Bonding Fiberglass/Transom Repair

[dawitner]

I have a '72 Crestliner with a bad transom. I have already removed the wood between the two transom skins with a chain saw. The problem is that the inside skin was bad and I had to remove both upper corners.

I have made replacements L shaped 1/2 plywood that I plan on covering with fiberglass and resin to reinforce and waterproof them. I then plan on placing them on the inside(forward) side of the old transom skin then pouring a new transom with seacast.

My question is how do I attach the glassed wood to what is left of the inside skin of the transom ? Can I put glass/resin on both pieces then clamp the new piece against the old transom ? Will polyester resin adhere to itself ?

Thanks

 

[jonesg]

Re: Bonding Fiberglass/Transom Repair

I have a '72 Crestliner with a bad transom. I have already removed the wood between the two transom skins with a chain saw. The problem is that the inside skin was bad and I had to remove both upper corners.

I have made replacements L shaped 1/2 plywood that I plan on covering with fiberglass and resin to reinforce and waterproof them. I then plan on placing them on the inside(forward) side of the old transom skin then pouring a new transom with seacast.

My question is how do I attach the glassed wood to what is left of the inside skin of the transom ? Can I put glass/resin on both pieces then clamp the new piece against the old transom ? Will polyester resin adhere to itself ?

Thanks

Yes, thats exactly what I had to do , the inner transom wall was just glass cloth over the wood transom, remove the wood and the 'wall" falls apart.
I did the same you plan, glass it real good, 2-3+ coats of raw resin on the edges to saturate the wood and seal. i used 1/2inch ply.
Use spacer blocks inside the transom gap to hold the back wall.

You might want to consider getting rid of all the back wall rather than just the bad parts. Unless the lower part is blocked off, in which case do as you planned , a couple layers of 10 inch cloth will hold the parts together.
As long as you don't use waxed resin it'll glue up fine, just scuff and acetone it a bit if it has dried to the touch.

Seacast exerts weight/force so the spacer block thru-bolted will hold everything in place. I forget to install them in mine, my transom is 3 inches thick now. Had to buy all new stainless $30 bolts because the original bolts to mount the outboard came up short on the new thicker transom. Ahh well.
I guess my transomn is rated for 500hp now.