Putting a transom in a 1987 Islander Outboard

[Chinewalker]

Just so y'all don't think I'm only into the glass Starcrafts, I have been knee deep in a lummie project for the past few weeks. My old college roommate called me to say the transom in his Dad's Islander was a little punky. A bit of an understatement...

So, much rivet drilling, bolt turning and floor cutting later, I got the transom well out, followed by the transom core. Hard to believe the 235 V6 they had hanging on there didn't just fall off in the road.

 

[Chinewalker]

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The core came out in three large chunks, and a thousand tiny pieces.

 

[Chinewalker]

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Using a combination of measurements and the intact pieces for contours, I drew up the new transom on a piece of 3/4" marine plywood. I laminated the two pieces together to achieve the 1.5-inch thickness.

 

[Chinewalker]

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The new core was test fitted. I had to undo the rear deck from the side and transom to allow clearance, but only in one corner.

 

[Chinewalker]

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Once fitted, I pre-drilled all of the through-holes, and then sealed the entire core in epoxy. I also ran epoxy through all the holes with a brush to seal them as well.

 

[Watermann]

235 HP hanging onto mulch? Luckily that motor didn't fall off is right! Is that Islander a 21'r?

I know it's a bit late now but it would've been best to make the transom one piece rather than the separate wings, especially with that much HP.

 

[USMotorHead]

Im in the middle of replacing a transom on my '71 Offshore. What epoxy did you use?

 

[dozerII]

Glad to see a Glasser Guy working on tin, looking good Cw. By the looks of the old transom they might have been able to gat another twenty minute out of it.

 

[Chinewalker]

Watermann - talked about it with the owners and figured it had worked just fine for 30 years - err, maybe 20 of them - doing it as original would be fine for another 30. Improvements made to core - sealed now - should make it last just fine.

 

[Chinewalker]

USMotorhead - I sealed it all in West System, 105 and 206.

Watermann - yes, it is a 21footer.

 

[Chinewalker]

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Okay, made some progress on the 220V, haven't updated the thread....

Two weekends ago I got the transom trimmed and fitted. Didn't bust out the camera, unfortunately. This past weekend, I reset the motor well and began the process of bolting/riveting/screwing it all back together. It was a whole lot easier pulling this all out than it was putting it all back in! I did get smart, though, and bought myself an awning to set up over the work area - the sun was relentless!

In any case, I'm calling this one done!