Transom Replacement

Working on replacing transom on 97 lund rebel. All tore apart and I have the marine plywood. What is the best way to laminate the two 3/4" pieces together?? Epoxy? 5200? It looks like the factory transom was just stapled together. I have been reading a lot and really have not found an answer. After getting the wood replaced should I use stainless screws with some 5200 to replace bolts and rivets I took out?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Shaun

Re: Transom Replacement

Hey Shaun, welcome to iboats and the iboats drydock!:welcome:

To laminate, epoxy is awesome! But it's a little spendy for that kind of work in my opinion. No way you'll want to use 5200 for laminating two pieces of ply together. I like TightBond III but Gorilla Glue and a few others are commonly used around here.

After you laminate, cut to size (and ease the edges) you'll want to seal that transom up. Epoxy seems to be the most common but there are other options for that too.

Stainless and 5200 is great for fasteners.

Re: Transom Replacement

Oh hey, none of this is real unless you post up photos of your boat!:encouragement:

Re: Transom Replacement

If you have a lot of wood to seal (transom and decking) epoxy is well worth it.

You can make an epoxy adhesive out of epoxy resin and SM Fairing Compound (cheap) to laminate your transom pieces together:
http://www.uscomposites.com/fillers.html
This stuff is also good for filling any knots or blemishes in your decking for a very smooth and uniform sub-surface if you plan to use a vinyl deck covering or a paint on product.
Mix the resin and compound together to a peanut butter/mayo consistency and apply with a notched trowel then either clamp or screw the 2 pieces together. You can remove the screws after the epoxy has cured and fill the holes with more epoxy fairing compound and then seal the transom with the resin.

Re: Transom Replacement

Spar Varnish is another choice for sealing the transom wood. Easy to work with and very budget friendly.

After getting the wood replaced should I use stainless screws with some 5200 to replace bolts and rivets I took out?

Click to expand...

If you pulled bolts out, put stainless bolts back in. You can use rivets or stainless bolts to replace rivets. Rivets can be easier to re-install in many locations.

Re: Transom Replacement

Welcome to iboats!
I used epoxy to laminate mine. I used cabosil, but about any epoxy thickening agent will work. I screwed mine together with wood screws, and removed them when it dried. If you do go with epoxy, DO NOT overclamp it. Epoxy is a good filler, and you only clamp down until the epoxy starts to squeeze out equally all the way around. I also drilled my holes (drains, motor mount, etc.) 1/2" oversized, filled with thickened epoxy, then re-drilled to the correct size.Here's a link to give you some info on how to do it.
Boat Builder Central - Howtos | Transom, Stringer and Sole Repair

Re: Transom Replacement

I believe this is a TIN boat and the installation of your transom will be much different from the Link that a1964rn posted for a Glass boat. The Titebond III glue that jas spoke of is more than adequate to laminate the 2 pieces of Plywood for the Transom. It's not rated for full time immersion but...Hopefully your transom will never be that. It is 100% waterproof an excellent to use for Transoms. Once the transom is laminated, it IS advisable to coat it with epoxy or some other quality sealer. Some use Marine Varnish, and others just use multiple coats of Rustoleum Oil base paint. Your budget will dictate what you decide to use. Do some searching here on the forum and you will find plenty of examples and pics of others doing the same thing.

Re: Transom Replacement

You're correct WOG. I didn't catch that it is a tinny. Disregard the link I posted. Thanks.