Offshoreonly.com - How should I access and attack this transom?

Offshoreonly.com (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/)

- Detailing, Painting, & Fiberglass (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/detailing-painting-fiberglass-167/)

- - How should I access and attack this transom? (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/detailing-painting-fiberglass/285363-how-should-i-access-attack-transom.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawk232 (Post 3783466)

thats "mrfixalls" solution??? maybe its time for a sn change??

i bought the bought as is FOR a project. the boat is going nowhere except in the water in a year or so...

i would really prefer to do the work from the inside since i will be adding bigger knees and replacing the stringers anyways. rcchevelles idea occured to me, i was just being lazy and trying to find ways around pulling the whole cap since im new to this area and dont know to many "friends" to call on to help me pull the cap:lolhit:

the plan once done is hopefully a 300xs and 75-80mph, but we will see...

just would hate to see someone end up like Highlife (RIP) with the amount of dlamination on this boat..i blew throught the pics and did not know you already did the bottom..that usually comes last on a resto..

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawk232 (Post 3783644)

my concern for doing this is the repair. i am afraid that once i glass the back of the cap back on i will be fighting cracks at the repair site for the rest of the boats life.

A glass repair is like a weld or a properly done glue joint w/wood. Done properly it will break anywhere BUT the joint.
I just finished a restoration on my 1985 twin O/B 24' Sonic. My transom was dry but warped due to lack of internal support and weight and torque of the motors of 25 yrs.
I removed the cap to correct/repair it. I added huge knee's along w/additional cross bracing to get what I wanted. When completed (transom) it didn't even need the cap for strength.
Remember too, when 95% of our boats are built, everything is done in the mold and on a schedule. If you understand the mechanics of glassing, and take your time fitting the pieces into the puzzle it will come out stronger than the puzzle. Normally you can see this when demoing the old pieces. You'll see huge gaps between pieces and also rotted portions that you weren't even aware of. Take your time, use your head and you'll be fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrfixxall (Post 3783717)

ah, well i appreciate the concern but have yet to find any areas of delamination, only rotten wood and cracked gelcoat...

well i have a couple of weeks to think about it, i have to replace rotten side pieces on the roof of my pop up camper... seems like for the past couple of years rotten wood has ruled my life :angry-smiley-038: wish i could just afford to coosa everything i touched!!

Oh yea and I realize that in a perfect world I would have done the bottom last, but I was skeptical of what was under that bottom paint as well as the cracks in the strakes. I chose to tackle that stuff first since that was my invisible line of repair vs trash. Luckily there was no damage under the bottom paint.