Repairing Guides

how to repair a boat transom

by Prof. Gladyce Franecki MD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  1. Dry the Boat. To make any repairs to your boat or transom, you first need to get your boat out of the water and into a dry ...
  2. Check the Damage. Before you remove any parts of the transom or make any repairs, it is important to assess the damage on your transom first.
  3. Remove the Transom. Cut the deck section of the transom to get to its core. Use the crowbar or hammer and chisel to carefully remove the transom.
  4. Mark and Cut the Damaged Area. You then need to draw or mark the area where you need to cut the transom. ...
  5. Cut the New Transom. After removing the damaged area, use this piece as a pattern to create a new transom. ...
  6. Add Fiberglass. Once you are done cutting the two plywood pieces, you can now fiberglass the two sheets together. ...
  7. Sand the Edges. After curing, flip the plywood and round out the edges using sandpaper or a sander. ...
  8. Install the New Transom. When you are done sanding, place the new transom onto the boat and check if it fits. ...

Part of a video titled The Easiest Way To Replace A Boat Transom - YouTube
4:02
38:35
You know if you had someone actually replace this transom for you you're talking here from twoMoreYou know if you had someone actually replace this transom for you you're talking here from two thousand to five thousand dollars possibly. If you wanna use you know your plywood.

How to fix a rotted transom on your boat?

Repairing Fiberglass Powerboat Transoms - Epoxywork

  • The process taken to Refit the Transom back on to the PVC tubes. 1. Zodiac Transom and transom fittings which were removed by hot air gun. 2. ...
  • um jon boat with a wood transom that needs replacement means possibilities, such as making the transom taller to accommodate a long-shaft outboard. ...
  • Joined Aug 2, 2010. ·. 1,084 Posts. #5 · Aug 1, 2017. ...

How to rebuild the transom on a fiberglass boat?

How to Rebuild the Transom on a Fiberglass Boat

  • Take Plenty of Pictures First! Before you get started make sure you take a few pictures of your transom from numerous different angles.
  • Now De-Skin it! ...
  • Now the Fun begins! ...
  • Create a Template to Cut Out the New One. ...
  • Getting it Ready. ...
  • Glassing it Onto the Hull. ...
  • Filleting and Tabbing. ...
  • Cutout Your Holes. ...
  • Cover The Inside with Fiberglass. ...

How to reinforce a transom on an aluminum boat?

  • Innovative Transom Saver helps lessen stress on a boat’s transom when boat with an outboard motor is being trailered
  • Reliably supports the cantilevered engine during transport
  • Comes with a choice of mounts for the end attached to the trailer: roller bracket or trailer mount bracket
  • Composite head securely holds the engine
  • Durable, rugged construction

How do you repair fiberglass damage to a boat?

How do you repair fiberglass damage on a boat? Fill any deep gouges and spend your time sanding out scratches while the filler sets up. Apply gel coat to the filled gouges and finish to the scratches and then final-sand the filled gouges. Buff all the repaired areas and then the rest of the boat. Apply any graphics to finish up.

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Can you fix a cracked transom on a boat?

Fill the crack with Terhi Fix and reinforce with a strip of fibreglass mat or glue a plate of ABS-plastic over the whole damaged area. Use screws (which can be removed when the Fix is dry) to mount the plate. Fill the holes and even the edges. Let dry.

How do you fix a rotting transom?

Repairing A Rotted Transom One method is to use a product like Git-Rot from BoatLIFE. This two-part liquid epoxy fills and restores the dry rot inside the wood using capillary action to penetrate it without drilling it full of holes. You can inject Git-Rot directly into the wood for more thorough penetration.

How do you fix a transom on a fiberglass boat?

1:4037:14[EP11] Fibreglass Boat Transom Replacement From The OutsideYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo firstly traditionally you would go you would remove a transom from the inside you'd cut awayMoreSo firstly traditionally you would go you would remove a transom from the inside you'd cut away everything from the inside that way you can keep the outer hull of the boat.

Can you replace part of a transom?

Transoms are usually replaced from inside the boat. This means removing all the internal structure, seats, and tanks, etc. so you can work on the transom. If the boat is an I/O, that means removing the engine.

How much does it cost to fix a rotten transom?

between $2,000.00 and $5,000.00In boat repair circles it is a job for a professional yard — tear the old transom away and replace it. This is usually estimated at a cost somewhere between $2,000.00 and $5,000.00 or more depending on the size of the boat.

What is the best material for a boat transom?

Coosa Board is high density polyurethane foam with reinforced layers of fiberglass. The result is a material equally or superior in rigidity at a fraction of the weight of plywood. It is truly the premier decking & transom material in the marine industry.

How do you reinforce a fiberglass transom?

Apply epoxy to the edges of the outer fiberglass skin of the transom and over the heads of the screws holding the skin to the plywood, and lay a strip of fiberglass cloth over the epoxy. Once the fiberglass has cured, repeat this step until four layers of fiberglass and epoxy have been applied.

Can you fill a transom with epoxy?

11:2814:39Boat Transom and Floor Rebuild - Using the Epoxy ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFull of mixed up epoxy resin or you can use polyester if you're just coding wood for sealantMoreFull of mixed up epoxy resin or you can use polyester if you're just coding wood for sealant purposes. Yeah you'll you'll take these and you'll just coat along the edges along the top you want to make

How long do transoms last?

On to fabricating the replacement transom: Most, if not all wooden transoms in smaller boats are made of plywood. From the looks of the transom in this boat, I would estimate a typical transom will last about 20 years or so before they need to be replaced.

