Cracked fiberglass transom repair

The following transom repair method allows the fiberglass skin repair to be limited to the transom without having to wrap around the corners. 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. Rot repair in glass boats epoxy products to repair and resist wood. Minnesotas best boat body shop repairs fiberglass and aluminum boats. As i was told by grady, it wasnt until 1998 until they stopped using plywood in those transoms. Minor repair if it is just deteriorated around the holes, you may get away with using the following technique otherwise proceed to step 2. Jun 09, 2017 finishing the repairs are just like any other fiberglass body work project. Fiberglass and 90 degrees do not fare well together. 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. Wipe the crack with a dry rag to make sure its clean and dry. Dan, crack on inside of transom my indicate that it is getting soft and the stress of the motor pushing it has created cracks. Carefully apply masking tape, lifting back to ensure that no air pockets have been trapped in the gelcoat. Discussion in fiberglass and composite boat building started by ldolbee.

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. I have insurance but don know where to take to get it fix help. Fiberglass and gelcoat are two different substances that make a firm surface when combined together. I was running down the lake and hit something with my motor and for sure cracked my transom. Previous episodes go over other types of fiberglass. How to repair boat transom fiberglass supply depot. Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. 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. The home of seacast 1968 mako repairs click for larger images repaired transom.

Stringer skins rebuilt stringers right before seacast is poured keep checking back more pictures to be added. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats youtube. 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. 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. 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 replacement on a 1989 tracker pro v this old. In many of these repairs, the fiberglass skins are in great shape but need to be peeled off to replace the core. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Invision boatworks seacast, transom repair invision.

There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best. 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. You may also see large stress cracks in the corners where the transom meets the sidewalls. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglass which ones the best. It came very close to looking like a professional job but my amateurism shows if you look closely. For fiberglass you could take a core sample using a hole saw to see if the inner wood is wet andor rotted. Im going to wait and see what the guys at allison say about the pics of the transom i sent. Weve put together an easy to follow guide specifically aimed at those new to fibreglass. 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.

Repairing the transom is not that difficult if you have the right tools and equipment. Transom repair using seacast at invision boatworks we work with seacast in our boat repair and restoration work. Repairing fiberglass powerboat transoms epoxyworks. A common fiberglass repair is replacing damaged core, often because of water absorption. For fiberglass you could take a core sample using a hole saw to see if the. Wow i called shoreline repair and over the phone not looking at it in the. Hairline crack on transom moderated discussion areas. 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. You should cut out the inner fiberglass layer of the transom to make your repairs. Thought i would ask this question on here because im no expert on transom replacement or repair. The biggest shame of it all is the transom needs very little actual fiberglass repair. You can read a lot of glass boat repair manuals and never see anything on the selfrepair of transoms. We ensure your repair receives top quality work and is completed in a timely manner. To make any repairs to your boat or transom, you first need.

This show covers how to repair fiberglass stress cracks on your boat using polyester resin. The block of wood and back lighting is used to show the depth of the repair area. I have an old 1977 century fiberglass boat with a cracked transom. In order to repair this crack, i have to grind it out.

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. Using a mixing stick, apply gelcoat to the cracked area. 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. Fibreglass boat transom repair step 1 determine the extent of the damage.

For this transom replacement, ill be using epoxy as the resin for all repairs. In doing so the rudder twisted and cracked the transom at the lower pintle. 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. 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. Cracked fiberglass near transom grady white boat owners. How to fix a crack or hole in a fibreglass boat the new. Heres a small example of what things looked like before i started, cracks highlighted with a sharpie pen so theyre easier to see. Pressing on a tilted outboard and looking for movement is one way test holes bore holes on the inside are even better. 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. On the bright side, the transom is solid as a rock.

Jul 05, 2018 laying new fiberglass on the transom of a boston whaler 25 duration. They said they found voids in the fiberglass in the transom making it weak. They said they ground out the areas with voids, injected resin, then fixed the gelcoat. If its not clean and dry the epoxy wont adhere well. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures. You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable. 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.

