Transom work while redecking?

[ccyoder]

I've got a '89 Glastron Sierra 195 with a 4.3L Merc and Alpha One. I bought the boat last summer knowing full well that there was some slight spring in the floor up in the bow. So, I'm about to begin redecking the thing. I cut out a lot of the floor before I put it up in November and the stringers are solid bow to stern and the bilge/motor mounts, etc are solid, so I'm just going to put on a new floor and not dig out the stringers and start from scratch.

My question is about the transom. From my visual and physical inspection (screwdriver poking and pushing) it's solid. However, I've got a few spiderweb hairline stress cracks on the exterior of the transom (Possible cause: it came with a hydrofoil which I've since removed). Since there is no sign of rot aside from the soft area of the deck, I'm inclined to believe that the transom is solid. So is it okay to just put on the new deck without touching the transom? I only ask bc every redecking how to usually involves the transom, but I'm really thinking that I'm getting lucky. Does this sound like a logical approach?

 

[DJ]

Re: Transom work while redecking?

It does to me. Either the transom is solid or it isn't. It sounds like you've made a thorough inspection.

Make sure there are no holes in the f-glass in the stringers.

 

[oops!]

Re: Transom work while redecking?

i think the "spider web" cracks are called crazing.

if that is true...(picks please)... no prob.....


crazing is uasually caused by stress on a part...(gell coat)...

its a pita.. but not structural.

when your "in there" just have a good look around.

you may have got lucky.

good for you
oops

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Transom work while redecking?

First of all, is redecking like rednecking? Just kidding.

Now to get down to business, if the deck is rotten, then there's a good chance the stringers may be rotten, so check those out thouroghly. If they are rotten, then there's a good chance that the deck is also, so recheck the deck more throughly if the stringers are rotten.

If the stringers are solid though, and by all other accounts, the deck is solid, then no worries about the cosmetic cracks, a good paint job with make it look like new.

 

[ccyoder]

Re: Transom work while redecking?

Thanks for the info. I was especially happy to hear about crazing. The transom seems so solid that I couldn't imagine that it was caused by some structural deficiency....but I had rot in the deck up front, so I began to worry about the cancer.

Before I put it up, I looked over the stringers by cutting 4 holes in the deck and inspecting port and starboard sides. My impression was "solid." There were no holes, no give. That said, I didn't remove the deck to see the top side of the stringers, so...we'll see.

Thanks for your help. As I get started in a month or two I promise to post with pics of progress.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Transom work while redecking?

Well, as you do the deck, you'll get a REAL good look at the stringers. As long as the stringers are good, then the transom is guaranteed to be isolated from the deck rot, and it sounds like you're gonna be that one lucky guy that wins the lottery and keeps the rest of us suckers playing and hoping that one day we'll get ahold of a boat with only a bad deck.