You can read a lot of glass boat repair manuals and never see anything on the selfrepair of transoms. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats youtube. Ive been reading about many people who suffer the same problem. For fiberglass you could take a core sample using a hole saw to see if the inner wood is wet andor rotted. Dan, crack on inside of transom my indicate that it is getting soft and the stress of the motor pushing it has created cracks. Jul 26, 2014 the following transom repair method allows the fiberglass skin repair to be limited to the transom without having to wrap around the corners. Previous episodes go over other types of fiberglass.
Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. I have insurance but don know where to take to get it fix help. Replacing the transom on a boston whaler 25 installing. How to repair boat transom fiberglass supply depot. Enlarge the holes and then dig out the rotten deteriorated material around the holes. Seacast uses chopped reinforcement recycled fiberglass that provides superior tensile strength in comparison to ceramic spheres. It came very close to looking like a professional job but my amateurism shows if you look closely. Obviously they build the hull, then drop the deck onto it.
Pressing on a tilted outboard and looking for movement is one way test holes bore holes on the inside are even better. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the existing damage. As a side note, i will be documenting my stresscrack repair later, after the. Apr 26, 2018 repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. Laying new fiberglass on the transom of a boston whaler 25 duration. West systems makes kits that come with everything you need to make the repair. Clean the area i use acetone, sand to remove any loose material and to blend the broken area into the hull surface, mix and apply gelcoat, cover with wax paper and masking tape, keep it at 70 degrees for a while, remove, sand, check for air pockets, buff. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures wikihow. Bonding the original skin back onto the new core can save significant time and money. Not only do they have kits, they have stepbystep written instructions, as well as videos you can follow. Heres a small example of what things looked like before i started, cracks highlighted with a sharpie pen so theyre easier to see.
While you will find that these are all about boats, the fiberglass is the same which makes the repair process the same. Rot repair in glass boats epoxy products to repair and. Pretty much just a crack below the bolts in the splashwell. Rotted core and fiberglass repair with new honeycomb core duration. Take measurements of all the parts around the transom. Jul 05, 2018 laying new fiberglass on the transom of a boston whaler 25 duration. How to fix a hole on a fiberglass boat complete diy guide. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures. As i was told by grady, it wasnt until 1998 until they stopped using plywood in those transoms. If your fiberglass repair is not too big, you can get away with buying a repair kit to fix the problem yourself. The method leaves enough fiberglass around the perimeter of the transom for a proper bevel, yet allows enough access so the damaged core can be removed and replaced. To make any repairs to your boat or transom, you first need. Apr 25, 2006 you look at the transom closely, very closely, and you inspect, and see if its just a surface crack in the gel coat or fiber glass, or if its a crack that runs deeper.
A common but unfortunate reality in fiberglass boats is the rotten transom dilemma, if your transom is suffering from a rotten wood core you are left with three obvious choices. Transom repair, gelcoat repairs, floor repairs, carpet replacement for boats and pontoon. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. Thought i would ask this question on here because im no expert on transom replacement or repair. Layer the epoxy and fiberglass one more time, ending on a layer of epoxy.
If your damage is more serious than this, you will need to take steps to temporarily restore the correct while you make the fiberglass repairs. In doing so the rudder twisted and cracked the transom at the lower pintle. This makes fiberglass and gelcoat repair one of best. If its not clean and dry the epoxy wont adhere well. The biggest shame of it all is the transom needs very little actual fiberglass repair. For this transom replacement, ill be using epoxy as the resin for all repairs. I wonder how long it would have been until they called me. Cracked fiberglass near transom grady white boat owners. It can also be used for patching up chips, scratches, cracks and even holes in different kinds of vehicles. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Im going to wait and see what the guys at allison say about the pics of the transom i sent. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube.
Carefully apply masking tape, lifting back to ensure that no air pockets have been trapped in the gelcoat. This is something you want to get right to be safe out thereid speak with some folks at a boat repair place before. Brush on a layer over the entire area that needs to be repaired and then place one piece of fiberglass on top of it. Seacast is a synthetic material made from a mix of proprietary ingredients and recycled fiberglass fibers. Since fiberglass does not have any flexibility, when the transom flexes back an 18 inch it cracked the. Discontinue using the boat and sell the motor and other components. The next step is the tabbing of the transom core to the sides and bottom of the hull. For fiberglass you could take a core sample using a hole saw to see if the.
How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. The only way its moving enough to crack this badly is if the wood in your transom is rotten, or the previous owner backed the boat into something. How to repair a hole in a fiberglass sailboat transom. The core of the transom is what actually needs to be replaced. There is a fiberglass repair kit on amazon called west system 105k fiberglass boat repair kit that is great for repairing cracks, scraps, gelcoat blisters, loose hardware, damaged keels and smaller holes.
We ensure your repair receives top quality work and is completed in a timely manner. One quick and easy way to repair gelcoat stress cracks yourself is by using magicezy hairline fix a purpose built diy repair solution for stress cracks in gelcoat and fiberglass. In this short video i take a minute to fix up an old bad repair. A common fiberglass repair is replacing damaged core, often because of water absorption. A fillet is a radius of putty that allows fiberglass to make a turn around an angle. Repairing the transom is not that difficult if you have the right tools and equipment.
