Greetings folks. New to the site and posting for the 1st time.
I have a 1986 22 foot Islander that I have owned for 23 years and it has a rotten transom board that I am in the process of replacing. From what I can determine the floor boards and the motor and tank mounts are in good shape which I think is the result of indoor storage and additional ventilation that I installed after I bought it in 1996.
My question here is whether anyone has ever done the transom board replacement without pulling the flooring? In looking at the construction it appears that the main goal in pulling the floor (other than replacing rotten wood) is to allow access to the through-hull bolts that are drawing the plywood up against the aluminum skin. I realize that there may well be a number of hidden connectors down there as well and I am thinking about cutting through the floor boards at the rear and getting access that way. The plan is to then install inspection hatch covers over these spots when finished which would trim out nicely and actually allow me to take a look in there periodically as well as pop them open for ventilation.
Any pointers here? I thank you in advance and look forward to getting my grandkids out on Lake Michigan for a salmon or two.
Bob
I have a 1986 22 foot Islander that I have owned for 23 years and it has a rotten transom board that I am in the process of replacing. From what I can determine the floor boards and the motor and tank mounts are in good shape which I think is the result of indoor storage and additional ventilation that I installed after I bought it in 1996.
My question here is whether anyone has ever done the transom board replacement without pulling the flooring? In looking at the construction it appears that the main goal in pulling the floor (other than replacing rotten wood) is to allow access to the through-hull bolts that are drawing the plywood up against the aluminum skin. I realize that there may well be a number of hidden connectors down there as well and I am thinking about cutting through the floor boards at the rear and getting access that way. The plan is to then install inspection hatch covers over these spots when finished which would trim out nicely and actually allow me to take a look in there periodically as well as pop them open for ventilation.
Any pointers here? I thank you in advance and look forward to getting my grandkids out on Lake Michigan for a salmon or two.
Bob