replacing transom, has anyone used AL square tube instead of wood?

SOL III

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has anyone used aluminum square tube welded together instead of the wood? i will be replacing my transom on 1982 18' StarCraft mariner CC. I was thinking of pourable fix, or wood but i never want to deal with rot again so it though aluminum square tube welded together, is there any experience on doing this or am I crazy?
 

racerone

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I have used ordinary plywood to replace " beaver puke " found in some older boats.-----However the project ( Action Marine 17 ) I am working on for the past few summers is different.------I have used about 25 composite hollow rectangular tubes ( hockey sticks ) to rebuild the transom.-----Want the grandson to say-----" It will never rot again , thank you "----Years from now.-----So yes I think aluminum bonded properly might work.------But have you considered the different expansion rates of aluminum verses fiberglass?----Heat and extreme cold may be a factor in bonding the aluminum to fiberglass, I think.
 

SOL III

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aluminum boat so rate of expansion is no concern, did you stack tubes Horizontal or Vertical? I would be welding them together.
might not be the cheapest fix but I would really like a permanent fix.
 

racerone

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Tubes were bonded in horizontally using epoxy.----Luckily I got the sticks for free.----To buy new sticks would be $60 each or more.----Aluminum tubing would work.----Is your present transom 100% flat?----Slightly curved ?
 

Mc Tool

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Tubes were bonded in horizontally using epoxy.----Luckily I got the sticks for free.----To buy new sticks would be $60 each or more.----Aluminum tubing would work.----Is your present transom 100% flat?----Slightly curved ?
yeah free is good . I have access to 2m ( 6.56') lengths of 40x40mm (1.574" ) galvanised steel tube 2.5mm (.0984" )wall thickness that comes in shipping containers ( used to stop 1 ton bags of fert leaning against the inside of the doors and jamming them closed , about 30 per container ) . Everything round here is made out of them :D
 

Scott Danforth

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has anyone used aluminum square tube welded together instead of the wood? i will be replacing my transom on 1982 18' StarCraft mariner CC. I was thinking of pourable fix, or wood but i never want to deal with rot again so it though aluminum square tube welded together, is there any experience on doing this or am I crazy?
Wood lasted 40 years

Use wood
Or coosa
Or other approved transom material
 

cyclops222

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Welding boat Aluminum boats requires a EXPERIENCED Aluminum welder. Or a lot of epoxy to fill some burn out holes.
 

SOL III

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Tubes were bonded in horizontally using epoxy.----Luckily I got the sticks for free.----To buy new sticks would be $60 each or more.----Aluminum tubing would work.----Is your present transom 100% flat?----Slightly curved ?
completely flat.
 

racerone

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No issue then.-----What are you going to use to bond the tubing to the transom.-----How do you plan to deal with possible warping as tubes are welded together into a " wide board " ??----Have you looked into aluminum extrusions ( scaffold planking ) to make a structure with minimal welding ?
 

rolmops

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I think It would be a lot cheaper and better looking if you use properly treated marine ply. If you treat it the proper way and give it a lick of paint every few years, it can easily last for 40 years.
 
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