I finally got some time this summer to work on the boat. Since I already have the engine out, I decided to pull the Transom Shield off (yes this is an I/O) to reseal it and check the transom for rot. Once I removed the transom I found the balsa core was rotted around the bottom two mounting bolts. Digging it out with a small rasp I also found that it had rotted where the swim deck was installed and where the transducer was installed. So, now comes the hard part.
I took a circular saw and cut the inner transom to a depth just less than the outer fiberglass skin. Then took a Sawzall and cut the sole so I would have room to work on the transom and the ability to place the new wood on the transom once I get it down to the outer glass layer. Below is a picture of where I am today.
I still have a lot of Balsa and Plywood to remove. Removing the rotted wood was easy. Removing the good stuff is a bear! The cut out section is roughly 18" high by 4' long. The raised section above the cut out is where they put balsa core.
The interesting part is that the boat has an outer layer of glass, then a layer of end grain balsa another layer of glass then another layer of either exterior ply or end grain balsa and finally a layer of glass.
When I go to put it back together I will have a double thickness of 3/4" Marine Ply (Man is this stuff expensive!) and then a couple of layers of heavy glass/epoxy. I'm not yet sure how I will do the sole. I would really like to replace the whole sole all the way up to the cabin, but I don't know that my glassing skills are up to the task. The sole is done in end grain balsa and when I cut off the section I found a couple of spots with rot. 1 was right next to the rotted transom but the other wasn't. I'm not sure where the water came from for it.
I took a circular saw and cut the inner transom to a depth just less than the outer fiberglass skin. Then took a Sawzall and cut the sole so I would have room to work on the transom and the ability to place the new wood on the transom once I get it down to the outer glass layer. Below is a picture of where I am today.
I still have a lot of Balsa and Plywood to remove. Removing the rotted wood was easy. Removing the good stuff is a bear! The cut out section is roughly 18" high by 4' long. The raised section above the cut out is where they put balsa core.
The interesting part is that the boat has an outer layer of glass, then a layer of end grain balsa another layer of glass then another layer of either exterior ply or end grain balsa and finally a layer of glass.
When I go to put it back together I will have a double thickness of 3/4" Marine Ply (Man is this stuff expensive!) and then a couple of layers of heavy glass/epoxy. I'm not yet sure how I will do the sole. I would really like to replace the whole sole all the way up to the cabin, but I don't know that my glassing skills are up to the task. The sole is done in end grain balsa and when I cut off the section I found a couple of spots with rot. 1 was right next to the rotted transom but the other wasn't. I'm not sure where the water came from for it.
