Transom/Hull Joint Repair

chrismarion

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
115
Went fishing in the bay to all my normal areas, know them very well. Some how in the flats I fish and float by every time is a huge stone. Think 3 feet wide by 1 1/2 feet tall, IN THE GRASS FLATS! Any how, just floating with the current/wind we bumped into this and it was the very bottom of the hull and transom joint. I didnt know what it was till I poled forward, then I decided we need to head towards the ramp 6 miles away. Get there, get it on the trailer to inspect the damage and its 6 inches wide and about 3/4 inchs tall at the lower transom/hull joint. Just below the plug hole. No cracks, stress or other damage but it ripped off the gel coat and the resin. I didnt know my hull was layers mat with 3/4 wood on top, but it is and that ride back in absorbed water.

Damage can be fixed with some chopped glass, resin and coat it. Granted this stinks, it opened up a new door. After I used my dremel with sanding disc to clean the area I find that my hull is 1/2 think resin/glass and my transom is 1/4 thick resin/glass on the outside. Transom total thickness is 2 1/2 inches. Now, the can of worms is the wood below the drain plug has absorbed water and is rotted. Total area is 2 inches up and 7 inches wide. After that the wood is good. I even tried pushing a pick up into the wood and it wouldnt go.
Ideas on just that area:
Grind out the rot and fill with resin/glass? Grind out more and fill? I cant find any posts that have just small repairs. I know transoms are not a small repair and the strength of the rear, but the joints in this boat are overkill. Along with the transom strength alone. There (to me) is no need for a whole new transom. If that has to be done then I will just get another boat. I dont mind redoing the deck, floor, etc. I dont want to do the transom. I am sure this boat has more years in it before the transom becomes a serious issue. I have seen some pictures of some transoms people used for years and this is nothing compared to those. I cant take pictures untill tomorrow as our camera lens now isnt functional. Only happens when you need it right.
Any feedback is welcome. Ideas or a direction to take on the repair would be very greatful. What would you do?
Thanks, Chris
 

tramp666

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Apr 15, 2007
Messages
47
Re: Transom/Hull Joint Repair

check out seacast.com. I did my transom for around $200 and it will take a GBU hit now.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,082
Re: Transom/Hull Joint Repair

I would Think that a mixture of Epoxy,+ Fillers would be My Plan of Attack,.....
Atleast by Your Description.......
 

chrismarion

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
115
Re: Transom/Hull Joint Repair

Bondo, I think thats what I plan on doing. Sounds the best route to take, only thing is matching the gel-coat color.

Tramp666, I went to your suggested site. I didnt see anything related to boats or repair. That site is a metallurgical and machining company.

Thanks for the input so far guys.

Chris
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: Transom/Hull Joint Repair

Epoxy is a better product to use (stronger), but gel coat won't stick all that well to it. Since the area is very thick already, the added strength of the epoxy will not be needed, so just use polyester and glass. Fill what you need to with putty, glass over it, then sand off everthing that doesn't look like a boat., gel coat will stick to that surface very well.

Taper the glass out a few inches around the hole with a grinder, this will provide an area for the repair to bond to. Putty has no strength, so use as little as possible.
 

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: Transom/Hull Joint Repair

Before you do any glass work saturate the wood area with automotive antifreeze. Wood rot is a fungus and if not killed will continue to grow even if fairly dry and glassed over. Antifreeze kills the fungus and hence stops the rot. Get a hypodermic needle used for horses if you need to get to difficult spaces.
 

Frank Acampora

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
12,004
Re: Transom/Hull Joint Repair

For such a small area of wood rot use Git Rot or the generic equivalent. I used it on a transom and was very pleasantly surprised.
 

chrismarion

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
115
Re: Transom/Hull Joint Repair

So for the Git Rot or AntiFreeze shoot it in from the top or in random areas. I am just thinking about gravity, thats all. I do not have a problem with ANY of the suggestions and cant wait till the morning to begin.

Thank you everyone, I have my list of things to do now!!

Chris
 

sdunt

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 11, 2005
Messages
389
Re: Transom/Hull Joint Repair

The Website for seacast is http://transomrepair.com/zk/

Its basically a pourable mixture of resin and chopped fibers. To use it in the case as I am envisioning this, you would have to have the boat upside down..

'poxy would bond better to the wood,but you won't be able to get gelcoat to stick to it, you'll have to paint the repaired area.

You could possibly camouflage the repair with bottom paint so that you don't have to match the rest to the boat?
 
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