The exception to this would be the plastic honeycomb core material—which can be mixed with other types. We recommend marine grade plywood for this repair. Clean out with our Epoxy Solvent or xylene. How To Reinforce A Fiberglass Boat Transom In 5 Easy Steps?
Make sure you discard bubbles before the resin dries. Reinforced Stringers: Reinforced stringers are very important for a fiberglass boat because they add a lot of structural integrity to the transom. Below is a rough schematic for removing outer glass deck skin. Step 6: Tab Transom Core to Hull. 1708 consists of 17 oz of biaxial cloth with an 8 oz matt stitched to the back side for a total of 25 oz. Transom Replacement With a Plywood Core : 9 Steps (with Pictures. Home > Fiberglass Boats- Rot Repair in Glass Boats.
The transom is one of those things that if it's completely rotted, you're probably going to know it. I personally like using a paint roller and tipping brush approach to apply a quality two-part linear polyurethane paint. Replacing a transom on a fiberglass boat is a job best left to a professional. Multiple layers are required so the butt joint or joints in any given layer can be staggered and isolated from joints in an adjacent layer. Fiberglass is relatively cheap and easy to install, but there are some weak points in all fiberglass components. Once the deck or cabin core decomposition becomes severe you'll know it: Things get a bit springy up there. How to reinforce a fiberglass boat transom. There is an alternative method which is often used successfully. It's an easy DIY project that will increase the life of your boat. Three coatings would be even better. If the rot goes further than you can reach, then you're going to have to get at the transom wood from the top (review this procedure in the Outboard Transom Repair section). 9) Fiberglass boats are usually built with nearly square transoms, creating a sizeable unsupported area of fiberglass that tends to deform or crack more easily than smaller square or round areas of reinforcement.
Unlike standard fiberglass, this type of filler will harden quickly, and it will also dry very quickly too. Getting new wood into areas that is above the mounting holes will involve bedding it in our Fill-It™ epoxy filler (after CPES™ treatment, of course) and propping it in place for 24 hours until the filler cures. If the splices are kept out of the middle, the transom repair will be stronger. When completely discarding the old plywood core, you need a reciprocating saw, hammer, chisel, grinder, and flat pry bar. The chisel and hammer can help with this task but you have to be careful not to damage the surface. Paint with acrylic paint. How to repair a fiberglass boat transom. Yes, you can repair a fiberglass transom by patching and filling. Cut the door skin based on the length of the part that needs replacement.
You have to move onto the transom reinforcement plate after dealing with the core. The Putty's radius, also known as a fillet, is what permits the fiberglass to be angled. Sanding is needed to create an even surface, and this process should be done on the edges too. Palm sander and #000 grit sanding disks. How To Reinforce A Fiberglass Boat Transom. We set both sails and made several runs in front of the Saginaw Bay Yacht Club before we hit something, maybe an old piling or maybe the freighter rudder that went missing the previous fall. You'll only need to be patient and willing to dedicate time to making templates, sanding, and curing. The wood trim on glass boats is now usually teak, which is good because it won't rot.
I prefer 403 Microfibers filler for large projects because it is strong, stirs in quickly and requires less filler to achieve the same viscosity. Moisture penetrates the plywood core, leading to delamination and eventual rot. How to Reinforce a Fiberglass Boat Transom | Powerful 10 Ways (2023. The pieces of wood must then be joined using a clamp. Mild decomposition may not be so evident, but can be detected by pulling bolts/screws and inspecting the holes, or by tapping the deck and listening for tonal differences. How you repair rotted cores will depend on a lot of variables: How large the rotted area is, what it is, where it is, where the boat is and what kind of weather protection it has — and how patient you are. A seat that has been supported will be able to handle better rough water and other things that could potentially go wrong out on the water. If there are soft spots in the transom of your boat, it may be time to reinforce the transom with a composite core material.
Once you find rot on your boat, you have to get rid of it. You can finish quickly with a paint roller. Most powerboat transoms are made by laminating multiple layers of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood. Bond with thickened L & L Epoxy Resin. Wood screws will make the plywood sheets fit snugly while they're all bound with epoxy. When applying more than one coat, sand down between each coat lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to ensure a level surface. Wet on wet is a technique for producing high-quality laminates and excellent results! How to reinforce a fiberglass boat transom lights. It is a slow, insidious process until a lot of wood is destroyed and the transom starts to flex and sag.
The new transom is then fitted into the boat, and attached with stainless steel screws. In addition, transoms with any paint or varnish finish (including Gelcoat) are subject to surface deterioration and water intrusion over time. Acrylic epoxy paint to match the color of your boat's stern. Inboard/Outboard Transom Repair. You can estimate the cubed inches of interior vacancy and then convert cubic inches into fluid ounces, and then fluid ounces into pints/quarts/gallons. Unfortunately, fiberglass can quickly become damaged if not adequately cared for or maintained, which can lead to leaks in your boat that could end up sinking it entirely. Step 3: Mix resin and hardener while paying attention not to create bubbles due to too much movement while you are doing this. Expect that it will occupy you for the whole week and you need a week for the gel coat and paint to dry. Ideally, this is a project that can be started in the winter when boating is less frequent. This also will give you a look at the flooring sub-structure, the fore/aft stringers and the supporting cross beams. If the holes are not properly sealed, plan on replacing the core again in the future. So feel free to join us and share your beautiful journeys to the sea! You can use higher grade wood laminates if you wish a bit more "solidity", again treating them with CPES™ before installation. Unfortunately, there's no natural cure for rot.
In addition, hardpoints strengthen the back of the transom and add a lot of durabilities and additional support to the boat overall. Let the resin and fiberglass cloth dry. Finally, paints or waterproof elastomeric coatings can be applied.