How thick should a boat transom be?

As for Thickness, 3 layers of 3/4" composite, skin,bonding laminates and tab layer should work out around 3 inches.

How do you replace a wood transom?

9:2625:49Replace your small boat transom! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMy old transom on there as a template and drawing it out and then of course my pencil point breaks.MoreMy old transom on there as a template and drawing it out and then of course my pencil point breaks. Getting another pencil.

What are boat transoms made of?

Many modern boat transoms are made of reinforced fiberglass material to prevent degradation when exposed to saltwater and other elements and so that they can support the weight of additional items. Most personal watercraft have one or more outboard motors on their transoms.

What is a transom on a boat?

The transom on your boat is like the caboose on a train: it’s all anyone sees after you’ve passed. Regularly inspect this area, apply Git-Rot when needed, and you’ll go far in extending the life and quality of your boat.

Why do you need to inspect a boat transom?

Because problems like rot frequently plague boat transoms, you’re going to need to regularly inspect the transom for rot problems specifically. The good news is that there are dedicated products to help treat this kind of boat rot.

How to treat transom wood?

This isn’t to say that Git-Rot will require absolutely no work at all. There are a few best practices to treat your transom wood: Wait for the ideal temperature —between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. At about 70 degrees, the applied Git-Rot will solidify overnight, boosting the wood’s strength. Inject the Git-Rot into the wood’s end grain ...

What is the area of a boat that can be overlooked?

Even when you inspect your hull regularly, there’s one area of your boat that can often get overlooked: the transom. New boat owners aren’t even aware that the surface of their boat’s stern even has its own name. But if you want your boat to look its best, checking and repairing the transom is essential. But that still leaves one question: how do ...

What is a transom on a boat?

Transoms are major structural parts of fiberglass powerboats, especially outboards. Transoms not only support the weight of the motor, they maintain the shape of the boat, they are a mounting point for holdowns, towing eyes and other accessories. And, they must be able to let water out of the hull, without letting it back in.

How thick is a transom?

In other words, use four layers of 3/8″ or 6 layers of ¼” plywood to build up a 1½”-thick transom instead of three layers of ½”. Be sure to fill any voids in the plywood edges with thickened epoxy after the panels are cut into shape. Make a template of the transom and use it to layout the plywood layers.

What causes a transom to rot?

Moisture penetrates the plywood core, leading to delamination and eventual rot. Moisture can also penetrate the transom skin at hardware fasteners, around drain holes and I/O cutouts. These factors have a cumulative effect on structural failure. When the transom loses its stiffness, so does the outboard motor.

How to laminate fiberglass skin?

If your fiberglass skin is unusable, plan to laminate a new fiberglass skin over the core with multiple layers of fiberglass and epoxy. Apply them one layer at a time until the same skin thickness is achieved. Subsequent layers can be applied immediately or while the previous layer is still tacky. If the epoxy is allowed to cure beyond being tacky, allow it to cure overnight, then wash the surface with water and sand the surface to prepare it for more layers. Laminate the new skin so it extends to the edge of the 12:1 bevel that was machined earlier on the outer edges of the transom. Install the biggest patch first with each layer being progressively smaller to fill the 12:1 bevel. For additional information on laminating a large new fiberglass skin see Section 4.3 of Fiberglass Boat Repair & Maintenance (free download).

How many times does a bevel back from the corner of a fiberglass cut line?

The distance of the cut line (and the bevel) back from the corner is 12 times the fiberglass thickness. A 12-to-1 bevel allows room for multiple layers of fiberglass fabric and epoxy across the cut line to restore strength to the fiberglass skin.

What determines the bevel length of a fiberglass transom?

The fiberglass thickness determines the bevel length which is also the distance from the corner to the location of the cuts for removing the fiberglass skin. As mentioned, the cut line will be located to allow the outer edge of the bevel to end before the corner of the transom.

How to prevent dimpling in fiberglass?

This prevents dimpling in the fiberglass skin which would require considerable filling and fairing later. Apply auto paste wax or cooking spray to the washers or plywood ahead of time to allow for removal later, or apply a layer of plastic sheet over the fiberglass skin before applying the plywood cauls.

Know Your Board

The boat transom board can be a bit tricky to figure out—especially if you never consider it until it’s time to repair it. But try to understand what’s going on. Do you have dry rot? Is the wood simply getting old? Do you have other issues that have caused the wood to deteriorate over time? Think of it as diagnosing a problem.

Use A Git-Rot Kit For Dry Rot

Dry rot is one of the frequent problems for anyone repairing their aluminum boat’s wooden transom, which is why it’s a good idea to seek out a Git-Rot Kit for repair. This kit utilizes a two-part liquid epoxy that can penetrate the rot and use the natural fibers of the wood to get deeper into the wood than you might imagine.

Equip Yourself With The Right Materials

Effective boat transom repair means you’ll have to use the right materials along the way—otherwise, you’ll just frustrate yourself and wonder why it can’t be easier.

Clean The Area First

One of the most overlooked parts of effective aluminum boat transom repair is failing to clean out the area first. Cleaning out the area will give you free reign to move around and handle everything that you need to handle. It will also help ensure that you do minimal damage to the rest of the boat as things move around.

Remember, Maintenance Matters

The old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure bears out when it comes to your transom and the rest of your boat. Keep it clean and well-maintained if you want your boat to be as “healthy” as possible.

Stock Up On Boat Care Products

Want more products for keeping your boat properly sealed, cleaned, and maintained? Browse all of the products available at BoatLIFE today.

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