how do you repair a fiberglass transom

Fiberglass Transom Repair

• Step 1: Before beginning removal:. Take measurements of all the parts around the transom; fiberglass thickness of...
• Step 2: Gain access to transom skin and core:. The next step is to gain access to the transom so you can remove the rot.
• Installing the new core:. If you are changing anything about the design of the transom (higher engine mounts,...

Full Answer

How to replace a transom?

Repairing Boat Transoms

• Diagnosing Transom Issues. 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.
• Determining If The Wood Is Rotting. ...
• Repairing Or Replacing The Transom. ...
• Professional Transom Repair Or Replacement. ...

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 repair rotted transom?

Boat Repair: Repairing the Transom

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. ...
4. Mark and Cut the Damaged Area. ...
5. Cut the New Transom. ...
6. Add Fiberglass. ...

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How to repair fiberglass on a boat?

• First, examine the hole and look for cracks and chips extending out from the hole. ...
• Next, take a saw and cut out the damaged area that you’ve circled with the marker.
• Now that the holes cut out, you need to determine the thickness of the hull substrate and multiply that by 10. ...

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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.

Can you fill a transom with epoxy?

Treat any wood left inside with CPES™. Cut new wood and treat with CPES™ and insert into transom, clamp/epoxy-glue it to the back of the transom, fill in all gaps with either the Fill-It™ epoxy filler or a putty-mix of the L&L Resin™, and then re-glass the inside. It's real work.

How do you fill a hole in a fiberglass transom?

4:0915:01HOW TO SEAL Old Holes In Your TRANSOM {TIGHTEN UP TUESDAY}YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what i'm doing is getting in a clean fiberglass. So the epoxy has something to bind to epoxy i'mMoreSo what i'm doing is getting in a clean fiberglass. So the epoxy has something to bind to epoxy i'm using today is gray it's a light gray. But it's better than caulk.

How do you fix a leaking transom?

2:015:04HOW TO REPAIR A SOFT TRANSOM - quick and easy fix - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo we're gonna mix it up we're gonna pour it inside the transom. And if it's leaking out we'll putMoreSo we're gonna mix it up we're gonna pour it inside the transom. And if it's leaking out we'll put duct tape over the spots it's leaking this is apparently gonna dry as hard as rock we'll.

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.

Can epoxy be used on fiberglass?

Epoxy is ideal for wetting out fibreglass You need to work hard to get an even, consistent coating – normally using a foam roller, brush or metal paddle roller. With epoxy, it's like using warm butter – the epoxy does the work for you.

How do you seal a boat transom?

1:2912:56Sealing and Mounting Transom Replacement for my 12 Ft ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn a cooler full of water and it's a hundred percent impermeable. So I've demonstrated in the pastMoreIn a cooler full of water and it's a hundred percent impermeable. So I've demonstrated in the past how this works on hatches and boat parts and sealing the wood and making it.

What is marine epoxy?

Product Overview. Loctite Marine Epoxy can be applied and cured underwater and eliminates the need to drain out water before repairs. This unique epoxy is a resilient, two-part adhesive system consisting of an epoxy resin and a hardener.

How do you find a leak in a fiberglass boat?

0:2512:07Finding a leak in a boat - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYour trailer won't handle it the hole won't handle it so just be careful only ever really look forMoreYour trailer won't handle it the hole won't handle it so just be careful only ever really look for leaks load-out. If you use a water.

How does transom saver work?

A transom saver distributes the impact of the weight of the outboard on the trailer. To effectively achieve this, the boat and the trailer have to be in sync so that the weight distribution is even; otherwise, the transom will still feel the strain.

Why does my boat leak?

By far, the most common cause of leaks in boats is the result of wear and corrosion. Through-hull fittings for drains and live well intakes, wash-down through hulls, screw holes for transducers and even the mounting bolts for your outboard can wear themselves into a leak.

Step 1: Before Beginning Removal

Take measurements of all the parts around the transom; fiberglass thickness of outside skin, plywood thickness, inside transom skin thickness, stri...

Step 2: Gain Access to Transom Skin and CORE

The next step is to gain access to the transom so you can remove the rot. Each boat will be a little different, sometimes you will have to cut the...

