Transom replacement Starcraft Aluminum

[Waterskipper]

Hi everybody,
I have a 1976 Starcraft 19' Aluminum open bow with a 90 hp Chrysler ob. I've had this boat for about 10 years...it has spent the last 4 in the garage. Anyway, I pulled it out this spring to do 'something' with it. (either use it or sell it) I picked the Motor up a bit by hand and noticed much more movement in the transom than I wanted to see. I removed the transom core and now wonder how the 90 hp Chrysler stayed in place to begin with. I have read on some of the forums some people are in favor of replacing the transom using a marine grade plywood, others say you do not really need to use marine grade but use a birch plywood and coat it with a 2 part epoxy resin. I will be using the craft primarily on smaller lakes in upstate NY. The boat does not stay in the water for more than a week at a time per year. Other times we would use it for a day and retreive it again. My concern is, will this waterproofing resin protect the plywood enough for going without the marine plywood. This is the first time I have tackled such a project, it doesn't seem to be hard, just time consuming. Experienced advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Transom replacement Starcraft Aluminum

Doing mine right now. As you said, not difficult but definitely taking a lot longer than I thought to get everything back together again. Exterior ply coated with resin is the recommended method on here. Also you should pre-drill and over drill all your holes so you can coat the insides of them well with epoxy. Done like that it should far outlast the original

 

[MaxOD]

Re: Transom replacement Starcraft Aluminum

I used a treated plywood on my 16ft Starcraft. It was a heavier grade though with more layers laminated. Was very strong and will last forever.

 

[Waterskipper]

Re: Transom replacement Starcraft Aluminum

I used a treated plywood on my 16ft Starcraft. It was a heavier grade though with more layers laminated. Was very strong and will last forever.

I thought about using pressure treated also as an alternative to marine but was told there could be a corrosive reaction between the aluminum and the pressure treated wood. Have you found this to be true?

 

[Nandy]

Re: Transom replacement Starcraft Aluminum

I thought about using pressure treated also as an alternative to marine but was told there could be a corrosive reaction between the aluminum and the pressure treated wood. Have you found this to be true?

Waterskipper, you have the correct information. If you can isolate the metal from the treated wood by the use of nylon washers then you would be ok. Stay with marine plywood or regular plywood.