1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

[Decker83]

First I would like to say Hello to all the people here at iboats. I am new here and have enjoyed all of the topics and information I have found.
I have a 1983 Deck Boat, and its 18' 6" long. It is in bad need of repair. The sole is rotten and the top of the transom has a 1/8" crack across the top. I have taken some of the railings off the boat and can't seem to get the upright railings loose from the deck. If anyone has some light to shed on this, I would be very grateful. Have more questions, but will wait until I need the answers.

 

[Decker83]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

I have some new pics of the railings that I need to remove. Maybe I should remove the rub rail and lift the cap up enough to see what my be holding them in place. What do you guy's think?
Also I have pics of the crack on top of the transom. What can cause this type of crack. Seems to me that I should replace the transom. It feels very solid, but it has some kind of mold coming out of it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Also I have pics of the crack on top of the transom. What can cause this type of crack. Seems to me that I should replace the transom. It feels very solid, but it has some kind of mold coming out of it.

The wood inside is probably wet and has expanded. Rot is like cancer so even though it may still be solid, it should probably be replaced if rot has started.

That's a cool boat. I would have posted before I'm not a fiberglass guy so I didn't have anything to contribute. Good luck with it. I will say that that's a heck of a good motor you have there.

 

[Decker83]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Thanks EZ. I really like what you have done on your SS. It looks like it just rolled of the show room floor.
I hope to find out how good this evinrude is.

 

[Decker83]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

I have done some more work on the boat. I removed the aluminum rod box off each side of the boat. I took off all the trim around the edge that holds down the carpet.
I removed all the screws that hold the cap down on the inside of the boat.
I also removed the single layer of colth and resin that was used to cover the deck. It was very thin. After taking it up I found the deck was nailed down to the stringers.
I thought they would be screwed down. Needless to say the deck was full of soft spots were the water has gotten to it. I also found that the cap is made in two sections. That should make it easier to remove. After some more investigations I think the rails are bolted to the deck with lag bolts. Here are some pics of today and some from the other day.

 

[Decker83]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

some more pics

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Welcome to iboats.com. Great motor, and it will be a nice boat when you finish. Get all the deck out of there, and see what you have. I bet you have alot of water under it all.

 

[Decker83]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Thanks Friscoboater.
When I look down in the hole I can see water that is really old and dirty.
Going to try to get the cap off this weekend.

 

[drewpster]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

The reason the glass came off the deck so easily is because it has delaminated from the wood under it. You can assume from here on in that all the wood cores are wet, and most are probably rotten. You are making good progress on the road to fixing her up. Since you are planning to remove the cap can we assume you are going for a complete rebuild?

 

[Decker83]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Thanks for looking. I do plan on replaceing all of the bad wood. I think the transom too. Need to make it safe for the wife and grand children. From what I saw yesterday, I will need to do the stringers to. I removed the cap today but didn't get pics.

 

[Decker83]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Happy Easter to everyone.
Made a good purchase today at Harbor Frieght. They had a 25% off one item coupon sale today. I bought a folding engine hoist (1ton) for $129.00. After I'm done with it, I think I can sell it for the same price.
Didn't do much today. I just finnished the cap. Was easy to do because it's in three piece's. Had to cut the livewells out in the back. Used one of Harbor Frieghts universal tools with a round balde. It did a good job and didn't make much dust. I have some new pics. In the last one there is some foam on the transom. It is all wet and needs to be replaced. Any ideals on how to replace this foam? Should I just use some plywood instead. Not sure why foam was used there. Any help please.

 

[produceguy]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Happy Easter to you also.
Decker, You sure have a nice project.
Don't know why they would use foam in the transom.

 

[Decker83]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Thanks Produceguy.
Your boat is awesome. Read your thread. Really like the name of your boat. Need to come up with one for mine.
I hope someone comes up with some kind of ideal about the foam.

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Thanks Produceguy.
Your boat is awesome. Read your thread. Really like the name of your boat. Need to come up with one for mine.
I hope someone comes up with some kind of ideal about the foam.

The foam is the core of the transom? Or is there plywood too?

BTW Welcome Aboard!

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Can you take some better pictures of the transom foam? There has to be some wood somewhere.

 

[Decker83]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

Thanks Rickryder for the welcome.
I guess I didn't explain that very well.
1. Yes the transom is made of wood. It's about 2" thick.
2. The foam is on the outside of the transom and goes under the back of the cap. It looks like some kind of filler.
3. On top of this is a 2" X 2" piece of lumber.

Hey Jay.
I took some more pics of this. I outlined the place I am talking about. Hope this helps in seeing what I have.
The red arrow is pointing to the foam. The smaller red rectangle is the wood on top of the foam.

 

[produceguy]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

I would think the foam is going to be for floation, considering the size of your boat. I would replace all the wood, totally incase it in glass and then put the foam back in.

I don't know what your transom looked like before the cap was removed but hear's what I thinking, for what it's worth.

Remove and replace the wood in your transom and leave the area hollow with no foam.
Put cap back (when your ready) on and seal it up the best you can.
If theirs no way to spray foam in those areas then I would drill some holes somewhere were it's not noticeable and spray it in and then seal up the holes.
Hope that made sense.
I don't know if that will work so I hope others will have more suggestions for you.

 

[88BLiner]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

As far as the foam goes I am not going to replace it in m project. I feel that the foam that is put into boats from the factory causes rotten wood because it soakes up water like a sponge. I also have tried to dry this foam out and it does not work. If you really want to replace the foam I would use the closed cell foam that comes in pink or blue sheets at home depot. The foam does not serve any purpose other than to help keep the boat afloat if it sinks anyhow.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

On a boat with as incredibly low freeboard as that deck boat, I think you'd be crazy not to replace the foam.

 

[produceguy]

Re: 1983 Deck Boat Transom/deck/stringer replacement Help

On a boat with as incredibly low freeboard as that deck boat, I think you'd be crazy not to replace the foam.

I agree,

I would put it back the way it was.