15' Cajun Special - need to replace the transom.

[crkdltr]

I think I bit off more than I can chew here, but seeing as how she's already bought and paid for I might as well jump right into it.

I didn't intend to turn this boat into a restoration but when I found a couple of small pin holes toward the bow I decided to remove all the flooring, panels and decking. I didn't find anymore pin holes but I found the worst of my fears... a rotten transom.

I was curious if anyone could share with me what it is I will need to do after I have the motor removed?

The corner bracings are solid riveted to the gunwales and on the back they are welded to the trim that is over the transom. The trim that's over the transom is one piece that's part of the back wall which has two seams that are welded. Additionally those braces are riveted to the floor and bolted to the transom.

So in looking at this transom should it go something like this?

*remove motor
*drill/remove rivets on corner bracing
*cut welds on corner bracing
*remove corner bracing
*cut welded seams on cap
*bend/pri overlap
*drill/remove rivets on the transom bracing
*unbolt lag screws from transom
*"hope" transom will pull away
*use old transom as template to build new transom
*reassemble in reverse order.

Am I over complicating this or is there another way?

My concern is that I am not a welder so I would have to pay someone to re-weld the braces and the cap. Also, I do not own a bucking bar or air hammer with appropriate rivet punch. Would it be sensible to use 316 Stainless steel Truss Head Screws with Nylock Nuts, Washers and 3M 5200 sealer? As I'm going this far with this boat I'm going to clean the bottom and apply Glovit as preventative maintenance so this should seal the Truss Head Screws from corrosion.

Any feedback or advise would be helpful.

Thanks.

 

[drewpster]

Re: 15' Cajun Special - need to replace the transom.

Looks to me like the transom can be removed without removing those corner braces and the transom cap. See if you can get the wood out once you remove those L-brackets at the sides and the engine braces before you do anything else. The wood may slide out once that stuff is out of the way. No welding.

 

[crkdltr]

Re: 15' Cajun Special - need to replace the transom.

Looks to me like the transom can be removed without removing those corner braces and the transom cap. See if you can get the wood out once you remove those L-brackets at the sides and the engine braces before you do anything else. The wood may slide out once that stuff is out of the way. No welding.

I'll tear into it this weekend. If that works you'll have my gratitude.