Powerquest 290 Transom and Stringer Project
 

Hey All,

I don't post much, but I read a lot. I'm in the middle of my transom and stringer replacement on my 92 Powerquest 290 Enticer I inherited from my late father, that passed away in August. He was the original owner after buying it new in 1994. The boat barely has 500 hrs on it.

I have experience in fiberglass work from a trade school program I took in high school (a few decades ago) in Autobody Collision Repair and building show cars and trucks in the 2000s

I'll update this thread as time passes, but I have some initial questions I could use some clarification on.

1. Do I need the transom fixture for the Bravo 1's to drill the bolt holes and the keyhole if the exterior fiberglass is untouched? (I cut out everything from the inside) Would I be able to use a drill and the existing holes? If not, is there a specific angle at which the holes will have to go through the core?
2. When I finish the layup and wish to seal and paint the engine compartment, should I use a gel coat? Total Boat Epoxy Bilge Paint? Awlgrip? A combination of Gelcoat and a finish?
   • I'm using vinyl ester resin for everything. I have Vinylester Corebond from LBI to bond and laminate the core pieces and stringers.
3. For filling gaps, would the corebond be best or resin/cabosil peanut butter, or should I get some milled fibers and add them to the peanut butter?

Here are some pictures to get things started. This boat was kept indoors for its entire life in a climate-controlled building until my father became very ill about eight years ago when it sat outside under the original cockpit cover that couldn't withstand the seasons and environment. The only issues this boat has ever had were the common gimble/swivel issue and now this transom rot; other than that, regular maintenance and a carb refresh & tune-up. I've been pretty lucky. Oh, I only found out about the transom because I shredded a drive coupler on the starboard side at full throttle on a poker run. After all, the flex allowed the engine misalignment. Luckily that was the only casualty.

.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5af3581784.jpg
Spent a lot of time with a buffer, and a wide variety of compounds
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...0c7de4612b.jpg
Spent a lot of time with a buffer, and a wide variety of compounds
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...dbc3690b39.png
The carnage
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b22275813a.jpg
The carnage
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2b309d0132.jpg
the discovery
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...1f21a25f6a.jpg
Getting started on the inner skin removal
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5863fe50b9.jpg
Getting started on the inner skin removal
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...dbddd720be.jpg
Well that's not good, at least i didn't have too difficult of a time getting the old core out.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5adc000064.jpg
Transom is cleaned and ready
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5daefb3b9d.jpg
Stringers are out.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...173d885248.jpg
Templating for the new core.


I want to thank BigSlow and my buddy Robby for their guidance. They've helped alleviate my fear of cutting into the boat and shared their experience and tips along the way.

Big job. Way above my abilities. I had my 290 done by Bowkers in Holland MI. several years ago. Mine had rubber gaskets for the mufflers and one came loose and I believe started the whole thing. The entire transom and 3 of the 4 stringers. Keep posting progress pics.

You need to tell Bigslow to get his **** done. I want to come up for the poker run in June. He owes me a ride.

I just let him know lol.

glassdave Bigslow recommended getting ahold of you to answer these questions.

Goo luck with the fixing !

My fiancee and I hotcoated the inside faces of the cores and then laminated them last night with CSM and vinylester resin. Then this morning I hotcoated the bonding face and put it in this afternoon. Using LBI 945 Vinylester Corebond.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3cc63f2f5a.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...73a766d04b.jpg
laminated the inner stringers while i was at it.

Looking good

Put boards on the back side over the exhaust holes and key holes and ran screws into the core to get it flush against the fiberglass. That compound is some serious stuff. I used woodworker's finishing wax to protect the gel coat around and beneath all the holes on the exterior, and everything just popped right off after it dried; I'm giving it a few days to cure, and then I'll go ahead and pipe in more of the corebond around the edges and gaps before doing the rest of the glasswork. Unfortunately, it's 32F outside, and my little infrared heater is doing all it can to keep the core mildly warm in the makeshift OSB shack I built around the back of the boat. I hope it warms up soon.https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5966c146e0.jpg
Transom is in, using LBI 945 Vinylester Corebond.

I remember the first transom I did a few years ago, did the popsicle template method as well works great lol .