Jun 09, 2017 finishing the repairs are just like any other fiberglass body work project. Problem is, they used treated plywood then glassed it in. Transoms are major structural parts of fiberglass powerboats, especially. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglass which ones the best. The transom that was rotten wasnt the first to get put on that boat. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. While not a deal breaker, i would put some effort into the history and if in doubt take it to a boat repair specialist to be checked out. What are signs of needing transom replacment simple as that. May 08, 2009 thought i would ask this question on here because im no expert on transom replacement or repair. The materials found in seacast are based on the same ones found in the rest of the boat and the hull. Sanding the repair smooth and then using a body filler and highbuild primer to finish it. How to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat the new.
Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. You should cut out the inner fiberglass layer of the transom to make your repairs. Transom replacement on a 1989 tracker pro v recent topics. Minnesotas best boat body shop repairs fiberglass and aluminum boats. There is a good chance, with those cracks, that your transom is wet and the plywood is delaminating. A fiberglass and gelcoat repair is mostly needed for mending the surfaces of boats. Also hate to use my insurance because preminums will go up any ideas thanks tim. What are signs of needing transom replacment this old. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Gently brush on another layer of epoxy and then set another piece of fiberglass on top of it. All inside corners of transom should have a round fillet. Wow i called shoreline repair and over the phone not looking at it in the. Fiberglass and 90 degrees do not fare well together. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit.
Discussion in fiberglass and composite boat building started by ldolbee. Since fiberglass does not have any flexibility, when the transom flexes back an 18 inch it cracked the thin piece for fiberglass on the deck cap under the rub rail. The key to repairing a rottedout transom is gaining access to the wood inside of the transom. The lower 14 of the transom was rotted, allowing the outer skin to flex.
In many of these repairs, the fiberglass skins are in great shape but need to be peeled off to replace the core. Invision boatworks seacast, transom repair invision. The work was to peel off the top middle of the transom and use a piece of 3 x 3 fiberglass to tie it to the core structure of the transom. Seacast is almost 3 times the strength of a marine plywood transom. They said they found voids in the fiberglass in the transom making it weak. Allow the transom to dry completely before you can start repairs. Transom replacement on a 1989 tracker pro v this old. You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable. One extra step should be taken, which is to use a sprayable polyester primer. Below is the recommended repair process for cracks that go deeper than the gelcoat, but dont cause a large, gaping hole or change the overall shape of the surface. Called the dealer last week since they never contact me and asked for an update on the transom repair. On the bright side, the transom is solid as a rock.
Weve put together an easy to follow guide specifically aimed at those new to fibreglass. The home of seacast 1968 mako repairs click for larger images repaired transom. What are signs of needing transom replacment this old boat. I have an old 1977 century fiberglass boat with a cracked transom. In any event, you could sand the cracks and apply an epoxy like marinetex. Stringer skins rebuilt stringers right before seacast is poured keep checking back more pictures to be added. More then just stress cracks below the water line youtube. I have a boat,1979 fiberglass 21ft with a 1991 140hp on the back of it.
However, damaged parts are often replaced simply because many individuals lack the knowledge to repair them or are intimidated by the prospect of fixing them. Transom repair using seacast at invision boatworks we work with seacast in our boat repair and restoration work. This show covers how to repair fiberglass stress cracks on your boat using polyester resin. Fiberglass and gelcoat are two different substances that make a firm surface when combined together. Well hitting a transom is good only to check your hearing and will not give any sort of clear answer of the condition. Below is a detailed guideline on how to repair the transom on your boat.
In boat repair circles it is a job for a professional yard tear the old transom away and replace it. Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. Rot repair in glass boats epoxy products to repair and resist wood.
To repair the holes, tape is used on the exterior to keep the filler from oozing out. The block of wood and back lighting is used to show the depth of the repair area. The following transom repair method allows the fiberglass skin repair to be limited to the transom without having to wrap around the corners. Repairing the transom of the boat is a minor boat repair since the transom is the flat area located at the back of the boat. Fiberglass and composite repair tips composites have numerous advantages over conventional building materials, including ease and durability of repair. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. In order to repair this crack, i have to grind it out. The time required for this job will obviously vary quite a bit depending on the number of cracks and how widespread they are, but should take no more than three hours per square foot of repair area.
Making your transom repair last the lifetime of your boat. To make any repairs to your boat or transom, you first need to get your boat out of the water and into a dry dock or a raised platform. Hairline crack on transom moderated discussion areas. I was told that ranger is the only bass boat that doesnt use wood in its transom im assuming wood is used for the floors on all bass boats and that other boats use wood in the transom. However, damaged parts are often replaced simply because many individuals lack the knowledge to repair them or. Minor repair if it is just deteriorated around the holes, you may get away with using the following technique otherwise proceed to step 2. I purchased this boat two years ago and when i bought it it had a crack along the transom running up and down from the top of the transom through two of the bolts on the engin. They said they ground out the areas with voids, injected resin, then fixed the gelcoat. I was running down the lake and hit something with my motor and for sure cracked my transom. Repairing fiberglass powerboat transoms epoxyworks. Wipe the crack with a dry rag to make sure its clean and dry. You may also see large stress cracks in the corners where the transom meets the sidewalls. Gelcoat doesnt flex at the same rate as the underlying fiberglass layer fiberglass is more flexible, so stress cracks appeared all over.
Fibreglass boat transom repair step 1 determine the extent of the damage. Previously cracked fiberglass transom bass boats, canoes. This seals the fiberglass much like a gel coat for a factoryperfect finish. They said bayliner hasnt told them what to do about it yet. Using a mixing stick, apply gelcoat to the cracked area. Replacing the transom on a boston whaler 25 installing the. But in doing the repair, if he digs in and sees the plywood dry, you are good to go with a cosmetic repair bringing your boat back looking good. I have insurance but don know where to take to get it fixed.