Transom repair

[Thaybot2000]

Hey everybody, I am new to the Iboats forum and I need some advice. I have a 16ft cobia '75 or therebouts, fiberglass hull and cap. I plan on replacing the rotted transom this fall, and I have a kind of basic question. The boat is two pieces, the hull and the cap. I know I have to get this cap off to get to the transom, but my question is this: Can I cut the cap about two feet from the transom so that I can just remove the one piece, or do I have to pull the whole cap off? I don't want to do anything that will compromise the structural integrity of the boat, but I don't have the space to store the cap once it's off. any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: Transom repair

First...Welcome!

I've read where others have cut just enough to reach, but I couldn't answer if it affects the over-all strength...another option is to remove the complete cap, and move it forward enough to work with, leaving it, supporting it if needed, right on the hull.

 

[westexasrepublic]

Re: Transom repair

dont shortcut, cuz in the end it will just be more work...having to splice the piece back on to the original cap and so forth....

no such thing as a shortcut in a restoration.

I just pulled my cap and set down in the driveway next to the boat and put my cover on it

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Transom repair

Welcome to iBoats!
It has been done and will be done again. It will Not affect the structural intergrity of the boat. If you have basic skill in fiberglassing you should be able to blend it back in and it should be un-noticeable when completed.

Pics of your boat and project will help us to help you.

I'm just sayin...

 

[howlnmad]

Re: Transom repair

Wasn't the same question asked just a couple weeks ago?

 

[CWKboat]

Re: Transom repair

Thay,

Funny you should ask, I have a '72 18 ft. Cobia Sportster and I cut into side about 4-5 ft from the back on both sides and removed the transom cap just this past weekend. I have very limited experience with glass, but I figure there's not much damage that you can do to a fiberglass boat that you can't fix. I just didn't want to fool with the entire cap as the front is heavy and was connected to the floor in some spots by a PO. I think once you put it back and on and reinsert the screws it should line up flush, and then you can make the necessary cosmetic repairs.

I'm just getting started on chipping out the wood.

Good luck!

 

[Thaybot2000]

Re: Transom repair

Yea, I know what you mean, the whole bow and consoles are connected to the floor, so I really didn't want to mess with it. I'm just trying to seal the transom up now and reinforce the inside with a sheet of plywood so that I can get a couple of months on the water. Maybe November I will be getting to the good stuff: ripping out that rotted transom wood! Good luck on your project

 

[109jb]

Re: Transom repair

Can you cut the back off? Sure
After cutting can you put the back back on? Sure
Can you make it look as good as before you cut it? Maybe

Now that The basic questions are answered, I would personally not cut the top cap. For one, on most boats removing the cap isn't much work. At least on my boat, I can guarantee you that I could remove the cap starting from fully assembled working boat, and then put it back on and hook everything back up in wayyyyyy less time and for $0.00 than it would take fiberglass, sand, gel-coat, etc. the cut.

The cap can be stored on the ground outside, that's what I did. When you are done, the gel coat matches perfect if you don't cut it. As a metter of fact, you won't even be able to see the spot where you didn't cut it.

Bottom line is that I would find a place to store the cap while you work on the boat. I would actually rather pay for a storage unit for a month to put the cap in than to cut it.

 

[Itsalonestar]

Re: Transom repair

OK....I've read enough on this topic to realize it's time to start boycotting boat manufacturers who use bio-degradables for critical structural components.

 

[Thaybot2000]

Re: Transom repair

I just don't understand how in this day and age we still have not yet come up with something synthetic to use for transoms, stringers and decks other than wood. They build small bridges out of recycled soda bottles, are you telling me they can't build boats?

Thanks for your concern over the aesthetics of my boat, but the SOB is already ugly!

I got the boat and motor for five hundred, and you get what you pay for! After the transom rehab I am going to get it painted and gel-coated this winter if there are no rogue financial waves!

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Transom repair

There are plenty of synthetics that get used in modern boats instead of wood. Corecell, Coosa, Nidacore, and a lot of others.

The thing is, wood, by virtue of being available for thousands of years, is cheap. Synthetics are not.

