SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

SS MAYFLOAT · May 5, 2006

Time has finally told me that my transom is beyond the safe stage to operate my 27' Victoria. After aquiring some money to get my seasonal dock, I started my preseason check. It failed. About 4" away from the OD and up to where the waterline is, the wood is rotten and wet. I have a VP Outdrive. The top and middle thru bolts are in good solid dry wood. Mainly the lower 10 to 12" is bad. I'll post some pics later in the day to show. I can't see replacing the whole transom for just 10 to 15 percent of the damaged area. The fiberglass is 5/8 thick backed by two layers of plywood. Here is my plan (unless another option is revealed). I wish to remove just the dead rotten stuff up past the dead zone by about 6". Epoxy in the fist layer of plywood. Then for the second layer, I will extend it another 6" above the previous new wood. This would be overlapping the seams to make the area a bit stronger. Then after the wood is epoxied in, I will put several layers of heavy weight woven cloth over it. After everything is cured, I plan to use 2 pieces of stainless channel to run vertical on each side of the OD for added support. I can't see stripping out over 85% of the original wood (that is still solid) when there is nothing wrong with it. It is just a small area down by the drain hole and on the starboard side. Opinions appreaciated. I know pics will show things better than what I can describe. Thanks.......SS

JB · May 5, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

I know this is not what you want to hear, SS, but rot is like cancer. If it has the bottom of your transom the rest is vulnerable and at risk. I am of the school of thought that replaces the whole thing to retain integrity and rule out a return of rot. I just don't trust partial replacement or "repair" of such a critical part of the hull.

bosavy · May 5, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

i agree with jb if one part is rotted a year or so other parts might get softgl

Solittle · May 5, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

Rot is like cancer but it can be killed. Rot is a fungus and if not removed or stopped it will consume any wood in it's path. Believe it or not automotive anti freeze will kill the fungus and hence the rot. There are a couple of write-ups on this. Try the search. I have used it on a 12' Formica counter top in our patio. When the Formica was installed the installer left a small gap in on of the seams and water got to the wood underneath and rot developed. I got a hypodermic needle, the size used by vets on large animals. I squirted liberal amounts of ant freeze both in the seam and up underneath. That was two years ago and the rot has not spread. I would at least try that if you can get to the area with a hypo. I had a 1977 27' Victoria about 15 years ago. What year is yours? Mine was powered by a 350 Chevy & Volvo out drive. It was a slug. It sat on a triple axle trailer and scared the crap out of me going down the road.

SS MAYFLOAT · May 6, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

SoLittle, I think we discussed this before. Your Vicky is the same year and same drive as mine. Yep, a real slug for sure. Unloaded, light fuel, just 2 people, it just might plane out!

I hate to get rid of this boat. Its the only cruiser of its size with the most room in the cabin. Wife and I love it for our weekend getaways. We plan on keeping this boat for as long as I'm able to keep up the maintenance. In 4 or 5 years my wife said we could probably afford to have a brand new repower done. Thinking BBlock for sure, and thinking of price of fuel too! So with that said, I gotta replace and re-enforce the transom for the future powerplant. Wenesday night I got the engine pulled (Amen for my bucket truck!). Thrursday I pulled the outdrive and gimbal housing. Friday night I pulled the swim deck and all the hardware on the stern off plus the hardware on the inside of the transom. I even got to the point of pulling out the mulch or what was plywood. Well, what I could before dark. JB, is right on the spread of it. Just because my screwdriver and hammer test appeared good, it wasn't. The rot and delamination of the plywood extends the whole width of the beam. Yeah,,,,a real bummer. Today is Saturday and first thing is going to the lumber shop that has marine plywood. Hopefully I can get the rest of the old wood dug out today and Sunday get a template made for the new transom. I have taken some pics of the progress, just don't have the time to get them up/downloaded. Gotta head out now to get my new lumber.....TTFN....SS (man ole man, its weird for me to post up here)

BTW- - - -THANKS!

SS MAYFLOAT · May 7, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

Finally got a bit of time to upload due to frost this moring. Saturday was a day of good progress. All the old stuff removed ready for prep work for new materials. Again, I wish to thank Evin300 for the tidbit on using a chainsaw for removal of old material. It works fast, not near the amount of fine dust, and not near the amount of the itchy scratchy thing going on. Below is the progress so far. Today's goal is get the new marine plywood cut out and prefit and maybe glued in.

After Outdrive removal

Area responsible for replacement

I hate it when this happens

Lots of wood to remove

Its outta there!

Lots to do yet

Now thinking "What did I get myself into"? I said that the first day I bought her as well.

DJ · May 7, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

SS, You're doing great. Keep up the good work.

Solittle · May 7, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

We first saw the Vicky in a boat show in Virginia in the early 1970s and fell in love with it. We did not buy ours until the late 1980s though. Ours would plane with a light gas load and only two on board. To get it up you had to run WOT and near WOT to keep it up. At that the engine sounded like it was ready to blow every second. Had we kept it I would have put in a BB. I was told that the drive would handle it. The only thing of any significance I did with ours was to install a through hull pick-up for the water pump. I kept picking up plastic bags on the outdrive. One of the main reasons we sold ours was that I was very uncomfortable in towing it. A white knuckle experience every time. As a result we did not use it as much as I would have liked. I put it in the Boat Trader and was contacted by a guy who was looking for a boat for his friend. The buyer lived about 60 miles from Stockholm Sweden. He took delivery about six weeks before hurricane Andrew came through town. I bought the 23' CC that we have now next and it does everything we want a boat to do.

