Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

[a70eliminator]

Think maybe I dodged the bullet here? In the process of a motor swap and decided to inspect the transom for rot by pulling off the top moulding.
It looks like the transom has a fiberglass topping over the wood? I've seen post where under this moulding was nothing but bare rotted wood, but mine looks real good to me.
I did dig out a little rot on either side where there is wood visible but appears to be a seperate piece extention to the cap. Here's the photos.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

If transom is straight and true the transom wood is probably good.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

I think you should put your new 80hp on it and run her until you see flex in the transom! Enjoy the boat and if that transom needs replacement...procrastinate until next winter!

Transom replacement isn't horrible, but it's not a whole lot of fun either!

Please update when you mount your new motor!

BOB

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

Maybe a test bore might be helpful. You can always fill it back up with resin and run it for the season

Regards,
Ed

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

Well your right a test bore is definately in order after what I found today, I'm just sick about it, I removed all the hardaware from the transom to prepare it for a quick sand and paint before mounting the engine, all was looking great until the last little piece, the speedo pitot.
I removed the two screws and some water began oozing out, darn.
I took a 1/4" bit and slowly drilled the two holes completely through and into the below deck hollow space, good thing is the below deck area has no water, I inserted a 3' dowel rod all the way into the hollow space and bounced it around a little and it came back dry.
I'm thinking these pitot screws may have weeped water into the transom for who knows how long and soaked the wood from bottom up.
I have an air compressor and took the blow nozzle and pressurized the below deck area through the lower hull drain plug hole, air escaped through the pitot holes that I drilled through, just for the giggles I plugged those holes and was able to pressurize the space to point the deck begins to creak, that is a good thing the boat has an air tight space below the decks, the rubber well nuts holding the seats down are sealed well.
Anyhow back to transom I'm stuck between going all the way with it or just plug and seal up the holes and forget about it, for now i'm going to get a super long drill bit and core sample it from top down.
Any advise would be great and thank for reading all that bla bla bla.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

I'd try a long auger bitt. It will bring up a good sample. If you are dry, good. Maybe it still has a few more seasons on it.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

I went ahead opened er up. TOTAL MUSH!
I'm feelin pretty good about it for it was a good move.
I spent about 2 hours with a steel rod with a hook bent on the end of it and pulled alot of the rot out already from the top to the bottom just in the center section, pictures tomorrow.
I'm going to try and get it all without removing the cap if I can avoid it.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

I guess you need to decide the best method for you based on your own assesment of your skills, emotional tolerance and anality, but what I did for mine was to cut hull side all the way around, about 4" from the sides and 4" from the bottom. Made cleaning out the space and putting the new parts in much easier than pulling the cap. Then I 'glassed the piece I cut out back in.

Maybe others have a better method but that worked well for me.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

Bummer....... I guess I'm not surprised. Welcome to the MFG transom Club!

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

Here's a couple shots from last night's findings.
Today I cleaned out the transom of all rot top to bottom side to side, It looks like there are 2 pieces of ply with some balsa wood filler in between them, the balsa is what soaked the water, the ply is very solid no rot just a little damp, it's still bonded well to the shell inner and outer, I'll have it out in sun tomorrow and see how it dries up now that I have the wet spongy stuff eliminated, this would be a great specimen for seacast, it's pretty solid as is even with the guts removed. Those two outer ply layers must be some actual marine grade ply, but that core sure wasn't.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

Well after many hour with different digging tool the transom is clean wall to wall, after setting in the sun for a couple days it's dry as a bone too, the plywood laminates are still bonded well to the shell, next move?

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

Hummm.
I know Sea-Cast doesn't recommend pouring against wood. NADA-Core might be a choice.

http://www.nida-core.com/english/nordprod_nidabond_transom.htm

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

.......transom is clean wall to wall, after setting in the sun for a couple days it's dry as a bone too, the plywood laminates are still bonded well to the shell, next move?

What is the dimension of the removed area? Will standard plywood or lumber dimensions fill the balance?

When I did mine there was NOTHING salvageable of any wood- all I had was fiberglass when I was done, chiseled out any remnants. Used CCA treated 2x12s to fill the space. I think that was 2001 or 02 and in service ever since.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

Well it's not flat thats for sure, the transom has a contoured curve, also where the motor was bolted through along with the transom eyes locations has been pulled in slightly, for starters I was thinking of chopping up some fibergless mesh and mixing in into a half gallon or so of resin and pouring it into the the transom just to make a level bottom, it would come up just high enough to level the bottom, that way i can avoid having to cut plywood to match the strakes at the bottom. the prob;em i would run into is the boats top cap is on making it difficult to acess anything but the very center section.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

I forgot the bigger MFGs sometimes had arched transoms. Do what you need to do, but I would probably cut the interior side out and laminate-in-place all new plywood, after removing whatever is left of the original. Thinner plywood conforms to a curve readily, but when laminated thicker becomes quite stiff. Also, by arching the plywood, you should be able to get your pieces in without pulling the hull cap.

That's just me- maybe others have a better way, but that is what I would do.

 

[storem078]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

I have a 16.4 foot Aluminum Sea Nympth and I pulled the transom cap off the rear. I found several colonies of termites and some ants inside. I'd say a good 70% of the transom was rotted and eaten away by insects. I ended up replacing the transom. I am working with what materials I have (budget concerns) so I took two 3/4 pieces of treated plywood and nailed them together (nailgun). Alot of folks in the forums will tell you not to use treated plywood because of the chemical used to treat the wood actually isnt good for the aluminum. With that in mind I coated the entire piece of plywood with epoxy. I used what was left of the old transom as a template and slid the new one right in... of course with an adjustment or two.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: Pulled my transom cap off (pics) 67' Westfield Regal

I'd put a Nida-core honey comb panel in and fill her up with resin. Jack Lugas is this areas rep. He is very helpful. You can email him as well.