Seacast uses chopped reinforcement recycled fiberglass that provides superior tensile strength in comparison to ceramic spheres. In any event, you could sand the cracks and apply an epoxy like marinetex. Replacing the transom on a boston whaler 25 installing the. Making your transom repair last the lifetime of your boat. Bonding the original skin back onto the new core can save significant time and money. 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. While you will find that these are all about boats, the fiberglass is the same which makes the repair process the same. Below is a detailed guideline on how to repair the transom on your boat.

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. Rot repair in glass boats epoxy products to repair and. Seacast is almost 3 times the strength of a marine plywood transom. More then just stress cracks below the water line youtube. 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. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. A fiberglass and gelcoat repair is mostly needed for mending the surfaces of boats. Problem is, they used treated plywood then glassed it in. The materials found in seacast are based on the same ones found in the rest of the boat and the hull. 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. West systems makes kits that come with everything you need to make the repair. Sanding the repair smooth and then using a body filler and highbuild primer to finish it.

Transom replacement on a 1989 tracker pro v recent topics. There is a good chance, with those cracks, that your transom is wet and the plywood is delaminating. I have insurance but don know where to take to get it fixed. Rotted core and fiberglass repair with new honeycomb core duration. It can also be used for patching up chips, scratches, cracks and even holes in different kinds of vehicles. To repair the holes, tape is used on the exterior to keep the filler from oozing out. Allow the transom to dry completely before you can start repairs. Discontinue using the boat and sell the motor and other components. 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. I have a boat,1979 fiberglass 21ft with a 1991 140hp on the back of it. A fillet is a radius of putty that allows fiberglass to make a turn around an angle.

This makes fiberglass and gelcoat repair one of best. Layer the epoxy and fiberglass one more time, ending on a layer of epoxy. How to repair deep cracks in fiberglass boats with the new west system fiberglass boat repair kit. Gently brush on another layer of epoxy and then set another piece of fiberglass on top of it. How to fix a hole on a fiberglass boat complete diy guide. What are signs of needing transom replacment simple as that. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. Transoms are major structural parts of fiberglass powerboats, especially. Previously cracked fiberglass transom bass boats, canoes. One extra step should be taken, which is to use a sprayable polyester primer. The transom that was rotten wasnt the first to get put on that boat. How to repair a hole in a fiberglass sailboat transom. Easy ways to repair cracked fiberglass with pictures wikihow. I wonder how long it would have been until they called me.

As a side note, i will be documenting my stresscrack repair later, after the. Since fiberglass does not have any flexibility, when the transom flexes back an 18 inch it cracked the. They said bayliner hasnt told them what to do about it yet. Seacast is a synthetic material made from a mix of proprietary ingredients and recycled fiberglass fibers. Called the dealer last week since they never contact me and asked for an update on the transom repair. If your fiberglass repair is not too big, you can get away with buying a repair kit to fix the problem yourself. In this short video i take a minute to fix up an old bad repair. Brush on a layer over the entire area that needs to be repaired and then place one piece of fiberglass on top of it. This is something you want to get right to be safe out thereid speak with some folks at a boat repair place before. Also hate to use my insurance because preminums will go up any ideas thanks tim.

Pretty much just a crack below the bolts in the splashwell. Enlarge the holes and then dig out the rotten deteriorated material around the holes. The lower 14 of the transom was rotted, allowing the outer skin to flex. Apr 26, 2018 repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting.

Ive been reading about many people who suffer the same problem. Laying new fiberglass on the transom of a boston whaler 25 duration. The core of the transom is what actually needs to be replaced. May 08, 2009 thought i would ask this question on here because im no expert on transom replacement or repair. All inside corners of transom should have a round fillet. Not only do they have kits, they have stepbystep written instructions, as well as videos you can follow. Replacing the transom on a boston whaler 25 installing. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. Transom repair, gelcoat repairs, floor repairs, carpet replacement for boats and pontoon. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube. Fiberglass and composite repair tips composites have numerous advantages over conventional building materials, including ease and durability of repair. Obviously they build the hull, then drop the deck onto it. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat.

What are signs of needing transom replacment this old boat. Take measurements of all the parts around the transom. 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. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Gelcoat doesnt flex at the same rate as the underlying fiberglass layer fiberglass is more flexible, so stress cracks appeared all over. What are signs of needing transom replacment this old. The key to repairing a rottedout transom is gaining access to the wood inside of the transom. This seals the fiberglass much like a gel coat for a factoryperfect finish.