type of wood for transom

[Josh9685]

HI,<br />I am in the process of replacing the transom on my boat.<br /><br />My question is what kind of wood should I use? should I get the pressure treated lumber(if I can find a straight piece), or just regular sanded pine plywood? <br /><br />also, I have just about all of the old transom wood removed(mostly mulch), how clean must the inside fiberglass be to bond to the new wood? <br />it is not a sandwich type transom, the wood is bonded to the outer shell, there is no inner glass layer except for along the borders of the wood. can I just sand it smooth allowing some of the old wood to be there, or should I sand into the fiberglass? I am planning on using west epoxy to bond the wood to the fiberglass, then glass along the borders of the new wood just as the old piece was.<br /><br />thanks,<br />Josh

 

[epresutti]

Re: type of wood for transom

Josh,<br /><br />Do not use pressure treated. It is very wet and you will not get a good bond to it. You can use fir plywood, marine would be better.<br /><br />Marine plywood is not supposed to have voids in it like you will find in regular plywood. If you can get some decent grade it should be fine.<br /><br />Peace.<br /><br />Ed.

 

[Josh9685]

Re: type of wood for transom

where do I get marine plywood from?<br />is it a lot more expensive?

 

[fishingdan]

Re: type of wood for transom

Where do you live? <br /><br />3/4" thick 4x8' sheet of marine ply will cost $65 to $100 per sheet depending on the type. You will bond two 3/4" pieces together to make up a 1 1/2" thick transom. <br /><br />If marine ply is not available in your area, you can you a good 3/4" exterior ply. You may need to look through a whole stack to find a good piece.

 

[lark2004]

Re: type of wood for transom

And you do need to make sure that all the remains of the old timber has been removed.<br /><br />What type of resin were you planning on using to attatch the new timber with?

 

[Josh9685]

Re: type of wood for transom

hi,<br /><br />I live in northern centeral MI, close to West Branch if anybody is familiar with the area.<br /><br />it looks like the old wood was about 3/4 inch thick, should I go ahead and increase the size to 1.5 inch, I am also replacing the stringers so going larger wouldn't be a big problem if I just shorten the stringers by an equal amount.<br /><br />I was going to use West Systems epoxy or something similar.<br /><br />I notice that as I clean the old wood from the epoxy/glue or whatever was used to bond it that the glue/epoxy is chipping of anyway and exposing the fiberglass hull, so I guess I will just chip out as much of the old epoxy as possible.

 

[crab bait]

Re: type of wood for transom

marine ply is WAY too expensive.. i'd go with AB doug-fir exterior.. <br />any lumber yard can get it in 3 days..<br /><br />it's top-notch stuff an way less costly an almost as void free as marine.. <br /><br />i wouldn't go any thicker transom as per factory.. unless you really wanted to.. <br /><br />i like a 1 to 1 mix thin laminate epoxy.. WAY easier to mix right .. an no wax after cure,no sanding between cure.. <br /><br />mite be to cold where you're at for epoxy.. should be above 60 deg f..<br /><br />get it at www.clarkcraft.com .. it's the only 1 to 1 mix i know of..<br /><br />NEVER ,NEVER use unthicken epoxy for glueing/bonding.. if you're going to ,, add fillers .. such an silica, microballoons,talc ect..

 

[Josh9685]

Re: type of wood for transom

confession:<br /><br />I've never worked with epoxy before except for coating floors.<br />so you are saying that I can't apply the epoxy as it is correct? it is to thin? <br />I should thicken it with something like microfibers or sawdust? to what consistency? also, the boat shell is completley intact. I am replacing the transom from inside the boat. how do I prevent the epxoxy from running when I apply it? <br />also how thick of a layer of epoxy do I need to use to bond the wood to the hull?

 

[neebishis05]

Re: type of wood for transom

Josh........I live in lower Mich. . I bought ACX plywood for my transom. Its about 7 plys @ 3/4'' thickness.....is free of voids, and is exterior glued. Cost....$42.00 a sheet. Crab Bait is right on by recommending Clark Craft for your epoxy. They do have a heavy bodied epoxy that will cure well below 60 degrees. Call them, ask for Gary....he'll give you all the answers you'll neeed.

 

[KilroyJC]

Re: type of wood for transom

HI all- <br /><br />Just posting to keep track of this - I need to do this on my boat.<br /><br />thanks,<br />Matt M

 

[crab bait]

Re: type of wood for transom

the thin epoxy ,, use as is ,, should only be used for encapsulating/sealing of wood .. 2 coats at least for rot prevention..<br />an for glueing 2 sheets together..that are screwed or weighted titely together.. but even then ,, i add alittle silica to the mix.. <br /><br /><br />you can use it for glueing/bonding/construction ,, but it fillers must be added..!!<br /><br />how much an what kind depends on what you're doin'..<br /><br />silica is for strenght an keeps the mix from saggin'.. <br /><br />microballoons is to make sanding easier.. not much strenght by itself..<br /><br />milled fiberglass powered is major strenght an sands like concrete..<br /><br />a combo mix of 2 or more is desired .. which two depends on application.. <br /><br />how thick..?? for laminating 2 pieces ,, a wet slurry of silica..<br /><br />for flat-out gluing,, pancake mix.. <br /><br />need to sand..?? microballoon high %.. <br /><br />verticle app.. silica high %.. <br /><br />never to be seen an not sanded .. milled powder..