57 Arkansas T 14' TRANSOM WOOD REMOVAL

[The Lillow]

Hello everyone, I have been working on this AT that I picked up for 300$ with trailer for the past months and I have now come to a stand still. I am in the process of taking out the Transom wood but now I cant seem to take it out without taking of the transom support bracket or what some call the KNEE. Has anyone ever replaced the transom wood without having to take off the Knee along with its 46 Rivets lol! Plz Help!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 57 Arkansas T 14' TRANSOM WOOD REMOVAL

No way that I know of. The knee has to come off so it can be re-attached to the new transom.

 

[The Lillow]

Re: 57 Arkansas T 14' TRANSOM WOOD REMOVAL

OH man thats what I was thinking. I have heard people say that they take it out in two pieces, but that to me only makes it seem like it the transom looses all its strength when its taken out and put back in two pieces. Wouldnt you agree? and thank you

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 57 Arkansas T 14' TRANSOM WOOD REMOVAL

I would not want a 2 piece transom for my boat. If it was supposed to be that way the factory would install it that way doncha think

 

[The Lillow]

Re: 57 Arkansas T 14' TRANSOM WOOD REMOVAL

Haha! YES SIR right on that one! Ok well back to the drawing board haha! It is all worth it in the end. Thank you very much!:joyous:

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 57 Arkansas T 14' TRANSOM WOOD REMOVAL

Okay here is the solution

Welcome to iboats.

Yes .....make a template for the correct shape of the transom. You will need to install the new transom in 4 pieces (yes 4) and here is the trick.

The pieces need to be 3/4" thick (assuming you are going for a 1 -1/2" standard transom. The wood will be bonded/glued in place. Do not bond the wood until it is installed but you must still seal all the edges. Install the first piece which is closest to the aluminum in 2 or maybe 3 pieces. Put it together like a puzzle. Then the next layer the same way but with offset seams. I would use epoxy to glue it together and shoot 1" (or 1 -1/4") stainless steel screws into the pieces to aid in the setting of the epoxy. Leave the screws in place and just seal over the heads.

When you are done you will have a strong transom.

Get some epoxy supplies here >>> this will work fine and a good bang for the buck Low Viscosity Epoxy Resin

The iboats store has gluvit too which is essential to prevent all future leaks gluvit

I highly recommend that you DO NOT remove those rivets on the knee brace!

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: 57 Arkansas T 14' TRANSOM WOOD REMOVAL

If you go to the StarCraft section there's a thread by Bluefin that covers riveting very nicely. Don't let it scare you off from fixing up your boat, compared to what he's doing yours is a walk in the park.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 57 Arkansas T 14' TRANSOM WOOD REMOVAL

Let's talk about this a bit more. If you're talking about the rivets that attach the brace to the bottom of the boat then I Totally agree with Bob_VT that they should NOT be removed. I was speaking about the rivets and or screws going into the wood transom. They need to be removed in order to remove the old wood transom and get the new one in. Once the side bracket pieces are removed and the middle knee brace rivets/screws are removed can you fabricate the wood transom and slide it into place between the knee brace and the outer skin? Or are there other obstructions hindering the installation? I agree with what Bob suggests that by overlapping the joints it will yield a strong transom but a one piece is always more desirable if possible. Can you post a pic of the over all transom including the corners and top? That would give us a better perspective of the install.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 57 Arkansas T 14' TRANSOM WOOD REMOVAL

Hi The Lillow. Welcome to iboats. I have a '59 Arkansas Traveler myself. I agree with Wood that you should really only need to drill out the rivets in the knee which go into the transom. I would leave the ones on the bottom of the hull untounuched, if at all possible. You can then drill out the few rivets in the side brackets that are anchored in the wood as well. With any luck, you can then lift the transom out in one piece and use it as a template for the new one. Two layers of 3/4" non-PT, exterior grade plywood that have been glued and screwed together, sealed and mounted with stainless hardware should last for ages. Here's a handy link on ATs in general.

Arkansas traveler - Classic Boat Library

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 57 Arkansas T 14' TRANSOM WOOD REMOVAL

I couldn't find any pix of a 1957 AT T-14 that showed a transom knee brace similar to yours.

Can you post pix of the the transom from inside, outside & above?

The transom doesn't have corner caps similar to these:

That can be removed & replaced easily and while removed, gain access to slide the transom wood up & out from behind the knee brace?