Update time.
Nothing too exciting again but I have been getting dirty. After removing the motor and outdrive (and 20 lbs of kitty litter to pull up all the oil I spilled into the bilge while removing the motor
) I started on the transom. I cut away the stringers and the motor mount stringers (P.I.T.A.) then cut through the inner fiberglass and pulled it away. This left the wood mostly intact. Pulling the wood away from the outer glass was difficult until I happen upon a google link of some one doing something similar. I slightly modified the technique and was very happy. I figured I would share in case anyone else is looking for help on pulling wood away from the outside fiberglass skin with out damaging the hull. This is especially helpful if, like mine, most of the transom wood is still solid (I only had a few small patches of rot). I had all ready removed the bulk of the wood and even sanded away a lot of it when I thought to record the process. Here is the removal of the center section.
I cleared away as much of the inner skin as possible by running a 4" angle grinder with a masonry cut off wheel around the perimeter of the wood. I then threaded a large eye bolt into the wood just until it hit the outer skin. I then attached a 2" ratchet strap from the eye bolt to the bow support in the cabin.
I then slowly put tension on the strap. The point here is not to use the strap to pull the wood away but just give a consistent pull while a hammer and wedges do the actual separating. As I was able to drive the wedge further down I would tighten the strap to keep tension.
After getting about 2/3 to 3/4 of the wood separated, the strap can then be used to free up the last bit. I should mention this is much easier on good wood because the eye bolt will pull right out of the rotten stuff. Once this comes off all it needs is some time with the sander to finish the job. I have been using 24 grit disks. Actually pretty easy to do but it is still a miserable job with lots of splinters and cuts.
I should have everything prep'd out to start laying in the new wood and glass by then end of the day tomorrow. Hopefully a new transom by the weekend. The on to item # 3 of 340523980495230 to fix before she is launched.