Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

Pedestal seat bases are installed and glassed in. The deck needs the final layer of 6 oz. still, but that's about it. I will be glad to finish the fiberglassing.

Driver side pedestal base with one layer of 1708:



Both pedestal bases in, covered with two layers of 1708:



The deck still has some bumps from where layers of glass overlap:



I need to smooth down those edges, then get that last layer of the fiberglass cloth put down. Won't be too long before I need to cover the floor!

Jim

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

You can mix up some Fairing material (Resin Thickened with Glass Bubbles and Fair and Feather out any High and Low spots in the deck. You should be able to blend it so that it looks really flat prior to the last layer of 6oz. It's looking pretty good to me!!!

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

Thanks and I think I will try fairing the deck a bit before the final layer. I am planning to use a flat trowel, like might be used in putting down thinset mortar for tile... using the smooth edge, of course. Any other suggestions, or is that the weapon of choice?

Thanks again,
Jim

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

Man that looks awesome!

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

Broke out the fairing compound and mixed some up tonight. I faired the deck (at least the parts that will be exposed to foot traffic) and I hope to do some sanding tomorrow. The fairing compound went on pretty easily; I mixed it to mayo consistency, or maybe just a bit thicker - and put it on with a plastic spreader. I think it will look good, and after it's sanded, I'll put the final layer of 6 oz. cloth on.

Also, by family vote, we decided on a floor covering. The winner, by unanimous decision, is ... drumroll please.... Durabak! I plan to put down a coating of textured followed by a coat or two of smooth. We're going with dark blue, just like the carpet we pulled out.

Jim

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

I am impressed with the samples Durabak sent. Dark blue, will look great....

You don't have to cover the entire deck w/ the anti-skid....

Here are 2 threads that added some detailing to the anti-skid:
Sleeper-6 <<<<---- EDIT: Sleeper-6's 3rd party pix host went out of business, he hasn't re-uploaded the pix. Sorry..... He did really nice work.....

Mike's is out of control, my bookmark: Anti-skid run amok

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

I am impressed with the samples Durabak sent. Dark blue, will look great....

You don't have to cover the entire deck w/ the anti-skid....

Here are 2 threads that added some detailing to the anti-skid:
Sleeper-6 <<<<---- EDIT: Sleeper-6's 3rd party pix host went out of business, he hasn't re-uploaded the pix. Sorry..... He did really nice work.....

Mike's is out of control, my bookmark: Anti-skid run amok

Beautiful, but geez, I want to be done THIS Spring, not next Spring. I don't think I'd have the patience or talent to do that....

Jim

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

I don't either, I just meant since you are ordering smooth & rough that you could do something other then rolling the whole deck rough & covering it w/ 2 coats of smooth. Masking off the perimeter and around consoles &/or pedestal bases would give the look of snap in carpet. Or cross hatching just the primary walk way, just to break up all the blue. The pix & links were for reference & to show what it'd look like & that it could be done, however far you wanted to take it......

Using standard width tapes, 3/4", 1", 1 1/2", 2", makes layout easier then you'd think.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

Ok, I understand. That's actually an interesting idea. I was already considering gelcoating the seat pedestal bases in white, just for some contrast. Have to see how ambitious I'm feeling when it comes time to coat the deck. Probably depends a bit on how happy I am with the fairing!

Jim

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

I finished fiberglassing the deck today. I had faired the deck a couple of days ago, and yesterday I sanded it smooth. Sanding was not fun... the fairing compound was not waxed, so it was really gummy when trying to sand. I ended up using an 80 grit abrasive disk in my 4.5" grinder and that worked great so long as I didn't get too heavy handed.

The 6 oz. cloth wasn't too bad if I put on smallish pieces, but the larger pieces were a pain. I had to fiddle a bit with it to get it to cover the seat bases without buckling, but I think it looks pretty good. Here's a few pics.



Tomorrow I will grind the edges of the ski locker and the access panel over the gas tank. Then I'll clean up the ski locker and the bilge and gelcoat them. After that, I think I'll be ready for the Durabak (which, coincidentally, just came today!). I think I'll need it to be a bit warmer to do that. Feels good to be done with the glassing!

Jim

Jim

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

I'm not going to say I'm done grinding, because every time I think I've finished with the grinder, I find that there's more to do! Anyway, I finished cleaning up the edges of the ski locker, bilge and access panel to the fuel sender, and I ground down any bumps and sharp little nibs. I think the deck so good to go.

