Yet Another Transom Job in the Works - ?ions

[warthog5]

I know they are open Sat. morning. Not sure when they close on Sat.

[Fishjack]

Well at the point of no return - started digging into the transom today - this is what I found -







It appears that the area where the motor was mounted was in pretty good shape - the sides up high are in bad shape -





The boat originally had twins - the previous owner installed a single and cut the transom down about 5 inches. The sides were not well sealed and this allowed water to get into the sides.

The wood in the center is still in really good shape and is going to be a bear to remove. How much more should I cut out?? I am going to replace both drain plugs (maybe with garbord (SP?) plugs). Not sure how close is too close to the bottom - trying to stick with the 12:1 bevel..

FWIW - I plan on enclosing the entire transom and putting in some sort of transom door. Also doing away with the splash well and transom below deck livewell.

Any suggestions and advise would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jack

[lost2a6]

Dang Warthog - $76.26 for 3/4"???? - Biloxi Lumber (where they stocked it locally here on the MS Coast Pre-K) wanted like $94.00. Many Thanks..

A road trip over that way just gives me a good reason to stop by J&M Tackle in Orange Beach... May as well make a day out of it..

Do you know if they are open on Saturdays? Kinda hard to get away from work during the week around here lately.

Biloxi lumber is where I got mine from 5 yrs ago. I haven't been over that way since Katrina, I assume they are no longer there.

[Scott]

Jack
Old transom looks pretty good BUT when you pulled the skin off was any of the core attached to it ?? It looks from the pictures that there was little adhesion to the core ? No bond between the wood and skin ? looks like weathered plywood [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

I might be concerned about the conditions around the hull and livewell drains as well as around the two ice box drains on either side of the notch.

[Fishjack]

Steve - Biloxi lumber probably had 12 feet of water - somewhere in the gulf is some fine marine plywood floating around. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Scott - believe it or not it was a **tch getting the glass off the original wood - had to drive a long chisel into it between the glass and old core. It actually ripped off some of the old core still attached to the outer skin. It is going to be tough removing all that original core.

I plan on making more cuts close to the drain plugs and replacing the drain plugs - probably with a single plug because I am doing away with the factory in deck/splash well bait tank.

I just don't want to cut too close to the bottom of the boat and not leave enough outer skin to bond to.

I will be going to Pensacola to get the plywood soon.
I have quite a few hours/beers worth of work to get it ready first.

Is there any reason to go further to the sides with my cuts? I am trying to avoid replacing the drains in the rear port and starbord storage boxes (ice boxes)??

[Fishjack]

We lost about 4 post on this thread last night....

Chris (I believe was his name - from Ocean Springs, MS) a new member posted for the 1st time on this thread last night informing me that Biloxi Lumber is re-opened..

I believe Trayder had a post as well...

Anyway - I just want to let Chris know that he might need to re-register - seems CSC had a server glitch..

[Scott]

Scott - believe it or not it was a **tch getting the glass off the original wood - had to drive a long chisel into it between the glass and old core. It actually ripped off some of the old core still attached to the outer skin. It is going to be tough removing all that original core.

That plywood looks smooth as glass !! Thats why I asked

Is there any reason to go further to the sides with my cuts? I am trying to avoid replacing the drains in the rear port and starbord storage boxes (ice boxes)??

I think some that have done this in the past may have have had wet or even rotted wood around those drains. I would just make sure its in good shape before you go to all that work.

And you are correct ... a bunch of stuff was lost last night ... including I think a new member or two

[Fishjack]

Thanks for the reply Scott - Compared to some of the other transoms I have seen mine was in pretty good shape at least around the engine mount area.

I am planning on going back with the 1" brass drain tubes - I just ordered a 1" flanging tool for the drain tubes so now I can cut the originals out and replace them with no problem.

I'm not real fond of the garboard type screw plugs - pain to remove and replace everytime you launch the boat.

Other than security is their any other advantage to the screw type (garboard) drain plug?

FWIW Once I launched my SeaCraft - forgot the plugs (crowded launch in a hurry)... Parked my truck/trailer and the bilge pumps were running full blast.. Jumped in the water - put the old 1" rubber plugs in and everything was ok. I would have had to hold my breath for a while trying to screw in a garboard plug...

[c_e_carter]

FishJack,

I don't know what happend to the server but it lost all my info??? Anyhow I come back. As I said I do believe that Biloxi Lumber has reopened. You may want to try to call them to see if they have any marine ply in.

Chris..

[Fishjack]

Chris - Checked with Biloxi Lumber today - no marine ply.

Looks like I will be going to Pensacola in the next few days to pick some up.

I cut the splash well out tonight will post some pics asap.