Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

[Sprockett]

So I have a 74' Glastron Sportster, it has a 84' 90hp Evinrude hanging off the back, the boat is actually in pretty good shape and was out in the water last summer. We picked it up for about $2200, I've been all over the boat and the only place that I have found anything that caused concern was the transom.

I really didn't want to do this since we just bought the boat, but it's mine now and after drilling a series of holes to see where it had rot, I simply can't take it out until this is resolved. Someone had installed a fish finder and didn't seal the holes correctly, so it started there and has spread out. I actually found a wet spot going towards the outboard mount, that did it for me.

I could re-do the transom, but it will just rot again if it gets wet and it means un-capping the hull and I want to go boating dammit!! , I'm already in trouble with the wife because I've been fixing things . So after reading lots of peoples stories about Seacast it seems like I can get it fixed right, quickly, and be out on the lake this summer.

I've run the numbers for seacast and will be ordering a 5 and 2 gallon bucket so I have a little extra just in case, I'll post pics along the way as I make progress. I'm heading down the hardware store today to find:

• a grinder that I can put a cut-off wheel on when needed.
• an electric chainsaw with a long blade.
• some LONG spade bits or extensions.
• a mixer attachment for my drill.

My biggest challenge right now is removing the outboard, it's heavy and awkward and I don't want to damage it. I'll probably make a quick stand to put it on and am trying to figure out how to get it removed, I'm going to talk to the local shop today and see if maybe they can help. Once that's out of the way I can get moving on getting that wood out of there, it's pretty scary because the idea of a chainsaw on the boat is just not natural

I'll post pics of the work as I go along, one fortunate thing is that I can clearly see the shape of the transom, so as far as I can tell I don't have to do any upper supports on the sides. It should be a simple clean pour to get this fixed (once the woods out).

Once the transom is fixed I'm going to give the boat a quick paint job to bring the blue back and then re-mount everything. At this point I'll take any advice I can get, I'm terrified I'll kill the boat by doing something stupid....

So I'm off to the store to start picking up tools and wood for a stand.

-Paul-

 

[jameskb2]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

Paul,

For engine removal, there should be a hook point mounted on the upper engine under the cowl.

You can borrow or rent (cheap) an engine hoist to lift it and place it on your stand. Easy enough?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

don't know if you have seen this. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=206019

a floor scraper also helps.

 

[Sprockett]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

Thanks James I'll look, that's what I was thinking of something like a cherry picker high enough to pull it off, I'm heading over to the rental store today

Oh Yeah Tashasdaddy I'm grabbing some of those as well, I've also heard a wire wheel works well, the transom is 2" deep so I should be able to get something in there.

Pics will be coming soon

-Paul-

 

[Sprockett]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

Busy Day...

Had a friend over yesterday so I could not work on the boat, so this morning I built a temporary stand for the motor using an auto engine stand and some wood, it seemed to work very well. Then I disconnected everything from the motor and hooked up the hoist, added a little tension and unbolted the motor from the transom. I had to make a couple of adjustments to the motor stand to get it the right height, but it worked like a champ and only cost me about $50 total ($39 for the stand and about $10 for the wood and bolts), took me 20 minutes for the whole thing.

Now with the engine on the stand I was able to see that indeed the reason the splashwell was not draining was because the motor was mounted way way too high, that will be address when it goes back on.

My wife found a local guy who does boat repair and before I can get started she wants to see if he will do the work and how much it will cost (and if he will seacast), so I promised I would wait until she talks to him. It's ok because that gives me time to work on other things like the instrument panel and plan out the wiring....

I've attached pics of the progress so far, one funny thing was we broke the hoist lift, it had been abused so for about 5 minutes we where stuck. Finally my son and I hung on it to lower it down enough so the wife could run to get a replacement part.

Cheers

-Paul-

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

A few other tools I found useful were forstner bits they dont have a point like a spade bit does less chance of drilling into hull. A good light source to see down in there. attachment (homemade) that will fit on a shopvac to get all the way down in there. A bunch of acetone everything HAS to be clean for seacast. I made a block with a 36 grit belt sander belt attached to it that I could use to sand with (had a long dowell for a handle) it worked pretty well and held up cause it was a sander belt. Plan ahead for new splash well drains and there locations, and your bilge drain. The seacast website and calling them will provide alot of info as well. good luck keep progress and photos coming.

 

[Sprockett]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

Thanks OhWellCraft...

I discovered last night after digging around that there is no Glass on the back of the transom, it's been painted but no glass, so that will have to fixed before I can do anything. My wfie is taking the boat down today to the repair shop to have them look at it, he does not do Seacast and would repair it with wood. But he has a lifetime guarentee on his work, I have a feeling she will balk when she finds out how much he's going to charge her for the work!!

But let her try first, it will settle any questions about what I want to do. My current plan is to remove the foam in the transom area so I can get all the way in there, then make a template for glassing in that area. Then I'll remove the wood and use that area to make sure I get it all clean, glass in the template and pour the seacast.

If I can get access to the back of the transom removing all the wood should be easier to accomplish....

-Paul-

 

[BANGAZX10R]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

Looking at your stern it will be a little awkward, but I used seacast; I made a template by clamping ply to the outside of my transom then tracing. After trimming, I blocked it in place and made the inner wall with mat-roving-mat. The pour is the easiest part and a lot cheaper then letting a shop do it unless they're family or close friends...

