transom

[jerry]

I am looking for someone who has repaced a full transom on a 73 clasic from the inside. I dont know where to stop or how to cut close to the edges, can i go around the stringers thanks for any suggestions.

[Capt Chuck]

Go to the CSC main web page and "click on 23 footers" then look at Diego's 23' transom done by Wildfire Marine. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[John R]

Jerry - welcome to ClassicSeacraft ... There are a few guys that have done those and a lot of info on these boards to research thru. Run some searches and grab a beer and spend an afternoon running thru them

[abl1111]

Cutting out the transom is not that bad ( or, maybe my memeory thankfully has faded a bit ).

You need to get the rotted transom material out from between the stringers/ motor beds and the glass. I did it without cutting the stringers back, although cutting them back is no big deal - they are just approx a 1/4" of glass covering foam. You can cut them back and re-glass them easy! Getting behind the stringers to remove the rotted or even good wood is a bitch, but do-able. Thinking nback, I would cut the stringers back to give you some room - I beat myself up squeezing between that space to get the wood out. At that time, I did not realize how much glassing I was to do, nor did I realize the ease to which it is to make repairs as good or better than original.

Getting the transom out: Buy a Tyvec suit ! Make sure it has elastic feet and wrist cuffs - or tape them ! Also, for any length of time grinding/sanding - wear a mask!

The way I did it, and I'm sure there are alot of ways, was to first cut out the top layer of glass so you can see the actual wood transom - I did this w/ a special elect fiberglass tool I borrowed - just the edge part of a grinding wheel from a hi speed grinder to cut through this top sheet will work great too. Peel that f-glass all off. Some places will stick better than others. Use a crow bar, or a wonder bar, long screw drivers etc.

Then, I used a circular saw, set at about 3/16"-1/4" shallower than the depth of the transom - remember, the transom is comprised of (2) 3/4" of ply glassed together. But, measure it anyway and be careful. I then cut horiz and vertical cuts from top to bottom - making 4-5" size squares to be removed. Then, I removed these squares one at a time w/ a wonderbar, crowbar, long screwdrivers ( used as wedges ) - sometimes just (2-3) pcs of ply wood would come off. Sometimes (1) 3/4" pc of plywood would come off - sometimes the whole 1 1/2" would come off. It's a bitch and tedious, but I did the whole thing in about 8-9 hours labor. Once you remove ALL the wood from the back glass - you must grind it smooth .

SHEET. Gotta go. Let me know if you need more - or if I was vague ( which I'm sure I have been )

[jerry]

Thanxs for the info. I have not taken off the cap. Any sugestions on where to cut it. Most of the rot is where the out drive was. Is it best to do whole transom or could i peice in lower 2/3. IThave cut out the old deck leaving a 3 inches at bottom of the liner except the stearn. glassed over sringers from the hull in except last 2 feet. Thanxs for any help.I dont know how to post any pics have a camera

[jw]

I guess you have a I/O 20. I am in the middle of finishing up my transom job, I can email some pics of where I cut mine.
Putting back together is going to be the fun part, however I t will look nice.
JW