SS MAYFLOAT · May 8, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

I know what you mean about the white knuckle teeth clenched and hope nobody pulls out in front of ya feeling. I did get a bigger truck with a long wheel base. Its not so bad to pull now. Removing the floatation foam and wet wood has reduced the weight some, still not enough for the 350 to efficently push this boat. My wife and I dock it in a lake that is about 15 minuets from home. It is our camper on the water for the weekend get-aways. Yesterday we got the wood cut out. Measured and remeasured 5 times. Then cut the template and it barely fit through the engine/bilge hatch. The template fit perfectly. After that I cut the plywood out. At 75$ a sheet, I didn't want to screw it up. Ran into a big problem, The new wood will not fit into the bilge. Finally I trimmed 6" off each upper corner. Then it just barely fit in and marked the hole for the outdrive. Removed the plywood, cut out the outdrive hole, and then Gorilla glued the second re-enforcement piece of plywood on it. Tonight after work, (no rain please) hope to epoxy the plywood in. I'll let that cure and then Tuesday night, I hope to glass it all in. I'll post some more pics after the plywood is epoxied in. Just may have the major work done before the weekend. Then the task of re-installing everything plus new wiring. Oh Boy!

KaGee · May 8, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

Good luck SS. I'm following your work. So far, great job! Us Backyard Hackers aint so bad, are we!

Solittle · May 8, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

How do you plan on clamping the plywood to the skin? You don't want any voids if possible.

SS MAYFLOAT · May 8, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

I'll use c clamps around the outdrive plus the mounting holes with bolts/nuts. The holes that are used for trim cylinders, tow hooks, swim deck, swim deck braces, and steering mounts go all the way through. I will use bolts/nuts/washers in those holes to tighten the skin to the plywood. I plan to use blocks of wood on both sides with the bolts to create a larger area of pressure. The area down close to the bottom, I'll use 2x4's and wedge the againt the cabin bulkhead. Tomorrow I plan to put everthing in place and predrill and do a complete run thru. Gotta be able to do everything at least within 20 min. I'll post a pic or two of my technique tomorrow.

Bondo · May 9, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

Lookin' Good SS........ Good Luck................

SS MAYFLOAT · May 13, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

Got the plywood all cut out prior to the rain and cold. With the weather being crappy, thought I would start on the inside of the cabin. At least I'm not getting rained on. I had problems with the wet foam syndrome, so as you can see in the pic, I got more work cut out for me. Sure wished I had done that area when I did the stringers 5 years ago. Pics of the new plywood

Can ya guess what my favorite tool is?

Boomyal · May 14, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

Good work SS. Nothing like a clean slate to start the repairs from. Do you just use the tip of the chain bar to do your cutting?

SS MAYFLOAT · May 14, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

Yes sir, It takes a bit of practice, I saw at just above an idle just to engage the clutch. The main thing about using the chainsaw is that it takes big chunks out vs the itchy powder stuff. If you do run at a fast rpm, it tends to produce a finer powder. The tip of the saw is good for roughing up the surface as well. The chain will beat the existing surface exposing fresh fibers. This makes for good adhesion. All the areas that I prepped with the saw method has yet to delaminate. I've got to give evin300 the credit for giving me the tip on using a chainsaw back in 2001. The best tip I have used to save time. Here is a few pics of removing the port side floatation chamber. I was surprised that it didn't have the saturation of the starboard. Some rot in a few areas, but nothing that can't be fixed easy. Going to install 4"pvc in the floatation chambers to use as my fresh water tanks. I'll try to keep up with all the crazy stuff going on with it.

First cut and out of gas

Doin me thang

Easy mess to clean up

woosterken · May 16, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

SS,Great looking job.you think you will have it back for the party at the lake (06/17)? email-kralyon@sssnet.com ken

SS MAYFLOAT · May 17, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

Ken, up until this low pressure weather system moved in, I was making progress fairly fast. Pretty much at a standstill now. Going to Grayson this weekend to hook up with SPinner, Reel Poor, gonfishn, and hopefully a few others. Have you thought about it. Grayson is about a 3.5 hour drive from my house, probably 4 for you. I was planning to have it all done by Memorial weekend, but I think that is not going to happen. I should have it done by 6-17. Going to redo my air condition, but I may do that while it is docked. Too cold now for it anyway. I'll shoot you an email this evening providing I get the time. Been real busy taking care of other irons in the fire while I'm not working on theboat.

Solittle · May 18, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

I grabbed a couple of shots of my 1977. Is this like yours?

SS MAYFLOAT · May 19, 2006

Re: SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

Yep, thats her, almost down the the triaxle trailer! Mine lost the Bayliner sticker just shortly after my purchase. Hmmmm don't know why or how, it just happened. My water line is in the same place as yours was. I was thinking that it was sitting too low all the time, but guess that is where it is surpose to be. This whole week has put me behind schedule. Going on 9 days of rain. Keeps it up, I'll have to find a big garage. Thanks for sharing your pics SoLittle.

SS Mayfloats Transom Replacement Project status

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