How to Repair a Transom on a Fiberglass Boat
Your transom is usually the initial segment of the construction in a boat to go spoiled and is also one of the main structural parts of your boat – Not only does usually the most costly speculation get rushed to it, yet it also integrates a ton and well without it… your swimming. So in no particular request, how about we get into them! You can read a great deal of glass Repair a Transom on a Fiberglass Boat manuals and see nothing on oneself repair of transoms.
In boat repair circles it is a task for a professional Fiberglass Boat Transom — tear the old transom away and replace it. This is usually estimated at an expense somewhere close to $2,000.00 and $5,000.00 or seriously relying upon the size of the boat. The issue? Who has that sort of money to spend on an old utilized boat?
Repair the transom on your fiberglass boat is no easy task except for unfortunately it should be done on many more seasoned boats, usually because of decay in the compressed wood center. In this article (and Video) I will show you step by step how to eliminate your old spoiled Repair a Transom on a Fiberglass Boat it with another one.
Presently my boat has inboard power and the transom is shut all the way down. Assuming your boat has an outboard you could actually replace the entire transom remembering the fiberglass for the outside.
Fiberglass Transom Repair
Step 1: Before starting removal:
Take measurements of all the parts around the transom; fiberglass thickness of outside skin, pressed wood thickness, inside transom skin thickness, stringer location, stringer thickness, and so forth… You will want these measurements as a kind of perspective later.
Prior to eliminating anything structural you should have the frame appropriately upheld. Eliminating stringers and/or a transom with out appropriately supporting the frame can result in a disfigured or “oil canned” body. The best help is a bunk trailer with additional blocks under the fall and transom.
Step 2: Gain access to transom skin and center:
The subsequent stage is to gain access to the Repair a Transom on a Fiberglass Boat so you can eliminate the decay. Each boat will be somewhat unique, once in a while you should cut the deck, the top cap, side walls or all the above, removal of cap is at times necessary to reach the whole within the transom.
The following stage in the removal of the old compressed wood center and inside fiberglass transom skin. You will require access to the whole transom in addition to at least 12″ up the side and bottom of the boat. Assuming you post pictures at our discussion we can advise you on the best places to make these slices to avoid tedious fairing work (concealing seams).
You should totally eliminate the old pressed wood center. A reciprocating saw, processor, hammer and etch, flat prybar are great to have. On the off chance that you have an air blower, a small air hammer with a wide flat blade is a wise venture. Be careful to not incur damage to the external fiberglass skin.
Installing the new center:
Your new compressed wood center ought to be the same total thickness as the original compressed wood. Assuming you are changing anything about the plan of the transom (higher motor mounts, encased transom, bracket, etc…) you may have to make adjustments to the thickness of the center. Post details on the gathering and we can assist with this. Most powerboat transoms are made by laminating different layers of 1/2″, 5/8″ or 3/4″ compressed wood.
The new center can be either made in one piece, then, at that point, bonded into the frame, or you may laminate one layer at a time into the structure. It is generally easier to laminate the center external the boat and bond it into the structure once, however on extremely large Repair a Transom on a Fiberglass Boat this may not be imaginable because of weight and troublesomely in handling.
To laminate two bits of pressed wood, first coat the faces of the pressed wood that will be stuck together with un-thickened epoxy pitch. This is a slight coat of epoxy, to let the face of the wood soak up a little epoxy. While this epoxy is as yet tacky, blend a batch of epoxy stick. Utilizing an indented spreader, apply even amounts of epoxy paste to each pressed wood face.
Presently clamp the two layers together utilizing loads, clamps, or dry wall screws (temporary, eliminated after stick fixes). Try not to apply too much tension! Epoxy is gap filling and very strong, you want the epoxy to remain between the compressed wood layers. Once the epoxy starts to crush out the sides uniformly the time has come to stop the clamping strain and wipe off overabundance epoxy stick that pressed out.
Prior to final glassing of center:
The gaps between your new center and the sides/bottom of the structure should be loaded up with clay. After filling the gap, utilizing the same clay, you will make a filet all around the joint between the center and the body. A filet is a radius of clay that allows fiberglass to make a pivot an angle. Fiberglass and 90 degrees don’t fare well together. All inside corners of transom ought to have a round filet.
Tabbing unto the structure bottom and sides:
The following stage is the tabbing of the Repair a Transom on a Fiberglass Boat to the sides and bottom of the frame. For tabbing, utilize 1708 Biaxial fiberglass tape. This tape is stronger than traditional woven tape due in part to its fiber orientation (45/45 degrees). It is also exceptionally easy to work with, wets out easily, and is epoxy compatible.
Utilize various layers of the 17 oz Biaxal tape, the amount will rely upon the particular boat. We enthusiastically suggest doing the filet and glass tabbing all in one work session, this is called working “wet on wet” and results in a vastly improved lamination quality with less clean up and no crushing/sanding between layers! Simply be carefull of heat develop assuming that your clay is thick in certain places. Biaxal Tape
Your transom is usually the initial segment of the construction in a boat to go spoiled and is also one of the main structural parts of your boat – Not only does usually the most costly speculation get rushed to it, yet it also integrates a ton and well without it… your swimming. So in…