Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

[jasoutside]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

I was thinking exterior, cheaper so i wouldn't feel bad about making a one piece transom with a decent amount of scrap. Two 3/4" thick sheets glued together??? What's the glue? Do they get eurethaned seperately??

You can laminate them with thickened epoxy, use PL concrete adhesive, 3M 5200 and a variety of others. I used Titebond III waterproof glue as that is what I had on hand so very cost effective for me. There is probably a preferred method out there but whatever you do it will be all sealed up with epoxy in the end.

Have fun!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

All depends on how long you want it last and how much money you want to spend. I did the one on my Jupiter with two pieces of 3/4" exterior ply laminated with PL Premium. I painted it with porch and floor paint and installed it. On my current project I laminated two pieces of 3/4" exterior Arauco ply and coated it with a couple coats of epoxy resin and also used the epoxy to laminate the two pieces together. I see no problem with your aluminum idea.

 

[Kainon]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

Hi,

I've posted on my site, what I used and how I did it..

Basically 2 4x8 Marine Plywood.

I then cut the peices separately ( but think I should have done if after gluing.

1. (2) 4x8 Marine Plywood 3/4"
2. 1qt of Epoxy Resin for gluing 2 peices of transom together
3. 2qt kit of CPES from Rotdoctor.com
4. Paint of your choice, I used Mercruiser Black.


1. Glue 2 peices of 4x8 together using Expoxy Resin ( I acutally used Polyester Resin)
2. Lay boards flat on "Clean Flat Hard surface put the Carboard under it that came with it to catch the drippigns,
3. Apply Resin to one side, thin even coat
4. place as much weight as possible on the top board and as evenly as possible from the center out. Clamps will apply somewhat un-even pressure

let set for 3 days

lay old transom on top, trace, cut to the INSIDE of the line or better I think left edge of the blade on the line, this should bring to the right dimensions, you can do some sanding from there.

the top and bottom cuts have slight angles to them 10 degrees I think, comes to mind.

I then applied the CPES to both sides and all edges of the transom, continually cleaned up the drips applying it to the main surface of the transom. using 1qt ( of the 50/50 mix ) per side. resulting in a REALLY Strong Transom. ( I saved the core for later and showing off.. )

I then test fit somewhat and used a small sledge to drive it down.

I was ablet o lift out the old transom with a Backhoe and Tie down chain with a big J type Hook.

Before dropping the board in a applied 3M 4200 & 5200 along the bracket at the bottom, concentrating along where the bracket meets the transom metal, the Notch at the bottom center so water cant get in to that section, also at the port & starboard ends of the bottom bracket.

once the wood is in I applied more 3M to the edge of the bracket at the transom wood. ( i forgot to apply to the screws)

Ideally you would also apply some resin after cuttin the gimbal housing hole after trimming for the swing of the steering lever.

I applied 3M to the new D-Rings ( which were Rotted ) and will be adding some backing plates to them

hope this helps. anyquestions feel free to send me a PM ( private message/email )

-brian

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

Good advise as I see a very Questionable Transom. You see how the motor is mounted and the tilt plate ?? The motor mounted as itsself has a top hook that goes over the top of the rransom and then bolts thru the transom. That is not the case ueing your tilt unit. Now you have all the strain and pull from the center of the transom flat side only. I can see how it is not straight any longer. The photo shows a tramsom that needs replaced so listen to the ones who have done this.. One has to remember not to try to re-engeneer the boat as Starcraft and others have spent many hours in the design. If it ain't broke dont fix it. But if it needs it do it properly . Good luck on the refit of the transom

 

[Drews29]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

Good advise as I see a very Questionable Transom. You see how the motor is mounted and the tilt plate ?? The motor mounted as itsself has a top hook that goes over the top of the rransom and then bolts thru the transom. That is not the case ueing your tilt unit. Now you have all the strain and pull from the center of the transom flat side only. I can see how it is not straight any longer. The photo shows a tramsom that needs replaced so listen to the ones who have done this.. One has to remember not to try to re-engeneer the boat as Starcraft and others have spent many hours in the design. If it ain't broke dont fix it. But if it needs it do it properly . Good luck on the refit of the transom

Thanks for the info guys.

I think I'll pick a weekend in the next few weeks before I use the boat and just build a new transom. Building and fixing stuff doesn't bother me. Done plenty of both. Just kind of wanted to use the boat soon this year but even adding in a angle and remounting the engine is a fair amount of work, might as well go the full 9 yards an do it right.

Anyone see a problem installing an angle in there while I'm at it? I'm thinking 2.5" x 2.5" by 1/4" or 5/16" thick aluminum angle the width of the engine well.

