1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

[SeanyMagic]

Been browsing this site for a while now and I love it so I finally decided to join. You all are full of great advice!

I'm starting my first ever restoration project on a vintage 1963 Leaves Mariner 13' 9" fiberglass classic. I'm going to take my sweet time and hope to have it ready for next summer.

So, I'm going to begin with the obvious and most important part of the boat. The transom. Upon investigating I found a swollen bulge on the very back of the boat, so then from the inside I realized the fiberglass was cracked to hell so I started ripping it off and sure enough the plywood transom is soaked soft and mushy. I've never done it before but after reading all of the forums on here and you tube'ing it, I think I will be ok to do myself.

I need advice on what side to tear it out from, the inside or the back. Because of the awkwardness and shape of the body on the stern I'm not so sure getting at the whole transom from the inside will be easy.

I will add a few pics and hopefully you great fellows can help me out!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Welcome to iboats. DO NOT cut the outside of the transom open. Either do it all from the inside or uncap the hull.

 

[SeanyMagic]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Apparently posting pics from my phone is not so easy. I will post pics from my PC at work tomorrow, because obviously it's easier to give your advice when you can actually see the task in hand.
As for the hull removal, that sounds brutal, I hope I don't end up having to do that.

 

[TemeculaCalifornia]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

IMHO there is only one way to do it right, and that will require the removal of the cap. I know it sounds a bit scary, but once you go for it, you will be fine, and you will be glad you did. With the cap off you will have easy access to remove the rotted floor, the rotted stringers, the inside fiberglass skin to the transom, and the rotted transom. Then clean, grind, sand). With a nice clean empty hull, a nice proper restoration can begin. BEFORE you remove the transom be sure to note if there is designed curvature to the transom (don't assume it is flat). If there is a curvature and you don't measure and document the curvature, when it is time to replace the cap, it will not line up correctly. An simple inch does make a difference when it comes time to replace the cap.

 

[SeanyMagic]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Thanks guys, So here are the pictures just to show the angles i have to work with. The Cap is riveted on, so once i take it off do i have to rivet it back on or can i use the rivet holes and screw it back on?
I agree this may be my easiest way.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Yes you can use screws or rivets for the cap along with a 4000 or 5000 series sealant.

That transom........ if you rebuild it I would suggest building it the right way. That extra piece of wood and metal really do not belong and someone did that to accommodate a different shaft motor. You need to decide what transom length you are going to have. 20" is pretty much the standard on smaller boats that are tiller steered.

 

[mbhoag]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

I' no expert, but I agree with Bob_VT that the extra piece of wood seems way out of place. I cannot imagine that belongs there and would do away with it when you redo the transom.

That is a nice looking boat, I'm glad you are reviving it!... and I love the floor!

 

[SeanyMagic]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

it must have been a step up so they could mount a long shaft motor for sure. i hate that look, and with a new transom that is def coming off.
I love the floor too, apparently the hardwood was standard on that model. Lucky for me im a cabinetmaker and have the machinery to run the hardwood through my planer/sander and im going to re-stain and seal it.
Thanks for the help again guys, as i start ripping this thing apart i will post more pics because i have a feeling the floor and stringers may need replaced too although the floor feels solid and any more advice would be appreciated.

 

[SeanyMagic]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Just thought id post a picture of the whole boat now as a "before" picture. Like i said, i will continue to post as i work through this project.

 

[bakerjw]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

It looks like the cap should be an easy lift once it is separated. Nice looking boat. When finished, it'll last a lifetime.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

The transom of that boat could quite easily be modified to accomodate the more common 20" motors. When you get the cap removed or cut out...(you could just cut the gunwales in front of the splashwell and remove the back 1/3 of the top cap to gain access to the transom) you could build the transom straight across and glass it back in. IMHO when finished, it would look factory and be a much better boat. Being a 40 yr woodworker, I too like the wood planked floor and look forward to seeing what you come up with during the restoration.

 

[SeanyMagic]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Excellent Picture and idea WOG, i like that idea....and might just run with that. thanks!

 

[SeanyMagic]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

WOG, what did you use to cut your splashwell so cleanly? a Grinder and or sawzall?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

That's not My transom but another iBoats member. He taped it off with Masking tape, Marked it and then used a basic Electric Scroll Saw to cut it using a Metal Cutting Blade. Worked really well as you can see. This member's link show's how to put it back together starting on Page 3, Post #59
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...15-reinell-tri-hull-restoration-450405-3.html

 

[SeanyMagic]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

I've began my rip apart stage and I'm at a minor stand still. How to you remove the steel grommets that go thru the transom? There's 3 I need to remove. I've got the bumper rails off, the wooden and aluminum support brackets off and I'm almost ready to cut the cap!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Use a chisel to knock the outer lip of the drain tubes in far enuf to to clear the hole then punch the tubes out to the inside of the boat. You can buy replacements for about $3 bucks a piece.

 

[SeanyMagic]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Perfect, thanks and WOG I got my cap in front of the splash well cut tonight, the only thing stopping me from being able to remove it was those Damn pipes lol. Your suggestion to cut the cap has made my life a lot easier. Can't wait to fabricate the transom plywood and then fiberglass. Few more progress pics will be up tomorrow showing the cuts.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Look forward to pics! You're really going to town on her. If you keep this up, you'll be done in no time!!!!

 

[SeanyMagic]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Here are 2 more pics from yesterdays progress.
Bumper rail off, aluminum and wood bracket off, rivets off, and the cap has been cut in the second picture. I just need to get the drainage pipes out and then i can take the splashwell cap off and take the rotted transom out.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1963 Leavens Mariner Transom Replacement

Yeah, I'd say that's just about perfectamundo!!!!