Need help with transom repair w/pics

[Jon Sob]

I am new to boating (this is my first boat) and I discovered that the transom is rotted. It is a fiberglass boat and I do not know who made it but the PO told me that it is from the sixties and he didn't remember what make it was. I have read several threads on iboats about repairing the transom and thought that I was ready to get started today but when I went to remove the cap I found that it is not screwed or rivited on. I removed the rub rail and it is just screwed to the cap. I don't know where to go from here. It appears that it is just glued or something and I don't know if I have to cut it or what. In the one pic you can see that I was able to lift the end of the cap but that is all the further it would go. The other pic shows the under side of the outside of the cap. I would appreciate any help with this.

 

[Midnight Krawler]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

Transom repair on an old boat might not be worth it. Depends on how much or how bad it is.

Check this stuff out.
http://www.rotdoctor.com/

If the wood is completely rotted out then cut off the top of the transom (cap) and dig out the wood (old school method) Lots of work.

New method is to take core samples to estimate the condition of the wood and then inject epoxy into the rotted wood to bond it back together.

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

The fiberglass is good all around and the only thing that I can find bad was the transom. There is no floor in it so I was able to put it in the water and check for leaks.

 

[saltwaterbluefish]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

There are two main types of joints for the cap on old boats, shoebox joints (cap is larger and fits over the hull like the lid on a shoebox) and flange joints (the cap and hull have a flange and the rubrail connects the two ). It appears you have a shoebox joint. If anyone did repair on it they may have put a glue/caulk/silicone to make a good seal. Then they went back and screwed the rubrail on. I would take off all the rubrail so there is nothing holding the cap on, then take a large putty knife (maybe a gentle tap from a hammer on the knife) and work along the cap and hull. To loosen up the glue/caulk/silicone you can try spraying some goo gone (can find it in any hardware store). Older boats can be difficult to get the cap off because the joint that allowed for the cap to be taken off has been painted over, caulked, painted over again, etc. Just go slowly and it will come off. May also want to go on the inside of the boat and feel where the rubrail would. You may have screws or bolts that is causing you to not to be able to lift it off. On my 1972 the rubrail was bolted on instead of screwed, which made it a pain trying to get off the cap.

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

Hey Salt .... I looked on the inside under the cap and there are no visible bolt or screws. I think you are right about the shoebox joint. It seemed like the cap near the transom where I was able to lift it was not attached it just seemed like it was a really tight fit unless there was an adhesive at one time and it just weakened over the years. When the time comes to put the cap back on what do I use to secure it to the hull?

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

Ok ... I have removed that wet mushy stuff that was once my transom. I am going to sand it to get to the fresh glass. I have seen several sugestions as far as what type of wood to use for the new transom and I don't know which way to go. I really don't have a month to wait untill the pressure treated stuff dries but

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

(sorry about that) .... I want to use something that will work. any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

This is point I am at right now. As you can see in the pic there is a metal stringer in the center that goes right up to the transom and I am not sure if I should try to remove it or work around it. I am afraid that removing the bolts on the stringer (which seem to go into the hull) may open another can of worms as far as leaks. Any thoughts?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

You are ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE this is a Fiberglass Hull???

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

Yes ... I sanded the transom today and I know it is fiberglass. I found a bill of sale from 1989 that was in some paper work from the PO and it said that it is a 1964 MFG fiberglass boat.

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

Here are more pics. In the one pic you can see how the main stringer is bolted to the floor and the other pic shows the outer shell thickness where I removed the transom. The third pic shows the inside ribs. I don't know a whole lot about boats with this being my first but it sure looks like fiberglass to me.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

It's just throwing me with those ribs, and METAL STRINGERS. WOW!!!! I Guess for your transom you'll have to apply the Glue to both surfaces and then slide it as best you can down into place and then clamp it. Either that or notch it a bit at the stringer locations. Very WEIRD setup you got there.

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

Thanks .... that is what I will try and do. Should I use the PL Adhesive or something else to glue it in with?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

Nope, I would use Polyester resin mixed with Cabosil to thicken it to the consistency of Creamy Peanut Butter. You'll need about 3 qts.

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

Ok ..... Will do. Thanks for the help.

 

[saltwaterbluefish]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

PL or 5200 (a little more messy) will secure it or you can get longer stainlesss screws that will go through the rub rail, the cap, and the hull. I went with the stainless screws. You can actually get pressure treated lumber that is dried to 18%. It is referred to as KD (kiln dried). Lowes and Home Depot do not carry this, but call around to a few lumber yards and you should be able to track it down. They have it in NC so hopefully they will have it in Ohio. You could also buy Bluewater 26 which is a fiberglass board made for structure in a boat (very very expensive). There is also the the AC grade plywood you could use or marine plywood. The big thing is to seal it properly.

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

Thanks Salt .... I am going to hit the lumber yards on Tuesday.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

If you can't find the KD plywood at the lumberyards, call around to a few boat dealerships... that's how I found mine.

Notch you transom wood around the stringer(s) and make a "dry fit" before you glue it.

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

I thought about notching around the stringer but I don't know how I am going to tad the bottom of the transom when I put it in.

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: Need help with transom repair w/pics

I have a list of materials (resin, CSM ....ect.) to use for the transom. Can anyone tell me if I can get this stuff at Home Depot or an automotive store or is there somewhere I can order it on the internet to get a better price?