Transom

[steplift20]

How much do you think it would cost to have your transom rebuilt /repaired In nj ? And who does it?

[Genie Aye]

Cannot say for NJ, but in Washington state I just had my transom rebuilt with polycore for $3450 out the door. Most places wanted 4500 to 5000 with standard marine plywood.

[bradford]

Everywhere I hear about if you pay someone halfway reputable to do it its 3-4 thousand. You can do it yourself for cheaper of course, not that technically hard, just kinda a pain depending on your abilities and resources, not to mention what else you find wrong as you tear into her.

When you find someone to do it for 750 ask yourself why they would want to cut and grind fiberglass on a 30-40 year old boat for someone else for so cheap.

[Duke01]

I do not have a reference for NJ, but in MI a complete transom rebuild on my V20 was $3,200 in 2007.

[steplift20]

Thanks for the replys,so your talking about anywhere from 3 to 5 grand that's a lot when the time comes I think I would just pour git rot and saturate the wood that stuff hardens like a rock Any advice on that?
Did you read my post on fishing section ?

[Duke01]

As I indicated earlier, my transom rebuild was completed in 2007 (by the previous owner). I purchased my 1978 v20 last year. There was a gel coat crack on on inside of the transom where it meets the bottom of the splash well. I filled that crack with a fair amount of fiberglass resin. But, as i found out last weekend, the damage has already been done. I drilled holes for a swim platform and found some pretty wet wood. The transom still appears to be solid...fiberglass is pretty thick.

Long term, I will need a new engine to replace my 1980 200 hp merc. So, I may do nothing and wait for a crack or failure or perhaps there is a way to dry it out and insert some get rot??? Just brainstorming, at this point.

I would appreciate any input.

Thanks Duke

[jvitiel]

This is from the Git-rot website:

"GIT"-ROT will eventually cure in damp wood. However, "GIT"-ROT will not displace water. So wet wood cannot be fully saturated. Any reduction in the amount of "GIT"-ROT simply reduces ultimate strength. Dry the affected area as much as possible. Soaking with acetone will assist drying; however, be cautious of fire hazard. CAUTION: Reaction between part A and B will produce heat. Do not use in high temperatures. Avoid all external additional heat sources."

Depends on how wet it is but personally I would probably grind the wood out with a chain saw and fill it with Seacast or a similar product before I would go through the trouble of trying to dry it just to use git rot.

V20 forum member SkunkBoat has some excellent YouTube videos of how he did his..

[Duke01]

Wow, thank you for the lead regarding Skunkboat's youtube videos. I just watched both. Certainly gives me some good ideas and things to think about!

Thanks, Duke

[cfelton]

I rebuilt mine back in 06. I cut the inside skin out with a grinder and cutting wheels to expose all the rotten wood. Cleaned it all out and glassed in marine plywood in three pieces and glassed it back over. I drilled a bunch of small holes in the outerskin and used wood screws and washers to pull the plywood tight to the outer skin as it squeezed it into the resin. Afterwards I filled all the holes, sanded it smooth and got my neighbor Who owns a car body shop to paint it with Emron color and clear. Still looks like new! Never had any problem with it since. It wasn't too bad of a job, just messy and dusty cutting the fiberglass. I got lucky, theres a Carolina Classic boat builder 20 miles from the house that sold me the resin and glass cheap. They were great. They use fir wood in their transoms, it absorbes the resin good.

[bgreene]

Signature Fiberglass, Marmora NJ
Joe Whilden, owner

I have some experience - interviewed several company’s and got quotes
before choosing this operation.

Learned quite a bit through the process regarding methods and such.
Warrantied my job and good guy, proper attitude.