seacasting my transom

[brian3127]

well the weather is finally nice now. i have started to take the cap off so i can get to the transom wood.

this is the boat

you might remember it from my other post about redoing the deck and stringers. well i will hopefully have some pics of the cap removal for you guys tomorrow. then when the transom is done i have smart tabs to put on it and a trolling motor too.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: seacasting my transom

If you are pulling the cap .... why not go with plywood and save some of that cash for the kids that ride those bicycles!

 

[drewpster]

Re: seacasting my transom

I looked in to using Seacast as a repair on my boat when I decided to do the transom. I chose not to use it for a couple of reasons. One reason being that I knew after getting in to the transom that I would end up doing the stringers and deck as well. The boat had to come apart anyway so why not go ahead and use wood. Second, the thing that stuck in my head about Seacast was the fact that it will not bond to wood. In my view it is impossible to completely remove all the wood from a deep slot cut into the transom. If I cannot get all the wood out then that means that there will be areas that lack a good bond of the new Seacast. A weak bond means a weak transom. Its all just a theory really. I have never used Seacast and I am sure it is a fine product. It just seems to me that there is no way to get all that old wood out. I tend to over do things anyway. New wood is going to last longer than I am alive. After all it lasted 30 years before I took it out. I will let my son do the next one when I am seventy.

 

[Robj]

Re: seacasting my transom

My preference is to use wood also. Have never used Seacast. I know with wood, it will last a long time and if done properly will be extremely strong.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[danond]

Re: seacasting my transom

Here's another vote for wood.

 

[Mark42]

Re: seacasting my transom

I read somewhere that seacast is a mix of casting resing (lets you pour a lot and it won't crack from heat when curing), fillers and the glass you mix in. If you look at casting resin, it is cheaper than the seacast. I though of making my own mix of casting resin, micro spheres, thickener, and chopped strand glass. Of course, it could be a total failure.

 

[brian3127]

Re: seacasting my transom

im not doing wood i already have the seacast iv had it since march just waiting for warmer weather.

 

[Mark42]

Re: seacasting my transom

Hard to tell from the photo, but do you have to pull the cap to get inside the transom? Typically boats have an aluminum cap over the transom that can be removed to access the wood. Not always, but often. If you can get in there without removing the cap I would do it that way. From reading a few other posts about using seacast, the owners ended up making some custom tools to dig in the bottom of the transom and to scrape the remaining ply layers off the transom skin. A 2 ft length of pipe flattened at the end and sharpened was often used. Also a chain saw was used to cut down into the wood to loosen it up. Be careful!

Don't forget the pics!

 

[brian3127]

Re: seacasting my transom

i really didnt have to take the cap off but i have some other work i want to do to it other than the transom. i also have to flip the boat and fix the hole on the outside of the boat. i already fixed it from the inside. i just want to make it smooth on the outside of the hull. i was also thinking about painting the boat. then i want to rewire the cap. i have alot on my plate. hoping to get the transom done by next week weather permitting.

 

[brian3127]

Re: seacasting my transom

update i have the cap to where all i have to do is lift it off with some help. i did that the other day yesterday it rained all day and today i went and got some fibrglass. so hopefull i will have some pics of the work i do tomorrow.

 

[brian3127]

Re: seacasting my transom

ok i got alot of work done on my boat today.here are some pics

here is the old transom.

here is my transom all cleaned up

i started to makethe inner skin of the transom i will have pics of that tomorrow. if the weather holds up and gets above 70 degrees i will be pouring it this weekend.

 

[brian3127]

Re: seacasting my transom

ok today i repaired the inside of the transom there were som cracks in the skin from where the motor sat and pushed in on the rotted wood. also made the inner skin for the transom.

the repair of the transom and i also covered the drain holes and other holes i found.

here is the inner skin.

here is the inner skin in its place i havent glassed it in yet.

im going to try to attach the skin to the boat tomorrow. so hopefully i will have more pic.

 

[drewpster]

Re: seacasting my transom

Now this is the right way to do a Seacast transom in my opinion.

 

[brian3127]

Re: seacasting my transom

thanks drewpster i have a ? should i bed the inner skin in some peanutbutter then glass it in or just glass it in. it doesnt fit perfectly in the spit.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: seacasting my transom

When you install the inner skin make some bracing for the seacast pour..... or it will bulge out at the weakest point from the weight of the pour. Looking very good!!

 

[Mark42]

Re: seacasting my transom

Yes, like Bob said some bracing of the new skin, and maybe old skin, is needed. I'd think that a 1/2" piece of ply up against the new skin should give it the support it needs until the seacast cures.

Very nice work. This boat will last a long time!

 

[brian3127]

Re: seacasting my transom

yeah i thought of that i have a buch of extra wood. i just got done building a 10ft by 10ft shed so i have a bunch of 2ft x 4ft peices of plywood and 2x4s so now i just have to figure out how to do it without nailing or screwing into the new floor i put in last year.

 

[brian3127]

Re: seacasting my transom

ok today got some more work done on the boat. i glassed the inner skin in

im hoping to do the pour of seacast tomorrow.

 

[Mark42]

Re: seacasting my transom

In the lower photo, what are the two fittings with white caps on them?

I'm looking forward to seeing the cured transom!

 

[brian3127]

Re: seacasting my transom

alot of people were telling me when i was redoing my stringers and deck last year were telling me to have good drainage to the bilge. so i drilled holes through all the new wood and glass so i could have drain pipes to get the water out of the hull if water got in there. then i was thinking well if water got into the bilge. the water could flow back through the holes under the deck. so i epoxied pvc into the holes and put a screw on cap. that way it would stop the water from flowing back under the deck and if water got under the deck somehow i could take the caps off and drain it. hope that makes sense.