inch of resin.I also put the thick cloth in the Seacast near the top.Maybe overkill but time will tell...

 

[itstippy]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

I poured a transom with Seacast in the road in front of my house. I sloshed some by accident onto the road, right at the entrance to my driveway. It hardened and looked exactly like some drunk pulled over and puked in the gutter at the end of my drive. It would not go away!!! Ice, snow, Summer heat, cars driven over it daily, etc. Whenever the rain or the street cleaner would wash the road grit off there it was again - fresh puke at the foot of my driveway! I now cover it with driveway sealcoat every Spring & Fall. It is indestructable stuff.

I still haven't finished that boat. Another project on hold, this one with $500 of Seacast in it. Oh, to be retired and have time to play with boats.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

Now that's funny I'll have to keep my eye out for that when I'm working in Madison.
​

 

[Medic2556]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

Did it take all 5 containers you bought, or did you wind up using less?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: SeaCast Transom fix..

It ended up using 15 gallons total. The stuff goes a little further than expected once all the fiberglass shreds are mixed in.
I was glad it had about a 30 minute working time before it starts to cook.
I have a few small areas to fill to smooth out the sides but will use the Evercoat Tiger hair to do that. First time using that also and its some good stuff,dries about as hard as the Seacast.