Need Transom Advice Please

[Brad S]

I am repairing the transom and replacing the wood that is bolted to my it. The transom was cut down by the previous owner to accomodate a 20" shaft shaft motor. The boat does not have a splash well. It can't be seen but the factory wriiting on the transom says "25 trans". My plan is to have the cut-out piece welded back in to look factory and cut the new transom wood to match and install a new aluminum cap on the transom. The original transom was made from 3 pieces of 5/8" plywood (1-7/8" thick total, also does not look like marine grade plywood as there quite a few voids in excess of 1/8").

Questions -
1. It is my understanding that p/t plywood reacts to aluminum. I want to use 4 pieces of 15/32" pieces of cc plugged exterior grade exposure 1 plywood. Is this acceptable?
2. Can I coat all the pieces with Copper Green or an equivalant or will this also react with the aluminum?
3. If I can't coat the plywood with a preservative type product, can I use an oil base paint like Rustoleum?
4. If not Rustoleum, then should fiberglass the transom?

I will try to attach pictures
Didn't have any luck in attaching pictures. Will continue to work on this as I will have other questions as I continue to remodel ths Bayrunner.

Any and all help would be more than appriciated.
Thanks
Brad

 

[NickAndJena]

Re: Need Transom Advice Please

I've recently had similar questions. Here's what we've come up with.

Using MDO plywood (fir) provides a solid core and an extreme amount of strength. Our friend Dan has also used this and it's just amazing wood. You then glass the boards together to support your transom and then epoxy coat any exposed wood after it's all done. You can then put a Bilgecoat (Interlux) or otherwise paint over that if you wish.

Check out Dan's site first (he's almost done)
http://transomfix.dcpolk.com/

Then take a peek at mine. I'm about to glass my transom together this weekend. (see link in signature)

 

[Brad S]

Re: Need Transom Advice Please

I am now thinking of leaving my transom cut dow due to the difficulty of finding a suitable 25" shaft motor.
My question is - is there an offshore type mount small enough to move the motor back away from the transom?
Do I stiill need to buidl a splash well?

 

[Brad S]

Re: Need Transom Advice Please

Is it okay to use dimensional lumber for transom material or does it need to be plywood?

Can dimensional lumber be used and then skin it with plywood?

 

[donnyskz1]

Re: Need Transom Advice Please

you would probably do better using marine ply or a good quality plywood over dimisional wood as you can cover more area with the plywood. make the transom 1 1/2 thick using 2 layers of 3/4 inch p;ywood

 

[film495]

Re: Need Transom Advice Please

I've seen mounts to extend the motor behind the transom.

the other advantage of the taller transom is you are then in line with the manufacturer rating for capacity. with a lower transom, see what happens if you put too much weight in the back of the boat sitting at the dock.

 

[Brad S]

Re: Need Transom Advice Please

Good advice. I am going to raise the transom back to original height.

Since The strength is in the wood/plywood, is there any reason I can't piece the aluminum back in and use a marine tex product called (I think) flexseal which will flex with the hull, is water proof and can be sanded and painted?