Not trying to knock the shop but, a lifetime guarantee last as long as the shop does. My boat manufacturer went out of business a long time ago, I have a Baretta...:redface:

 

[Sprockett]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

She loaded it up and was off with it today....

We'll see what they say, he told her he would take a look. I'm just waiting to see what transpires. In this area jobs are getting tough to come by (a major company had layoffs) and I've seen a glut of used boats for sale by people trying to pay their rent, so I can't imagine that he's very busy right now anyway. It's very possible that he will be willing to deal a little bit to get some more work in his shop.....

I'm holding up my end of the bargain at this point and just waiting her out, if he can fix it for a reasonable price then I'm not going to complain. I can start painting the engine and cowl and keep working on the instrument panel, there's no shortage of things that need to get done.

-Paul-

 

[Sprockett]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

Well got the verdict from the repair guy, he was very nice about it. Basically it would be about $4500 to do the whole transom, he looked it over top to bottom and said that for a boat it's age it was in good shape. He bounced on the transom and spend some time examining everything, his suggestion was to have a metal plate made for the transom with a hook to go over the top. Use a smaller plate on the inside (the back of the transom) and bolt the motor to that after sealing everything up and using some RotFix where we could, he said we would get 3 seasons out her no problem doing that.

He also said if there was rot it looks like it just got started, and that after a season or two we could look for another boat without a motor (or a junky one) or decide to fix the transom on this one.

Right now I think his idea is a good one, that way we can get out on the water this summer and then I'll have time this winter to work on the transom and fix it the right way, instead of being pressured to get it out on the lake and rushing through the repair. It will also give me time to collect all the stuff I'm going to need, I'm going to fix up the motor, get it painted and the other stuff done and at least get this season out of it.

Cheers

-Paul-

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

This is mine after the Seacast repair.After 3 of the 5 gallon buckets,tools,supplies and a new coat of Dupont paint and clear coat i had less than 1000 bucks in the whole job..Yours would be less!

 

[Solittle]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

And how many more estimates are you going to get after the one for $4,500.00?

 

[Sprockett]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

Ummm none, that was enough for the wife...

I'm going to add the metal plate, and then this winter replace the transom, I want to get a full season out of her....

-Paul-

 

[redfury]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

Someone here did the exact transom job you are looking at on a Glastron of similar vintage with seacast....had a pretty good set of pictures to go along with it...might be worth a forum search- I wish I had kept the link!

I uncapped my 17ft Glastron ( similar vintage as yours ) and know exactly what you are staring at. The transom on mine was made out of redwood ply and was actually pretty solid other than by the lower drain and the very outer edges. The fact that the rear skin had separated from it was what prompted me to yank it. I uncapped my boat to get at mine. My calculations was 2 five gallon containers of Seacast, and the cost of it is prohibitive at the moment. I think I may just end up going to exterior ply route, but make sure that it is so well sealed up with resin, etc that my kids will inherit the boat with a solid transom.

It's my first project boat, and I figure I've got enough to do with the rest of it, that if I seacast the transom and find that I've gotten myself into more than I can chew....I don't wanna throw away a hull with a $500 transom in it.

Good luck with the boat this summer though. You may want to put new splashwell drains on the sides and seal up that middle one. I think that may end up being the plan with mine after seeing a couple of posts about engines blocking it.

 

[Sprockett]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

Hey Redfury....

I saw that thread and went through all his steps, it's what clued me into checking the back of the transom. It's too much to do right now, so I'll put on the metal plate for this season.

But this winter it's coming out and getting Seacasted

There is also some other glassing that needs to happen in that area as well, so I'll do it all at one time...

Cheers

-Paul-

 

[Keith Sportster]

Re: Seacasting a Glastron Sportster Transom

Hi Sprockett,
Just found out that I will need to repair my Transom which is like yours.

Bit of history first:
I have a 1977 Glastron T156 Sportster (White/blue like yours) with a 1977 85 HP Johnson and 1977 Little Dude trailer. I had a 1974 Glastron 18 foot Swinger inboard-outboard but bought this boat in 1992 mainly as investment at a steal $1700.00 price. Then in 1993 my niece and her family couldn't afford a boat but wanted one so I sold it to them for $1000.00 at a loss. Last month I bought it back for $500.00.
This boat motor and trailer are still in pretty good shape, just needs mostly detail stuff. I have already upgraded the trailer with new paint, rollers, etc.

Last week my wife and I were on the lake in the boat and after we came home I noticed that the transom was bowing out.

I am now getting ready to Seacrest the transom. I looked at removing the top of the boat from the hull as one thread did. I am thinking that rather than the chain saw down into between the fiberglass, it would be easier to and faster to cut the outside glass out like the Seacrest site suggest in Repair Technique 4.

The way the Sportster Transom board is shaped it will be impossible to get the wood out of the corners if I work between the inside and outside fiberglass. Look inside the back end of your boat and you can see where the Transom board is. I plan to cut the cap off, not disturbing the raised part of the rear end on each side, then cut the outside fiberglass three inches inside the edge of the transom board. Should be easy to dig all the wood out, with a drawback of having to fiberglass and gel-coat the outside again. See the picture below of a drawing from the back of my boat. The transom board is inside the heavy line and does not go across into the recessed area on the back end of the Glastron. Gotta funny shaped piece of wood in there. I will post a new post with pictures as I get into this project.

Updated Transom Board Drawing after I cut into the transom. Note on the picture that the inside of the boat transom board is not completely covered with fiberglass, you can see into the inside.