Just for fun, I test-fitted the seats on the new bases.







The deck felt really solid when the seats were bolted down; there was no flexing or wobble or anything. Tomorrow I gel coat the bilge and ski locker, and then wait for warm weather to apply the Durabak. I have lots of little things to do before the deck is coated, so plenty to keep my busy.

Jim

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

Feels like a milestone of sorts tonight. After gelcoating the bilge and transom core this weekend...



I drilled holes in the transom for the outdrive and test-fitted the gimbal housing. It fit like a dream! The holes lined up with the studs perfectly, and the gimbal housing fit snugly against the transom -- no gaps, no wobble, etc.



I'm not sure why, but seeing the back of the boat looking more like it should is a real shot in the arm. It makes me want to get this thing done!

Jim

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

I know the feeling!!! Nice work!

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

I'm dreaming of the day that I'm this close. Looking good!

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

Thanks, guys. The only thing slowing me down now is the weather. Supposed to be cold and maybe even a bit snowy here for at least the next week. Might see a day or two in the 40s, but it's supposed to hit the teens tonight.

Anyway, HalfFish5087 and I are working on REALLY similar Larson boats, and we've been talking via PM about not wanting to reinstall the same transom mounted ladder that lead to both of our boats developing rotten transoms. I think a large part of the problem is the design. The ladder hangs off the transom below the water line:


(not my boat, but a good pic of the back end)

The mounting brackets are each only about an inch and half wide and about 3 1/2 inches tall. The mounting bolts are only about 2 inches apart:



I think the weight of a wet body, especially an adult, repeatedly pulling down on the ladder exerts so much force that thru-hull bolts don't maintain a watertight seal, no matter how much 5200 would be applied. To make matters worse, the brackets are constantly underwater whenever the boat is floating. I just can't see how this is a good state of affairs.

HalfFish5087 really got me thinking about this, and he mentioned the idea of an over-platform ladder that would mount to the rear platform and hang over end of the boat when deployed. Something like this model from Windline Marine

This leads me to two questions:

1. How much beefing up would the rear platform require to accept the ladder?
2. What all should I do to seal the holes from the previous mount of the ladder? The holes in the hull are currently about 75% filled with peanut butter from when I glued in the new transom.

Any thoughts on either question?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[benjh1028]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

Jim,

Funny, that's an issue I had with my Larson as well. Beyond the "questionable design", the two step ladder on these boats are not the easiest to board - especially after a long ski run or in choppy water. I installed a 3-step telescopic model similar to the one you referenced, and the family has thanked me.

I did use the existing mounting holes, however they are thru bolted into a 1/4" aluminum plate on the inside of the boat. This seemed to remove all the flex created by the ladder. So far so good.

Ben

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

Hi Ben, I'm glad you found a solution. I think we're going to do the over-platform ladder just to be safe. I think I can PB in a piece of 3/4 plywood (maybe two layers, I haven't decided) to support and distribute the extra load on that area.

I'm also thinking about relocating the ladder to the port side. I usually dock on the starboard side if I can, and not having the ladder laying across that back platform would probably make it easier to climb in and out when entering near the rear of the boat.

Jim

 

[HalfFish5087]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

Jim/Ben,
When I took my transom apart I did find that some 3/16" backing plates had been added to them at some point. Of course this could have been done by PO and then he noticed a rotten transom and then sold it to me without telling me about it....

I agree with you Jim. It just doesn't make sense to put holes back into the transom if we dont have to. Especially if it means I never have to grind fiberglass again (as I'm srcatching my arm).

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

This is the spot on the port side of the boat, looking up at the underside of the rear platform.



The port gunwhale is to the right, the midline of the boat is to the left (out of frame) and the rear of the boat is at the bottom of the picture. I plan to cut a piece of plywood about 10" deep and about 16" wide and PB in in place so that it comes just short of where the cap is screwed into the hull (you can see the screws protruding along the line in the lower 1/3 of the picture). I can't tell if it there's paint or gel coat under there, but whatever it is, it'll come off so I have a good surface for the PB to stick to.

What do you think? Anything else you'd do? Is one layer of 3/4" ply enough?

Jim

 

[jsturvey]

Re: Transom problems with Larson 186 SEI I/O Bowrider

I've been traveling quite a bit for my job lately and finally catching up on your thread. Your boat is looking awesome...better than brand new! It's going to be a beauty when it's finished. :happy: