Call me a mad man, but I decided to tackle replacing the floor and transom on a boat I bought for $250 complete. The first thing I noticed was the floor was soft at the ski locker (Who'd have thought). So after reading several books on restoration and fiberglass repair I got to work. after reading several forum threads here, I skipped the transom test and decided if the floor is shot, the transom is shot. So I ripped up the floor and discovered to my horror it had been done before, and horribly at that. Not wanting to make the same mistakes twice, I am seeking wisdom from my peers. I am still grinding away so I have time for planning. My first questions are these.
1. The transom is recessed about 4 inches which means the transom is not flat against the hull. The 2 stringers are attached to the side of the transom and against the hull. This doesn't sound like a very good way to do this as the force of the outdrive is applied to the side of the stringers and not directly pushing the stringers. I plan on putting a 5.7L SB engine and I don't want the engine winding up in my lap. Should I do it exactly the same way or what.
2. What exactly do I do to replace the transom?. It is 3 peices of plywood with no fibergalss between peices. Shouldn't I sandwhich fiberglass between layers. What type of fiberglass should I use between layers and do I tab each layer or tab only the outerlayer. How many layers should the outer layer be and should it be chopped strand or roven.
3. The stringer was only 3/4 inch plywood tabed and badly covered. Shouldn't it be 1 1/2" When covering the stringers, what type of glass should I use and how many layers. For the floor, do I fiberglass the bottom side or just resin it to seal it.
Like I said, I'm a newbe wanting a little challenge and I want to do it right so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
1. The transom is recessed about 4 inches which means the transom is not flat against the hull. The 2 stringers are attached to the side of the transom and against the hull. This doesn't sound like a very good way to do this as the force of the outdrive is applied to the side of the stringers and not directly pushing the stringers. I plan on putting a 5.7L SB engine and I don't want the engine winding up in my lap. Should I do it exactly the same way or what.
2. What exactly do I do to replace the transom?. It is 3 peices of plywood with no fibergalss between peices. Shouldn't I sandwhich fiberglass between layers. What type of fiberglass should I use between layers and do I tab each layer or tab only the outerlayer. How many layers should the outer layer be and should it be chopped strand or roven.
3. The stringer was only 3/4 inch plywood tabed and badly covered. Shouldn't it be 1 1/2" When covering the stringers, what type of glass should I use and how many layers. For the floor, do I fiberglass the bottom side or just resin it to seal it.
Like I said, I'm a newbe wanting a little challenge and I want to do it right so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
ther members will be along with more knowledge. here is my resto link.