Re: Start of My Project. 1991 Starcraft Islander
So here are some pics.
The hardest part was getting the old wood out. There was just enough poured in foam that kept it stuck. Since there wasn't alot of area to wrap a strap around, except for the middle, I took a bunch of wood screws and screwed my 2 inch wide tow strap to the right had side of the transom. Attached the strap to the bucket and yanked a couple of times.
After a couple of attempts where i lifted the boat off the trailer she finally came out with a bang. seems the boat is no worse for wear.
So after that was out, I set about fabricating the new one.
I took 2 pieces of plywood and screwed them together. I used regular deck screws around the edges to keep the pieces from moving while i cut them out. Laid the old transom on top and traced.
Then cut out the new one.
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I transfered the screws to the transom to keep it one piece, then after a lot of sanding it was ready for a dry fit.
There is always a time where you wish you had a bigger machine, getting the old wood out was one of those times, and this was the other.
That being said, i got it in.
I should have taken a better picture, but all I can say, is it fit like a GLOVE.
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So after looking at it for awhile and admiring my work. I drilled four holes and set in 4 screws through the transom to hold it all in place. ( Anybody have any thoughts on sealing the screws in the transom?)
With the 4 bolts in place I traced the outdrive cut out, and removed it from the boat.
I cut out the outdrive, and then this evening separated the two pieces and put a coating of West Systems epoxy on the internal sides of the plywood. Once that cures, i'll slather on a second coat, and bring them together again. I figure a bunch of deck screws ought to be enough to bind it all together. Then i'll epoxy the outside.
I still need to cut out the wood for the inner transom plate, and i have the bright idea of adding an additional layer of plywood where my kicker mount is going to go, just to give it some more stability.
Here it is waiting for the epoxy
Tomorrow if i can work on it, i have to fix the corrosion on the transom. My plan is to clean it with a wire wheel, and then skim over it with JB-Weld, (other thoughts are welcome)
Then paint it.
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The good news is, there is still a lot of metal, so there isn't any major reconstruction necessary, just some cleaning, minor filling, and paint. I'm also thinking of painting the inside of the aluminum, perhaps i'm being a bit anal, but the rot and the corrosion have irritated me to no end.
Tomorrow i'll take a picture of all the non-stainless hardware that was used in the transom. A wonder it floated at all.
cheers
T
