How To Reinforce A Fiberglass Boat Transom

If there are soft spots in the transom of your boat, information technology may be fourth dimension to reinforce the transom with a composite cadre material. The work is messy, creates toxic fumes, involves working with wood, pigment, fiberglass and epoxy and generally makes for a full weekend of endeavour, followed by a calendar week of watching pigment and gel glaze dry out. If it has to be done, though, information technology should be attended to as soon as possible after you notice the soft spots. With a bit of planning, it tin be relatively painless.

Items you will need

• Marine plywood, i/2-inch thick, for three or more total layers of plywood across the width of the stern

• Sawzall or other reciprocating saw

• Jigsaw

• Drill and assorted bits

• Palm sander and #000 grit sanding disks

• 00 and #000 grit sandpaper sheets

• Two-office epoxy (resin and hardener)

• Acrylic epoxy paint to match the color of your boat's stern

• Gel coat (available from your boat dealer)

• Several pigment brushes

• Brusk-nap paint roller

• Fiberglass cloth

• Caulking gun

• Screwdrivers (standard slotted and Phillips)

• Hammer

• Wood screws, #12 10 1-1/2 inch

• Woods chisel, 3/4 inch

• 10-foot measuring tape

How to Reinforce a Boat Transom

The Stern Afterwards Removing the Cadre and Frame

Measure the thickness of your transom. Remove the top rail of the transom with the screwdriver. Use the hammer and chisel to remove all the woods reinforcements and the fiberglass core. When yous are finished, your transom should have the advent of an empty envelope, waiting to be filled with reinforcing textile.

Transom, After the Outer Skin is Removed

Use the reciprocating saw to remove the fiberglass peel on the outside of the transom. Prepare this aside- reinstalling it will save hours of fiberglass work.

Utilise the measuring record to mensurate the dimensions of the void created at the stern. Use the reciprocating saw to cut the starting time sheet of marine plywood to these dimensions. Most transoms are 1 1/2 inch to two inch thick. Cutting every bit many sheets of plywood as are necessary to fill up the transom void and fit snugly.

Installing the Plywood Reinforcement

Use the palm sander to rough up the the fiberglass inside the transom void and the surface of the edges of the first sail of the cut marine plywood. Mix the ii-office epoxy and apply a thin glaze to the inside of the void and all surfaces of the get-go sheet of the cutting plywood with the paint roller. Apply a thick bead of epoxy on the sides and bottom of the hull in the void where the plywood will set up. Set the beginning cut sheet of plywood into identify confronting the dorsum of your boat's splash well and remove whatever excess epoxy that squeezes out around the edges. Echo this process, screwing each successive sheet of plywood to the previous sheet with forest screws, until the void is filled with snugly fitting sheets of plywood, all epoxied around the sides and lesser.

Finished Project

Rough upward the edges of the outer fiberglass peel you removed from the transom with the palm sander. Apply a heavy coat of epoxy to the concluding sheet of plywood you used to fill the transom void, and replace the outer fiberglass skin of the transom, using woods screws around the edges to attach the fiberglass to the plywood. Use the drill to drill the advisable holes through the plywood, every bit indicated by the access holes in the outer transom skin. Utilise epoxy to the edges of the outer fiberglass pare of the transom and over the heads of the screws holding the skin to the plywood, and lay a strip of fiberglass fabric over the epoxy. Once the fiberglass has cured, repeat this step until iv layers of fiberglass and epoxy have been practical. When the fiberglass has thoroughly cured, sand the surface with #000 sandpaper until it is level with the rest of the transom surface. Pigment with acrylic paint. When the paint has dried, apply the gel glaze. Allow the gel coat to dry out thoroughly and wax the surface.

Warnings

• Working with ability tools, epoxy and pigment can be dangerous or hazardous to your wellness. Exercise appropriate circumspection.

Tips

• Do not mix the epoxy until you are ready to apply it. When you are running the bead to fill any voids when yous set the plywood in, you can employ a caulking gun (not the frame and removable tube blazon you lot get a discount stores, simply a existent caulking gun, bachelor at paint stores) to make the bead more uniform and useful.

Tips

• Do not mix the epoxy until yous are ready to use it. When y'all are running the bead to fill up any voids when you set the plywood in, you can use a caulking gun (not the frame and removable tube blazon yous become a discount stores, simply a real caulking gun, available at paint stores) to make the bead more compatible and useful.

Warnings

• Working with power tools, epoxy and pigment can be unsafe or hazardous to your health. Practise appropriate caution.

Writer Bio

Will Charpentier is a writer who specializes in boating and maritime subjects. A retired send captain, Charpentier holds a doctorate in applied ocean science and engineering. He is too a certified marine technician and the author of a popular text on writing local history.

Source: https://goneoutdoors.com/reinforce-boat-transom-5040286.html

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