chainsaw!

[mada]

Ok, I'm new here and I know this isn't the way you make new friends (by making a million posts and hoping for one-way help) However, I have alot to share with you as a failed boat repair hacker. I have seen what bad repairs can do and I am sure I can lend a hand on this board.

Ok, with that said, I really need some help. I am in a real pickle and could use the help.

So after that long disertation, here is my question:

My transom needs to be removed, not chisled out. Already been done and the skin is totally encapsulated in westsystem and glass. She's got to go.

A reciprocating saw will be good for seperating the transom from the stringers, but ain't going to cut it. I need a chainsaw to cut the transom off. Can anyone tell me if this is the dumbest move of the year or a good tool for the job?

[Dave Hirshberg]

I would still try and salvage the transom skin if possible. even if you only have to remove it from the outside of the transom wood after correct positioning and tabbing to the hull on the inside. It will be very hard to accurately reporduce a transom front and back from scratch.
Otherwise I'd use the biggest Circular saw I could find. They cut much straighter and cleaner.

[Briguy]

Mada,

When you say cut the transom off, it conjures up some nasty thoughts. Let us know in more detail what you want to accomplish. The more info=the more people who understand what you are doing. Give your post a 2nd try.

[PipeDreamsMarine]

Mada.. where are you located.. Margate?.. Let us know where your at,there maybe some of us near by that could help you out.. I'm just outside of Ocean City Nj and Finster is in Egg Harbor.. If your near by I could stop over and take a look at it..

[ May 15, 2003, 06:35 AM: Message edited by: PipeDreamsMarine ]

[mada]

Thanks for the replies.

I could use some help so I don't make the same mistake twice.

I do not have an intact inside skin. If you were to cut into the transom from the back of the starboard side of the transom, it would expose old plywood. 3/4 of the transom has a repair that is like a solid rock of marine ply, westsystem and glass...in other words it's going to be ugly anyway this job is attempted.

My outside skin is an IO skin and would be nearly impossible to leave intact (if you went in from inside the boat) due to the glass tape and westsystem that was used to repair it last time.

My thought was to cut the transom off, keeping 3" away from the perimeter, and then clean up the inside wood and junk from the 3" of skin that is left. After that, I was going to tab a piece of skin (1/4) fiberglass sheet to make the new skin...and adhere the marine ply to that.

It is one of those situations where it's almost impossible to explain with words. It is something that one would need to see to give accurate advice.

If you guys could make it down to check it out. I would be grateful.

Let me know.

[FELLOW-SHIP]

HA MADA
LOOKS LIKE YOUR TRYING TO SAVE TIME BY DOING THIS JOB WITH THE CHAIN SAW IDEA. NOW THIS IN JUST MY OPINION BUT YES YOU PROBABLY COULD LEAVE 3 “ ALL AROUND AND CUT THE ENTIRE TRANSOM OFF. THAN REMOVE ALL WOOD LEFT BETWEEN THE TWO REMAINDER SKINS WITH A CHISEL THEN YOU COULD BUILD BACK THE OUTER SKIN WITH A SHEET OF ¼” OR THICKER GLASS PANEL THEN BUILD THAT UP BY ADDING MORE LAYERS OF GLASS TO THE INSIDE SIDE OF THE OUTER SHIN WALL THEN PLYWOOD OR COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND THEN GLASS FOR THE INSIDE WALL. FOR ME THOUGH I PROBABLY WOULD NOT DO IT THAT WAY IT SEEMS YOU ARE TRYING TO SAVE TIME PLUS YOU DO NOT WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE MORE MONEY ON BEER. I WOULD BUY MORE BEER AND THEN I WOULD CUT A CHECKER BOARD PATTERN EVERY 4 INCHES IN THE TRANSOM PLYWOOD FROM THE INSIDE WITH A SKILL SAW CUTTING THROUGH THE WOOD BUT NOT DEEP ENOUGH TO HIT THE GLASS ON THE OUTER WALL. THEN I WOULD USE A CHISEL IN ONE HAND AND A BUD LONG NECK IN THE OTHER. AFTER THE WOOD IS GONE YOU CAN GRIND ALL EXCESS EPOXY OFF AND THEN START FROM THERE. MY GUESS THIS IS A FOUR SIX PACK TYPE JOB.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[mada]

Fellow-Ship

What a sweet idea. I like beer. However, my control of the circular saw after much beer is like a motorcycle in an ice rink.

In all seriousness. That is the best idea I've heard yet from all my friends and boat fixer wannabes.

[PipeDreamsMarine]

I would leave the outside skin intact and work it from the inside like Fellowship. The i/o hole is easyer to fix then trying to build a hole new stern. I'd use a Roto-zip too works better in tight places then a skill saw. Plus I'd go with Coor's light other then the Bud...