How to seal bilge area?

[Sprockett]

I replaced all the plastic windows on the boat today, re-attached new latch window hardware and what a flippin difference. While I was at it, I re-riveted some of the trim, slowly but surely it's starting to come together.

I'm putting in a larger fuel tank and was digging around the back of the boat where the bilge is under the splashwell (I think I got that right). It looks like they painted it at one time, and the paint needs to be refreshed before I take her out. There is also some exposed wood that I'm going to seal with epoxy, but is there some type of sealer or paint I can use on the inside of the transom?? I want to make that area watertight before I put all the new stuff in there.

I poked everywhere I could and it all looks solid, it's just starting to peel a little and want to get it sealed now before it gets wet. I checked the drain and it looks solid on both sides, I'm just trying to get some preventative maintenance done now while it's in the yard being worked on.

Thanks

-Paul-

 

[TriadSteeler]

Re: How to seal bilge area?

It sounds like the inner skin of the transom is delaminating from the wood. The air gaps between the inner skin and the wood are all danger areas for the ingress of water in the near future. Frankly, I'm surprised there isn't some degree of water damage on the transom. That is a lucky break.

I would remove the entire inner skin by taking a small cutting wheel and scribing a line around the entire transom. (The ones on a dremel are good for this). Then chip away all of the inner skin. Then with an angle grinder I would rough up the transom and all adjacent deck or and hull sides that form a corner with the transom. Then I would replace the entire inner skin.

1. A layer of fiberglass mat on the entire transom and 4-5 inches on the adjacent surfaces.

2. A layer of woven roving around all of the corners where the transom meets the side hulls and the deck.

3. A layer of cloth in the same area as the 1st layer of mat.

4. A final layer of mat over all of it.

You have to get fiberglass backed resin infused into the transom wood to seal it up or your transom will be on borrowed time. There really is no quick fix sealant when the inner skin is delaminating. You will only cover up the areas that are delaminating and eventually they will chip away with the delaminated areas and provide an ingress point for moisture.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How to seal bilge area?

It sounds like there's no glass on the transom wood (inside) right now from your discription. If that's the case you can get as much of the old paint off as possible, the more the better, and either coat it with just epoxy, or use glass also. It will hold up better with a layer of glass, and with glass you can use epoxy or polyester resin and it will work.

Just make sure the wood is in good shape, you don't want to have to redo it in a year or so.