Plywood transom exposed to moisture

J. Fenn

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 25, 2002
Messages
31
I have a 1984 Wellcraft Sportsman. There is a void area between the bottom of the hull and the bottom of the plywood core of the transom. This void area is glassed in, but a hole was cut through the fiberglass layer to allow water to drain from the boat. This hole allows water in the bilge to fill the void and wet the plywood core. This is especially true when giving it the gas, as any water in the bilge gets thrown back to the rear of the boat.<br /><br />This doesn't seem like very good boatbuilding to me, but I was wondering if it was intended to be that way in order to allow the plywood to drain or dry out or something. It seems to me that any wood in the stringers or transom should be completely protected from any source of moisture.<br /><br />The plywood core is still sound (boat was never stored in the water). If it should be moisture-proof, I had planned to grind away the fiberglass layer that creates this void, dry the wood thoroughly, then lay in new fiberglass to encase the plywood core and prevent its exposure to bilge water.<br /><br />I'd appreciate your advice/opinions on this matter. Thank you.<br /><br />Joe F.
 

Terry H

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 25, 2001
Messages
1,862
Re: Plywood transom exposed to moisture

You are absolutely on the right track, make sure you give enough time to completely dry the plywood.
 

duncan_ellison

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 28, 2004
Messages
34
Re: Plywood transom exposed to moisture

At the risk of hijacking this post, I was about to post exactly the same question. I have a 15ft speedboat of unknown make (possibly Glastron) with a drain hole between the bilge and the very bottom of the transom.<br /><br />Looking into the hole I can see the plywood transom core and this just doesn't seem right somehow although the drain seems to be there from the original manufacture.<br /><br />I've just discovered that the transom is pretty rotted anyway and I'm about to take to saw to it and start hacking a new one in, but can anyone tell me what the function of this drain hole is anyway, it seems pretty superfluous on this type of boat, so I was thinking of blocking it up permenantly.<br /><br />On the other hand what's supposed to happen to the water which will (inevitably) get into the transom void with normal usage ? Perhaps this was the reason for this drain hole after all .... :confused:
 

J. Fenn

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 25, 2002
Messages
31
Re: Plywood transom exposed to moisture

Originally posted by duncan_ellison:<br />can anyone tell me what the function of this drain hole is anyway, it seems pretty superfluous on this type of boat, so I was thinking of blocking it up permenantly.
I would keep the drain hole. You'll need it to drain the boat when it's out of the water, for example, right after you've loaded the boat on your trailer and all the water in it is accumulated at the transom while the boat and trailer are on the ramp.<br /><br />I gather from the second post that we need to perform our repairs so that (1) the transom core is first thoroughly dried, and (2) it stays that way by fiberglassing it in.
 

crab bait

Captain
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Messages
3,831
Re: Plywood transom exposed to moisture

i really can't follow exactly about the hole an purpose.. but i do know that any hole not protected is a bad thing an should not be..<br /><br />i'd do somethin' before the start of season next spring .. that way ya got 5 months of 'dry time'.. <br /><br />i'd leave the hole but i'd epoxy in a standard brass transom tube.. if the holes not the right size ,, make it the right size.. <br /><br />once it's epoxied in,,, heirloom..
 
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