using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

[Arizona2ride]

So after some searching I decided to use SEACAST on my boat. I have an 1984 Challenger 14' fish and ski boat. Not to big but big enough to do a little fishing and swimming from. I bought this boat after my dad passed awy, with the money I got from his estate. He had a little bass boat when we where kids and it sat in the yard my whole life. I went out on it ONCE with my mom for a ride. He eventually gave it away and I was so upset. I always wanted that boat, maybe I should have asked for it. But so now that I have this one, I want my kids to enjoy the lake.

Was wondering if anyone ever used SEACAST for their transom? I talked to Bruce at Seacast yesturday. Not a newbie to construction ( built my barn and did a total remodel on my mobile home, plus replumbed and redid all the electrical) I think the transom job will be right up my alley.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

Welcome to iBoats!
Why Seacast and not Nidabond or Arjay? Why not the conventional way? Are you sure the stringers and the rest of the boat are in sound condition? Are there soft spots in the deck? Boats of this vintage usually have other issues besides just the transom. Just doing the transom is not going to give you a seaworthy boat, if there are other problems. I would advise you to do a lot of searching here on the forum so you can see what others have encountered when restoring their boats. Most have opted to investigate the total condition of their boats and restore them in total.

 

[seedlings]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

Arjay can be found for $176.47 per 5gal pail here: http://www.fgci.com

NidaBond can be found for $131.89 per 5gal pail here: http://nida-core.com/spanish/nordprod_nidabond_transom.htm

I'll be following your thread since my transom needs replaced too.

CHAD

 

[Coho Ghost]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

AZ,

I've used NidaBond for a transom job, and it worked great. The only down side is the shipping was only slightly less than the product, but then SeaCast would have been the same. I believe it is easier to use than Seacast, and Nida has great tech support. They were a big help when I did my boat. Also, if you need an odd volume from the 5 gal unit, one gals are free (or were in 2010), you just had to pay the shipping. One gals. are over runs from 5 gal production runs; not instantly available, but eventually are. I needed 6 gals. for my transom, and had to wait about 3 weeks for the single one gal. to show up.

FWIW
Coho Ghost

 

[jigngrub]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

I agree with Woodonglass and think that when you remove the rear portion of your deck to access your transom you'll be opening a different can of worms than you had figured on.

Go ahead and do everything now and when you're finished with it store it covered or garaged when not in use and your great grand children will be able to enjoy it.

 

[Arizona2ride]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

I agree with Woodonglass and think that when you remove the rear portion of your deck to access your transom you'll be opening a different can of worms than you had figured on.

Go ahead and do everything now and when you're finished with it store it covered or garaged when not in use and your great grand children will be able to enjoy it.

I did stop by the local boat repair place, THUNDERHAWK Boats here in town today. Talked with ED. Gave me some great advice and showed me some things to look for. They actually make fiberglass boats. LOL wished I could work there. But I am sure they might frown on a woman working with them. But we wont go into my construction trade and carpentry skills. Anyways, I will just have to start taking stuff off and see. I talked with Ed and he was very familular with Tennessee Fiberglass Boats. But I am thinking its just the transom. The boat is in AWESOME! shape, just is faded and needs a clear coat which I will let them do. I will do as much work as I can then possibly take it to them to finish.

I researched alot of products and made a bunch of calls and folks said they liked Seacast. Bruce at seacast said I can call as early as 3am my time if I need help when I start the pouring process.
I have no idea what is weak or rotted until I get in there. Then we will just have to see how it goes. I know I do not have to take the top off to get to the transom. I can see from the inside how high up the transom goes. Jaime

 

[Struc]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

I used SeaCast on my 17' Tuffy fishing boat, and it works fantastic.

You need a BIG commercial drill and commercial mixer attachment to do the job. I happened to have a Milwaukee hole Hawg, and a 5-gallon metal paint mixer already, so I was all set. A standard home style drill will NOT do the job - don't even try.

The hardest part is the removal of the old transom while keeping the inner and outer skins in tact. I used a very long pry bar and also a chain saw, as funny as that sounds.

 

[sphelps]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

Hi Arizona2ride, I used seacast for my transom. Pouring it is easy it's the prep that is a pita . Just make sure with any of the pourable stuff that you get every last piece of wood out and the skin as clean as possible. The people at seacast are definitely very helpful. On the other hand like WOG said you can do it with wood for a heck of a lot less money and will last a very long time.
Good luck with the project! S.P.

 

[rickryder]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

Welcome to the Dry Dock Az2ride. Post up some pics of what your workin with We love pics

 

[Arizona2ride]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

Not using a chainsaw, will use the drill and the right bit to get it all cleaned out. I plan to let my daughter help, who is 6. She helped me put the roof on our 20x36 horse barn that I built. Was going through a divorce at the time and the ex hubby was no help to begin with. LOL The new hubby is a mechanic and is wonderfull. But this is her and I project. She was excited when I told her what we where going to do with the boat. I will post pics soon.
Glad I found this website and SEACAST! I was just going to sell the boat, but decided it would be best to keep it and repair. Wish me luck. I will start on the boat tomorrow evening. LOL parked in the barn that I built, lol.

 

[CWKboat]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

I used SeaCast on my 17' Tuffy fishing boat, and it works fantastic.

You need a BIG commercial drill and commercial mixer attachment to do the job. I happened to have a Milwaukee hole Hawg, and a 5-gallon metal paint mixer already, so I was all set. A standard home style drill will NOT do the job - don't even try.

The hardest part is the removal of the old transom while keeping the inner and outer skins in tact. I used a very long pry bar and also a chain saw, as funny as that sounds.

I recently poured 10 gallons of the Arjay. I bought a 1/2" electric drill with a 7 amp motor from Lowes, along with a $10 paddle-type joint compound mixer. It mixed easily. Used a road cone for the funnel, which worked especially well.

Arjay is a very good product for ease of use.

 

[sphelps]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

Make sure you wear some work gloves. Your knuckles will get banged up. Take like a 2 ft long piece of pvc pipe no bigger that an inch and duck tape it to your shop vac . That will help clean the mess out as you go. Unless it is completely rotted wood a chain saw will make it a lot easier. Honestly without taking the inside skin off I don't know how you can do this without a chainsaw.Some home made tools will also come in handy.

See ya S.P.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

Yep chainsaw IS the tool of choice for this operation. You can rent and Electric one and they work really well.

 

[Arizona2ride]

Re: using SEACAST to replace transom? advice!

I am thinking about doing as much work as I can to the transom and see just how much I can do on my own, then take it to the boat shop and see what they say they. See how much and maybe kinda go from there. I might can do all the work myself, just have to start and see.