If you were building a boat that ideally you'd like your customer to use for a few years and then replace, and you had to do it as cheaply as possible in order to make money and stay in business, which would you use?

If you want a no wood boat you have to buy a no wood boat. Be prepared to pay for the privilege.

Erik

 

[Itsalonestar]

Re: Transom repair

Planned obsolescence you say? I'm shocked. HAHAHAHA As far as needing more boat manufacturers who do a crappy job.....I dunno.

There is an outfit that builds no-frills sailboats, one of which I own, that does them cheaper than any of the competition. "Real" sailboat owners disparage them as "cheaply" built. What seems to be the case is they are simply thoughtfully engineered for maximum strength, durability and performance with a great deal of thought to efficiency in the production process. The interior of this MacGregor boat looks and performs much the same as it did when it came out of the mold nearly 30 years ago. It has outlived two owners already, and I have no doubt it will outlive the third by many years. It can be done, and it can be done cheaper than the competition.

That being said, part of the thrill of tearing into an old boat is how cheap they are, and the satisfaction of getting them "right," so we shouldn't complain too darn much. In my book, a cash outlay for a few materials and some sweating and cussing beats years of installment payments any old day.

Wear it out, use it up, make it do, or do without!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Transom repair

This guy did it

I'm just sayin...

 

[matt88]

Re: Transom repair

I have the same problem as you with limited workspace. I pulled my entire cap loose and just scooted it up a few feet leaving just enough room to replace the transom. It took less than an hour getting the cap off and maybe a little longer getting it back on. I started to do exactly what you are contemplating and thankfully these guys talked me out of it.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Transom repair

Now I'm not sayin, I would cut off my top cap, cuz no way in heck would I ever do that. I'm just sayin you could without structurally damaging your boat. But in the same amount of time that you will spend in fixing what you did you could do it the RIGHT way and remove the top cap completly. You asked if you you could and the answer is yes. If you're asking if you should the answer is NO. Not unless there is NO OTHER WAY.

I'm just sayin...

 

[wishboneZ51]

Re: Transom repair

I concur with woodonglass,

Look at my pictures and you will see that I seperated my top cap from the hull but kept it up on top. Get 3 2X8's to spread the load of your cap and you can push it forward so you will have enough room to do what you need to and not damage the top cap.

 

[CWKboat]

Re: Transom repair

I think his obstacle, as well as mine on my 72 Cobia, is that a good portion of the front part of the top cap is connected to the floor area and would have to be cut. I don't know if in my case it was done by a PO who earlier replaced the floor, but in any event I was looking at doing some cutting either way.

Personally, I think we have to keep in mind that these are 35 + year old boats, and getting it "real close" in the end is within acceptable tolerances. I wouldn't make this cut on a newer boat, but with an older one it's an acceptable outcome if less than showroom to the trained eye.

 

[Thaybot2000]

Re: Transom repair

Exactly my thought. This boat has no gelcoat left on it anyway, it has been well used and enjoyed I assume. Getting it close is my goal, I am more worried about structural integrity than anything else. Hey CWK, maybe you could help me with a problem I see. My boat has a rub rail that goes around and serves as trim between the cap and hull (I assume yours is the same way) it has a metal "track" that is screwed to the fiberglass and then a rubber insert that seems to be slid in and worked all the way around the boat. Am I correct in assuming that I just unscrew one end from the transom and pull the whole rubber thing through in order to access the screws underneath?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Transom repair

the rubber insert can be removed but it is not as easy as it might appear. Putting it back in is not a piece of cake either. There will be either screws or rivets holding it to the hull. If it is rivets be careful to use a drill bit NO bigger than necessary to drill them out. that way you can use the same size rivet when you replace them. the top cap may be tabbed to the sides of the hull or even have some adhesive holding the two together.

I still don't like the idea of cutting the cap but it is your boat and I DO understand your reasoning. Like I said it has been done and it will be done again. Just understand you will have additional fiberglass work to do to get it back together. Either way if you take your time and pay attention to details you WILL be successful and have a boat that will give you hours of enjoyment

Good Luck and post some pics of your progress.


I'm just sayin...