As far as the aluminum sheet on the inside protecting the front face of the transom in the well, I don't know why they didn't build it that way. My main concern there isn't use on the water as much as while the boat is sitting around in the winter. I had snow blow up in there. I always cleaned it out after a snowstorm (w had a bunch in south jersey this year), but I could see snow damaging that, especially if the drains are clogged. My neighbor has an alumincraft or something bassboat and his transom rotted out from snow sitting in the engine well. His was outright dry-rotted though.

 

[Drews29]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

Good advise as I see a very Questionable Transom. You see how the motor is mounted and the tilt plate ?? The motor mounted as itsself has a top hook that goes over the top of the rransom and then bolts thru the transom. That is not the case ueing your tilt unit. Now you have all the strain and pull from the center of the transom flat side only. I can see how it is not straight any longer. The photo shows a tramsom that needs replaced so listen to the ones who have done this.. One has to remember not to try to re-engeneer the boat as Starcraft and others have spent many hours in the design. If it ain't broke dont fix it. But if it needs it do it properly . Good luck on the refit of the transom

The homemade tilt thing uses the same bolt pattern as the engine wold have. I think it's more a matter of the engine being extended backwards another 5 or 6 inches plus it's more than likely the original transom. The combination of age and roughly 25% more stress is probably what did it.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

Yes the same bolt pattern BUT NOT over the top of the transon like the motor mounts, you see the top hooks on the motor ?? this also iheeps the motor from backing off of the transom.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

Yes the same bolt pattern BUT NOT over the top of the transon like the motor mounts, you see the top hooks on the motor ?? this also iheeps the motor from backing off of the transom.

Outboards are adjustable. If mounted any higher than the lowest hole pattern you'd lose that functionality anyway.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

Possiblyy but putting the motor back on the transom will help, also I have mounted several motors to stern plates but the are bolted through the transom and through a backing plate inside the transom also. Besides the photo shows a lot of water has gone thru the transom the way it is now mounted as it has allowed the transom to seperate some.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

There ain't no question he needs a new transom. I just don't think the jack plate is a big cause of the problem.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

I would have to agree thats not the whole problem. I think Drew needs to replace the transom and then secure the tilt tighter to it. Be a shame to have to lift that 115 by hand, as I have done that a few times then went on line and installed a t/t He reccommends he might get a crow bar type thing like the smaller motors used to use to lift it from inside the boat, I think the motor is to heavy to lift by the cover only. I hope Drew follows these posts also as there sure is a lot of good help and the price is right.

 

[Drews29]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

I would have to agree thats not the whole problem. I think Drew needs to replace the transom and then secure the tilt tighter to it. Be a shame to have to lift that 115 by hand, as I have done that a few times then went on line and installed a t/t He reccommends he might get a crow bar type thing like the smaller motors used to use to lift it from inside the boat, I think the motor is to heavy to lift by the cover only. I hope Drew follows these posts also as there sure is a lot of good help and the price is right.

I'm definitely following these posts. Thanks.

 

[motorpsykler]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

My main concern there isn't use on the water as much as while the boat is sitting around in the winter. I had snow blow up in there. I always cleaned it out after a snowstorm (w had a bunch in south jersey this year), but I could see snow damaging that, especially if the drains are clogged. My neighbor has an alumincraft or something bassboat and his transom rotted out from snow sitting in the engine well. His was outright dry-rotted though.

After you do all this work, I think you are going to want to cover that boat up better in the winter. Freezing and thawing water can do a lot of damage. Of course the best way to store outdoors is shrinkwrap and I have done that but it is expensive. What I did the last few years was to put my normal boat cover on and then over that I put an oversized silver tarp over the boat and wrapped it with cheap nylon rope. It worked great and kept my boat cover looking good. Never got wet at all inside the boat, just a little dusty.

 

[Drews29]

Re: Starcraft Islander, 1976 - Transom question

Well, I took the engine and tilt unit off. Cleaned up and painted the transom wood good. Didn't see any rot, nothing to write home about. A little surface softness in one or two sports but nothing extensive. It appears as though the transom truly did warp slightly from the added stress of the tilt unit. I mounted a 1/4" thick by 4 foot aluminum channel with 3 inch channel flanges. The channel is about 4 inches high. Fits inside the engine well. Kind of like a transom saver on steroids. Super firm now. I remounted the engine sans the power tilt. I can jump up and down on the engine and don't notice any flexing at all.

I made up a crowbar thing to raise and lower the engine. It's a piece of cake. Even without that thing it's not all that dificult to move. But the crowbar is easy enough for a child to lift and lower the engine.