Repairing Guides

how to repair rotted transom

by Liana McKenzie Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  1. Remove transom top, and (as many as possible) fixtures attached to the transom. Tape the holes shut.
  2. Dig out bad wood with a hook-like tool (i.e. a caulker’s reefing iron or a sharpened and bent file.
  3. Allow interior to dry, or blow-dry. Drill a small water outlet hole at the bottom of the transom. ...
  4. Treat the gutted area and surrounding wood with CPES™. Just pour or spray on the CPES™. ...
  5. Allow about a week for the CPES™ carrier solvents to evaporate away and the epoxy to cure. ...
  6. Measure, cut, glue (if required), and CPES™ treat the replacement wood. This can approximate the size, because you’re going to fill around it with a resin-mix.
  7. Drop the wood into position and fill around with a flowable mix of Layup &; Laminating Resin™ and sawdust. The sawdust can be quite coarse. ...
  8. Allow 24 hours for preliminary cure.
  9. Close off the top with either a putty made from the sawdust and L&L Resin™ or with our Fill-It™ epoxy filler.
  10. Replace the top on the transom. Re-drill motor mount holes. Bed everything back in place. ...

Full Answer

How do you fix a rotting transom?

Repairing A Rotted Transom Once you’ve looked for water trapped in the transom and other issues that could have caused the rotting, it’s time to think about the wood itself. If you caught it early enough, it might be possible that you can avoid expensive repairs. One method is to use a product like Git-Rot from BoatLIFE.

Can the transom of a boat be repaired?

To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Repairing the transom of the boat is a minor boat repair since the transom is the flat area located at the back of the boat.

How do I know if my boat’s transom is rotting?

The first step is to know how to find rot in your transom. You might think that giving your boat a once-over is enough, but we’re talking about rot here—it’s not always going to make itself obvious. Wood can rot from the inside out, which means that by the time you see it, you might have a serious rotting problem on your hands.

Do you need to inspect a wooden transom for Rot?

And, if you have a wooden transom, then you know that you always need to inspect for rot to make sure that everything’s in top shape. To help you with this task, we’ve put together this brief guide on how to fix a rotted transom on your boat and how to identify this problem.

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Can you fix a rotten 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 rotting transom on a boat?

7:2817:19Replacing a Rotted Transom Part 1 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe with the new plywood. And epoxy all of that in and put some glass layers on the on the inside weMoreThe with the new plywood. And epoxy all of that in and put some glass layers on the on the inside we're then come through and sand this down fill. In all the holes.

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 to replace a boat transom?

Some companies use plastic materials as the load-bearing material in replacement transoms, reasoning that the plastic will not rot. While it is true that plastic is more water resistant than bare wood, treated wood encased in fiberglass will resist decay almost as well as plastic.

How many layers of fiberglass does a transom have?

Because the opening in the transom is smaller than the plywood core required for the repair, you will need to replace the core in pieces involving 3 or 4 layers. 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.

How long does a wood transom 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 do you reinforce 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.

How do you replace a wood transom?

9:2625:49Aluminum Boat Transom Replacement - 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.

How do you make a transom stronger?

4:2213:05SUPER STRONG Transom Support Build - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere. So to tie these top tubes into this corner bracket system that i'm building i've got someMoreHere. So to tie these top tubes into this corner bracket system that i'm building i've got some heavy wall inch and a quarter pipe which is just a little bit bigger than the diameter of these up top.

What kind of wood do you use for a transom on a boat?

0:4611:14DIY Wood Transom that will NEVER ROT OR FLEX - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGrade. Extra special whatever kind of wood.MoreGrade. Extra special whatever kind of wood.

How do I make a new transom?

5:5515:06Building a New Transom Replacement for my 12 ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen I could slide it into place and then trace. Off trace out up here the two angles off of thatMoreThen I could slide it into place and then trace. Off trace out up here the two angles off of that piece and then cut the two angles off if that makes sense you kind of see when I get into cutting it.

How do I know if my boat transom is rotten?

use a small ball peen hammer,tap the transom,it should have a distinct sharp sound,when you hit a spot and get a dull thud-you've got a problem.... the only true repair is to recore the transom-there's no quick fix....

How do you reinforce a fiberglass boat 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.

How do I know if my boat transom is rotten?

Observe for cracking on the fibreglass around the engine bolts; Washers are often observed as being compressed into the transom in areas where the timber has lost its strength. Remove some screws or an engine bolt to observe if water spits out of the hull. Brown or Brack-ish water is usually an indication of rot.

How do you repair a wooden transom?

2:2517:37HOW TO REPAIR AND REPLACE A WOOD TRANSOM - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo i'm gonna have a layer of three-quarter pvc a layer of three-quarter pvc i will put them togetherMoreSo i'm gonna have a layer of three-quarter pvc a layer of three-quarter pvc i will put them together. And then i'll put a layer of aluminum on the inside. Now the pvc in the wood.

How do you replace a wood transom?

9:2625:49Aluminum Boat Transom Replacement - 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.

How to repair a boat transom?

Step 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 dock or a raised platform. This is to give you more access to the transom. Allow the transom to dry completely before you can start repairs. Continue reading below Our Video of the Day.

How to remove a 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.

How to round out plywood on a boat?

After curing, flip the plywood and round out the edges using sandpaper or a sander. Make sure the edges are sanded properly for it to fit correctly on to the boat.

How to fiberglass two sheets of plywood?

Once you are done cutting the two plywood pieces, you can now fiberglass the two sheets together. Cover the exposed side with the fabmat or stitch mat. Place the air bubbles on top of these. Make sure that the air bubbles are laid out flat. Allow these to cure.

Do you need to repair a transom?

Before you remove any parts of the transom or make any repairs, it is important to assess the damage on your transom first. This is to help you determine how minor or major your boat repair is going to be. If all you need to do is repair a small hole, then you do not need much to repair the damage. However, if the transom is already rotten, then ...

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 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.

What is git rot?

There is. Git-Rot is a two-part liquid epoxy designed to fill and restore wood back to its original strength by treating the rot at its most problematic points. By injecting Git-Rot directly into the wood, you bypass all the disassembling and reassembling of transom repair and treat the problem at its source.

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.

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 ...

How to use git-rot on wood?

Inject the Git-Rot into the wood’s end grain whenever possible. Think of Git-Rot like blood moving through capillaries: in order to reach the most wood, it has to sink in and move around with the wood’s fibers. By seeking out end grain, you have more direct access to the wood’s interior, which boosts the performance of Git-Rot.

Can you use git rot on damp wood?

Inject into dry wood. While Git-Rot will eventually cure even in damp wood, it works much better in dry wood, as the epoxy solution will move around more freely and better saturate the wood.

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