Before Final Glassing of CORE

The gaps between your new core and the sides/bottom of the hull will need to be filled with putty. After filling the gap, using the same putty, you...

Tabbing Unto The Hull Bottom and Sides

The next step is the tabbing of the transom core to the sides and bottom of the hull. For tabbing, use 1708 Biaxial fiberglass tape. This tape is s...

What tools do I need to repair fiberglass?

A reciprocating saw, grinder, hammer and chisel, flat prybar are good to have. If you have an air compressor, a small air hammer with a wide flat blade is a good investment. Be careful to not inflict damage to the outside fiberglass skin.

What is a fillet in a fiberglass boat?

A fillet is a radius of putty that allows fiberglass to make a turn around an angle.

How do I laminate two pieces of plywood?

To laminate two pieces of plywood, first coat the faces of the plywood that will be glued together with un-thickened epoxy resin. This is a thin coat of epoxy, just enough to let the face of the wood soak up a little epoxy. While this epoxy is still tacky, mix a batch of epoxy glue.

Can you laminate a boat core?

It is generally easier to laminate the core outside the boat and bond it into the hull once, but on very large transoms this may not be possible due to weight and difficultly in handling.

Take Plenty of Pictures First!

Before you get started make sure you take a few pictures of your transom from numerous different angles. That way once you are ready to start putting it back together you can check your pictures to see where everything was located.

Now De-Skin it!

After you have removed all the wires, blowers, and "stuff" from the inside of the transom, it's time to de-skin it. I did this with my flush cut saw. (same saw I used to cut thru all the tabbing throughout the entire boat)

Now the Fun begins!

If your transom is completely rotten it shouldn't be too hard to remove the old plywood and get to the hull. But in my case only about the bottom half was rotten and the top half was still pretty solid. If that's the case it is harder to remove that solid plywood.

Create a Template to Cut Out the New One

Once I had the old one completely removed and sanded down, I took 2 pieces of thick paper or thin cardboard (Not sure what to call it) that we had lying around. These were the "cardboards" that they put on top of a pallet before they shipped stuff.

Getting it Ready

My plywood was already sanded on the flat surface, so I only had to sand it on the edges. I also measured and cut out the other pieces that got added to the middle of the transom and near the top corners where the U-bolt tie down anchor bolts went thru.

Glassing it Onto the Hull

First I cleaned both the hull and new plywood transom. Then I mixed up about a quart of the Marine Grade Polyester Resin. (Mix according to directions) First I "wetted" both surfaces with Polyester Resin. Then I mixed up another quart and mixed in Cap-O-Sil to make my "glue".

Filleting and Tabbing

I let this cure overnight before I did any filleting or tabbing it in. About 24 hours later I started this process.

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 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 ...

10 Reasons Why You Should Reinforce a Fiberglass Boat Transom

1) Fiberglass boats can be built with thick hulls and thick bilges, but the transom is usually much thinner than the rest of the boat.

10 Ways on How to Reinforce a Fiberglass Boat Transom

Adding fiberglass to the transom of your boat is very important. When transoms are milled, they often leave a lot of weak spots in the fiberglass that can compromise how well the boat will hold up over time. Fiberglass reinforcement will strengthen these weak areas and help you avoid costly repairs down the road.

Some Tips and Suggestions

1. Fiberglass can be worked on with certain solvents. You’ll want to use the safe ones, not the nasty ones like acetone.

How Can I Strengthen My Old Fiberglass?

Fiberglass is relatively cheap and easy to install, but there are some weak points in all fiberglass components. For example, fiberglass hulls crack when they are improperly installed or when their supporting structures fail. Also, as your boat ages, the gel coat finish may loosen and allow moisture into the wood core of the fiberglass plating.

Can You Replace the Transom on a Fiberglass Boat?

Yes, you can replace the transom on a fiberglass boat. However, the fiberglass work and painting details will be left to a professional. Replacing a transom on a fiberglass boat is a job best left to a professional. You must have the right knowledge and experience to replace the transom. If you do not, you may end up with a boat that leaks.

Conclusion

Fiberglass transom reinforcement is a standard and simple process that anyone can do. It’s an easy DIY project that will increase the life of your boat. If you don’t have any experience with fiberglass, we recommend getting help from someone who does so it doesn’t turn out to be more difficult than necessary.