Zodiac transom repair

[krush]

Wahoo, nothing like doing some redneck repairs in Guam! I could've just put the boat in the water and rode, but I'm gonna be in the ocean and figure I should spend a little time making it safer.

BOAT: notice bubba cut the transom because he only had a short shaft engine...boat is rated for 120hp or so max, 40hp won't go too fast, but I'm not going far.



Problem: bottom of transom is rotted (you lookn' at part I cut out). Structurally it ain't a big deal, but the problem is there's nothing to glue to floor to.



So I cut about 3 inches off the bottom of the transom and unglued some of the sides. I was fixn' to glass in a pressure treated 2x4 from home de-pot (yeah, we got one here!), but then did a little pondering and inspection.



And the inspection revealed some more rot higher up.



My guess is the rot came from water sitting in the boat. Of course the frenchies (yeah Zodiac is a french company) didn't use the best material and the person that mounted the original motor didn't seal the holes very well.

So I'm gonna cut a few more inches and glass in a 2x6 instead. The top of the transom is still solid enough to handle the little 40hp motor. If I ship the boat back to the states care of your tax dollars, I'll do a new transom them if it needs it.

More pics as I continue if I feel like it.


Oh teaser of horrible Guam:




MORE PICS HERE! picasaweb.google.com/hurthing/Guam

[ppat324]

I love the beaches! ppat

[mikep]

Sure like those pics of that little bay just south east of Talofofo and Hgw 4. Can you anchor there or is the island still off limits to cruisers?

[krush]

I have no clue about anchoring rules. Honestly, it's Guam--even if there are rules, nobody really bothers anybody! People just launch boats and go to any beach they want (the "gov" owns the beachline".

Wife get's back in July and gave the order she wants boat running by then LOL. I needa figure out some type of bimini--gonna be some nice redneck engineering.

[krush]

Couple pic updates for the judges.

Cut out most of the rot from the bottom of the transom. This is just a repair that will hopefully last a couple years--a new transom eventually needs to be made.



New pieces cut from a 2x6 from the homeless-depot. Funny how pressure treated wood is only sealed about 1/4 inch max. When you cut it the inside is white as can be. Wish I was home where I could get the good arsenic stuff...



Trial fit. I glassed it in today and it's currently curing. Used about a yard of cloth. The patch doesn't have to take much load. It just needs to be strong enough to support the rubber floor that gets glued to it. Aluminum rigid floor goes on top of the rubber bottom.


Again, a few more detailed pics are here: picasaweb.google.com/hurthing/Guam

[34Hatt]

Seems a little late but your not suppose to use treated wood for glassing. It does not bond well Well I ASSUME you are glass it in
Good luck.

[krush]

Proof? Didn't have a problem with it bonding nor have I ever had a problem in the past.

[Kiwipushrod]

Not that I'm trying to agree with Krush or anything like that, but I've done quite a bit of encapsulated transom and stringer repairs. I always use treated and have some of My work over 15 years old, still running around.

I guess no body ever told Me not to.

Kiwi

[34Hatt]

Jun 3, 2010 7:40:48 GMT -5 krush said:

Proof? Didn't have a problem with it bonding nor have I ever had a problem in the past.

Yeah ask any GOOD glass guy since I was told by about 5 of them not too and why would you! If you glass it right water does not get in there!
Just think about it it is pressure treated to keep stuff out its a sealer! Would you do epoxy first then poly on top?
Treated wood is full of chemicals and mixing them is not good. Specially since you don't know all of them and the amount and how they mix together. Plus the pressure treated there is different from here plus they keep changing it. It make's no sense to take that chance. You know some people have falling from high up and survived when they should have been dead. Still won't get me to try that but maybe you will ;D