Bonita Bay Boat - Replace transom & add casting deck

[Fcdave]

Well, its been awhile since i was on here ...... again i got side tracked with other projects like a new bathroom redo i promised the Admiral....but this time it also included some fun getting a 15' flats boat i picked up on the cheap ($240.) , ready for water. It needed a total redo of transom and then i added a casting deck up front & some accessories so like bimini and trolling motor ....w. was able to get it in the water quick and get some great use of it fishing with my grandkids... i will get my pictures together and show the process and results of the improvement

 

[Fcdave]

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This how she looked when i bought it. The owner had already roughly removed the rotted transom from watching youtube, but felt he was getting way in over his head and had no idea what to do with the rebuild process or the skills & tools....so he just wanted out.... it was exactly what i was looking for.... a small flats bay boat that i could get in the water quick....and i had an outboard for it too !

 

[Fcdave]

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After a great summer fishing, we pulled the Bonita the other day, to clean her up to go south for the winter! Over the winter I will be making a couple improvements, adding a new bilge pump, connecting the outboard's alternator to the trolling motor battery at the bow, run some lights and add some stiffners/bulkhead at live & bait wells to take some flex out of the single hull /floor at midships.

 

[Fcdave]

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So here's my pics on the transom replacement, stage 1 : laminate new transom into boat

 

[Fcdave]

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Stage 2: epoxy/ glass & farring

 

[Fcdave]

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Final stage 3: final farring & paint

 

[Fcdave]

Next post i will show casting deck build

 

[Woodonglass]

Well, for your efforts, I think you deserve one of these....

 

[Fcdave]

GEE, Thanks Woody ! I thought it would be good to show others who might think they can't tackle the job, just how simple it can be to do a transom.

 

[Woodonglass]

What "Filler" did you use on the outside to blend the old outer skin with the new Riser section??

 

[Fcdave]

After removing gelcoat, made a good feathered edge and coat with straight epoxy primer and then followed with epoxy mixed thin with silica for structure chemical bond, then the glass with epoxy resin coat overlapping it all and final silica and chopped glass thickened epoxy coat. All done within cure window for chemical bond and no sanding except last step with chopped glass.... used squeege to smooth out ....

 

[Woodonglass]

What weight of glass fabric did you use?

 

[Fcdave]

1708 biax both sides