Gettin to know my boat

[64osby]

I picked up a New to me boat. 84' SD 176 Hurricane

I knew I had some work to do when I bought it.

I have been looking it over closely and discovered the transom is rotten to the core. It sounded very firm when it was purchased. I have discovered the reason it sounded good was there is a 1/2" layer of fiberglass on the outside and on the splashwell part on the inner.

I have been reading tons of great info that is posted by all the users

There are no stringers or wood deck for the back 3.5 feet of this boat. The transom is 2 1/2" thick at the top mount holes and splashwell holes. 1/2" fiberglass, 3/4 ply, layer of fiberglass, 3/4" ply and 1/2" fiberglass.

The transom at the lower motor holes is 2" thick, 1/2" fiberglass, 3/4 ply, layer of fiberglass, 3/4" ply and a layer of fiberglass. The inside layer of fiberglass is very weak and moves, it also appears to be glassed to the back side of the splashwell at the top.

The rot started at the spashwell drains, I removed these with my fingers and there is no wood, The upper mount holes are still solid with wood. Attached is a terrible pick of the splashwell hole, if you have enough beer you get the idea.

I have to redo it. Options are 1) replace the wood, 2) Nidacore or Seacast.

I am leaning towards the Nidacore option, less than seacast, don't have to remove the cap, I peel off the top of the splashwell and pour. More expensive than wood less time removing whole cap or the rear portion.

I have a lot of time to consided my options and form a plan of attack, I don't have a heated work space and I don't think you can pour Nidacore or Seacast in the dead of winter, unless the January thaw we get is really warm.

Is there an option I am missing? What is your opinion on the best way to repair/replace this transom. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Gettin to know my boat

That looks like a pretty good SeaCast candidate to me. However only if your deck and stringers are in good shape.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Gettin to know my boat

I agree with EZ, if the transom is in that bad of shape, then I would be very suspect of the stringers under the deck. I think more investigation of the entire superstructure is needed.

I'm just sayin...

 

[64osby]

Re: Gettin to know my boat

I'm pretty sure that I will need some deck and stringer work, BUT as I look at the boat there is no part of the top cap that touches the deck. The front seat area is supported by two alum. tubes down to the deck. I have to get a better look at how much working room I have, how far the deck goes under the seats and where the stringers are. I have not seen another project like this one anywhere. Nothing to reference, the factory can't tell me how far the stringers go back, it might be further than I think.

I'm hoping that I could do the floor and stringers w/o removing the whole cap. It might be a PITA but it almost looks like it could be done. Has anyone ever done that?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Gettin to know my boat

If your cap doesn't cover anything then I'm sure you can leave it. No I don't think anyone on here has done a deck boat which is why we'd like you to rebuild yours

 

[64osby]

Re: Gettin to know my boat

EZ - I will gladly accept donations towards building a heated work space so I can get to work on the project right away, $20K should just about do it for a nice 3 stall.

I don't think cold weather and FG or Nidacore mix well. There might be some really slow cure times when it 20 degrees.