transom rebuild help

[ekipapa]

Hello,
I purchased a 19 foot kami craft, the transom is rotten. I can only remove the outter transom skin. There is no access to the inside of the transom. I cut the exterior skin and left about 3 inches of fiberglass around the transom perimeter I removed all of the rotten ply. I've laminated 2 pieces of marine ply and I'm about ready to install the new transom. How do I secure the transom before I start to fiberglass. Can I screw the new transom in place to the existing sides and hull, then fiberglass? Will I need to wrap the fiberglass around the sides of the transom for strengh? Thanks for your help

 

[83vert]

Re: transom rebuild help

I think HVAC cruiser did a transom that way, check out his thread

 

[ekipapa]

Re: transom rebuild help

Thank you for the post. I'll check it out

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: transom rebuild help

Welcome to iboats!!

Your first homework assignment is to read this thread http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=234392 which will give you some accurate insight into repairs/rebuilds.

A few pictures of your work would also be nice. Normally the cap is removed and then the transom is rebuilt. I would be cautious with using screws and they should only be temporary.... read a few of the rebuild threads and you will understand.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: transom rebuild help

OHHHH MAN you cut the outer skin off ??????? we need pics on this one !! your still going to have to glass it from the inside and out !! John

 

[anthony115merc]

Re: transom rebuild help

haha ur not the only one who did this lol i did it then relised what did i do it for lol and removed the top half at the back any way lol let me know how u go

 

[ekipapa]

Re: transom rebuild help

I Thank you guys for the response. Sure hope that I can fix this transom with your help. I'll attach some pictures of the project. And yes I did cut out the outer skin. It could be the biggest mistake that I've made.



ekipapa

 

[ezmobee]

Re: transom rebuild help

With fiberglass....pretty much everything is fixable

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: transom rebuild help

I think HVAC cruiser did a transom that way, check out his thread

Yep, that was me that cut the outside of my boat to access the transom. Whether I was initially ill advised or not is another story, from reading your post its already cut. Its not that hard to reglass your transom in and have a stronger than original repair.

One of my questions is why can't you get to the inside of the transom, do you have a splash well that is blocking it and you feel you can't get it off?
I wound up cutting the splash well out and performing the transom installation from the inside anyway. The cap on the boat covered the top of the transom with the 3" around the perimeter method there would have been a huge gap unless the transom was built in place in sections which I didn't like that idea.

Not to be doom and gloom but after my splash well was out, I found rotted stringers and deck supports. I hope for your sake the the rot ends with the transom, though that might not be the case, further checking and investigation might be prudent

 

[Knightgang]

Re: transom rebuild help

Pictures, give us pictures.....

That is the best tool to help us offer you advise...

 

[ekipapa]

Re: transom rebuild help

Well guys this wont be my first screw up in life (lol) I'll have some pics posted this evening. Again, thank you for your input


ekipapa

 

[ekipapa]

Re: transom rebuild help

I was able to get 1 photo uploaded, I'm going to have and learn how to edit photos some day. Well this is what I'm up against The outer skin was removed and I laminated 2 pieces ply. What should I use to secure the ply to the inner skin, can I use epoxy and screw it to the inner skin? Any suggestions would really help.


Thank you

 

[Knightgang]

Re: transom rebuild help

I really think you are going to have to cyt the cap and pop it off the stern to have good access to the transom for a proper repair...

Read HVAC Cruisers restoration thread and find the "Hull Extension in Progress" by Oops! and read up... You will learn a great deal...

Once you get the cap, spashwell, etc. out of the way, you use the Peanut Butter mix explained in Oops! thread and fill in the space around the transom and the sides/bottom of the hull... Then, you tab in the transom to the sides/bottom with fiberglass cloth... Once the glass/resin sets, it will be bonded...

I hope that helps... Read up to learn the concepts then ask questions if you need some clarity...

And keep the pics comming...

 

[Knightgang]

Re: transom rebuild help

Also, create a photobucket account so that you can post pics without actually attaching the pic file form your PC... It is a great way to catalogue your rebuild...

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: transom rebuild help

Your 2nd assignment, here is a link to a tutorial on how to upload pictures.
http://home.comcast.net/~xcusme/Ppost/Ppost.htm
The first thing you need to do is get a free photobucket account

Its hard to see from the small picture but are those openings I see on the bottom sides of your inner skin exposing your transom wood to the bilge area? Personally would pop the cap off check the stringers etc, and plan for a long winter of wood replacement. From what can be seen you still have the structural integrity of the corners so your in good shape, with my project the stern had bounced off the dock one time too many while docked during storms and the corners were destroyed.

If your set on just replacing the transom without removing the cap it can be done, Before you but your new transom in you have to 1st sand down the inner skin so the new resin will adhere HD flapper wheels work great for this. You have to soak the new wood to entirely seal it edges and all, with either epoxy or poly resin, epoxy is stronger BUT you can't gel coat over it, also you can use epoxy over poly but not poly over epoxy. I would seal the transom with poly thinned with styrene at least a few coats. Don't use acetone for thinning for it will destroy the resins properties and you'd be shooting yourself in the foot, then use a thickened resin to glue it to the inner skin. I would epoxy it in making sure not to get any on the outside of the boat so I could still use poly and gel coat on the outer skin. For clamping use your engine mount holes and some 2x4's with threaded rod. I would measure the amount of space you have between the inner and outer skins if there is enough, Try to add at least a layer of 1708 biax on the inside side of the transom wood before installing.

Well I hope that helps you a little, others might have a different, better or easier opinion/method, that's the great thing about iboats and this think tank

 

[ekipapa]

Re: transom rebuild help

I feel a whole lot better about the transom rebuild. I'm forced to use poly resin on this rebuild. Non of the stores here carry epoxy (Kauai, HI ) I am going to sign up for photobucket and get things rolling. Thanks for the great advice and some awesome links. I'm brand new to iboats and i know that I'll need more help as the project continues.


Ekipapa

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: transom rebuild help

I feel a whole lot better about the transom rebuild. I'm forced to use poly resin on this rebuild. Non of the stores here carry epoxy (Kauai, HI ) I am going to sign up for photobucket and get things rolling. Thanks for the great advice and some awesome links. I'm brand new to iboats and i know that I'll need more help as the project continues.


Ekipapa

Its all good, Poly is fine, Heck, that's what your boat was made with.
You just have to make sure you grind/sand the old glass down to get to a virgin surface but don't get crazy and burn through, then wipe with acetone in one direction only constantly refolding the rag for a clean spot. use unwaxed if possible on underlying layups then waxed on the surface layer, it will save some sanding.

WE NEED PICTURES