Transom Patching Repairs??

[Elk Chaser]

I have a 78 Sleekcraft mini day cruiser that I am in the process of restoring. <br /><br />The transom on this boat is interesting in that the center section that supports the jet does not have any wood that I can see at all. It is just very thick glass indented into the boat so that the jet is mounted 6 inches deep into the transom.<br /><br />The wood portion of the transom is on either side of the jet and across the the top. One side of the transom around the transom exhaust has rotted and seeing as the wood is not supporting the jet I was thinking of just cutting away the majority of the rotted wood from the inside and laminating new wood in place somehow (not sure yet)securing into the good wood on either side and glassing over it from the inside. <br /><br />I am having trouble getting the wood off of the outer glass skin from the inside, anyone have any methods to get this done without damaging the glass. <br /><br />I keep reading that everyone pulls the tops off the boats and replaces all the wood that way and was wondering if my method would work or if any of you see any problems with that type of transom repair.<br /><br />Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Transom Patching Repairs??

Chainsaw. I use an electric one because it's more convenient. The saw wants to eat up the wood but not the fiberglass because the glass is a lot hard. Keep the bar parallel with the glass, kinda like you're shaving the wood off of it.The saw will cut the glass but with a little practice, you can get 99% of the wood off the glass without damaging it. If the wood's rotten, it's like a hot knife through butter.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Transom Patching Repairs??

Did I ask a stupid question or what??

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Transom Patching Repairs??

No, you didn't ask a stupid question. I had to use a chisel to get the wood off of my outer shell, and there was still a thin layer I couldn't get off. I ended up going at it with an angle grinder and a grinding wheel and that finally got me down to clean glass. You can bond the wood to the shell with resin, clamp in place till cured, and then sheath it in fully. If you can do the transom job without pulling the top, then go for it. Most transom jobs that require the top to come off are boats with outboard motors. The splashwell makes it impossible to replace the transom without either cutting the splashwell out or removing the top.

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Transom Patching Repairs??

Thanks guys, I apreciate the input very much.