transom repair?

[odie]

New guy here...I just aquired two old power boats, my first power boat actually.<br /><br />The transom needs some patch work under the aluminum motor mount plate. The gel coat is completely worn away in two spots. <br /><br />The fiber glass strands are completely exposed. The best way to describe it is that it looks like one of those disposable home air conditioner filters. <br /><br />The worn spots are only about 2-3 inches in diameter. The fiberglass itself appears fully intact. It's just the gel coat that is gone.<br /><br />Can this be repaired with just a gel coat patch or would fiberglass resin or jelly be better?<br /><br />I can take a picture and post it tomorrow.<br /><br />also, should there be any thing between the aluminum plate and the hull? A thin rubber pad or something to protect the hull from the weight of the motor resting on the plate?

 

[Laddies]

Re: transom repair?

Shread some mat into your resin to thicken it apply just enough to fill the void, cover the repair with wax paper and the paper with a thin piece of plywood or something to give a smooth surface, to save sanding if you want put a little color it the resin--Bob

 

[Rudderman]

Re: transom repair?

Be VERY careful of using a rubber pad between your motor and transom. I almost lost an engine off my boat once because when the engine came under strain, the rubber acted like a lubricant and the whole motor, rubber and all, slipped up and off the transom at high speed!

 

[odie]

Re: transom repair?

The worn spots are around the bolt holes for the metal plate on the transom. Only the upper holes appear to have the damage.<br /><br />The metal plate is attached by 4 big bolts that go thru the hull. I was thinking a pad sandwiched between the metal plate and hull. The pad cannot slip out but would keep the metal plate from directly pressing against the gel coat and slowly grinding it away.<br /><br />I have some pictures to post but I can't figure out how to post pictures on this forum.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: transom repair?

Your fine with just brushing on some gel to protect the glass ( unless the glass is damaged )<br /><br />"also, should there be any thing between the aluminum plate and the hull"<br /><br />No there should not..it will only wear away and loosen the mounting bolts more creating more slop..therefore creating more damage.<br />Id take the plate off..clean it..then bed it down with some 3M 5200 ( making circles around any bolt holes so water does not get into your transom ) and your fine there m8<br /><br />Use some other bolts to put your plate on firmly with the 5200,let dry, then mount your motor.<br /><br />YD.

 

[odie]

Re: transom repair?

I asked a guy at work and he said that the aluminum plate will corrode with exposure to salt water. He said this corrosion will eat into the gelcoat.

 

[Mark42]

Re: transom repair?

I asked a guy at work and he said that the aluminum plate will corrode with exposure to salt water. He said this corrosion will eat into the gelcoat.<br />

Generally speaking that is true. But lots of boats have an aluminum transom cap that does not corrode in salt water. It all depends on if it is original or someones patch job. The boat pictured in my avatar to the left has an aluminum cap on the transom and the motor covers up part of it. It shows no corrosion because the boat gets washed after every use and waxed every couple of days while at the shore.<br /><br />Try to post a photo. Would like to see what your are describing. <br /><br />Another option with the damaged gel coat is to cover the fiberglass with a coat of marine epoxy. I have read where UV rays can damage epoxy, but where you will use it the sun won't easily get to it. Should be ok.