old Plazacraft transom

[kyafield]

Hi everyone. I have a huge problem with the transom,or what is left of it, on my 14' aluminum Plazacraft. I have read most of the transom post over the past few days. Someone before my ownership had replaced the transom wood. I started seeing problems last year when I put insecticide on it and little woodworms started falling out of the wood! I foolishly just towed this boat 1200 miles round trip and was lucky to get it home without the engine falling off!
Unlike the other projects that I have viewed on your forums, my transom does not have a top cap of aluminum. The previous owner had just used silicon between the inboard wood the aluminum and the outboard wood.
I must replace the wood and want to do it right. I would like to use PT boards or something similar and not plywood.
Is there a consenses on how to do this without having to sandwich ply with resins and such. I have no experience with fiberglass.
I have seen that silicon is a no no as well as treated wood next to aluminum.
Help please, I am a lost newbie.

 

[bananaboater]

Re: old Plazacraft transom

I must replace the wood and want to do it right. I would like to use PT boards or something similar and not plywood.

DON'T use PT of any kind. The chemicals eat aluminum. Since it is all exposed I would try clear coated oak. Nice grain, tough. Seal with epoxy. Many of us use plywood sealed well. Done right it should last years. And you might find an aluminum channel to lay over the top edge to keep water out.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: old Plazacraft transom

Welcome to iboats.

What I see is an easy job that should take a weekend..... one day to get supplies and the teardown and the next to apply the resin and assemble.

2 layers of 3/4" exterior plywood laminated together and then sealed with fiberglass resin and chopped strand mat (CSM) will absolutely last as long as you own the boat.

Oak rot's too fast and some oak is worst then others and near impossible to seal.

 

[kyafield]

Re: old Plazacraft transom

Do you laminate with fiberglass resin also? Should I use only one thickness of the 3/4 onthe inboard side as this board is a lot thinner than the outboard wood ?

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: old Plazacraft transom

Do you laminate with fiberglass resin also? Should I use only one thickness of the 3/4 onthe inboard side as this board is a lot thinner than the outboard wood ?

Generally, transoms are about 1 1/2" thick, hence 3/4" wood inside and out. Mine is similar to yours and that's what I'm doing.