I/O to Bracket Conversion - patch outside first?

[captsuperfly]

I'm starting work on a 23 SF and converting the I/O to a bracket.

I'm replacing the transom core from the inside, leaving the outside skin intact.

After I remove the old core and grind the inside of the transom to prep, I'm going to lay a few layers of glass before installing the core. Since I want the glass I'm laying to be nice and flat and bond with the core, should I fill the mechanical holes (for the outdrive etc) on the from the outside first? So there's something behind the 1708 when I glass the inside of the transom before installing the core?

[Xcomunic8d]

I did this on my seafari.

My first goal was to put some melamine on the outside of my transom to give me a surface to work against. It didn’t work out so good for me. It sagged and I had tons and tons of grinding and fairing.

I did lay up bigger layers as I went. I put 2 layers to entirely cover the “new” transom and tie it together. On the exterior i did put some peanut butter on and epoxy fairing. You can’t tell know but it was a real mess. Make sure you do tap test around keyholes. I had serious delamination.

If I could do it over I would find a way to really secure the melamine on the stern and make my smaller fillers and then my over lays. I have pics buried somewhere. I’ll post for you for good and bad. I hope someone can chime in to help here.

[dirtwheelsfl]

Ideally you would grind a bevel on the inside of the skin, from full thickness tapered down to nothing, around the outdrive hole. Then put some kinda backer on the outside, hot glue some mdf with packing tape on it or whatever wont bend and wont stick. Then layup til its about flush with the rest of the skin. Clean that up and youre ready for the full layers.

It will leave the outside flush and fair with just the seams to bevel and glass...

[captsuperfly]

Thanks guys!