Smokercraft transom wood replacement

Carl

Carl

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Looks like i need to replace the wooden transom insert on my smokercraft semi v. Plywood or solid?
Any advice? I'll get photos this weekend when i take it apart
 
Carl said:
Looks like i need to replace the wooden transom insert on my smokercraft semi v. Plywood or solid?
Any advice? I'll get photos this weekend when i take it apart
Click to expand...
Good time to change it to a synthetic. If its wood and your hunting salt i,m suprised you haven,t gotten some pin holeing in aluminum in areas the wood can retain moisture and corrosion can start.
 
Its been in a lot of salt water in the last 10 years!
But from what I see from the exterior, the aluminum looks good. But that is something I will be looking for when I open it up.
 
Nope, its an older hull, no welding. Stainless bolts holding the corner braces, inside aluminum transom plate and trim in place.
I should be able to undo all the bolts and remove the trim & wood, then rebuild.
Should being the operative word!
 
Many of the older aluminum hulls used the old style salt treated as transom board/motor plate on inside of transom. Over period of time especially when exposed to salt water moisture retained in board would start eating thru aluminum especially in boats that are battery start. (electralis) Now synthetic board is used to alleviate that issue if not boxed in aluminum in its place. My old Lowe 1756 had just started it when I sold and little 1648 Landau suffered from it slightly when I picked it up couple years ago. Not an easy area to Braze with wood in place from outside so had to resort to cleaning up and marine texing a couple very small pinholes. Look for that also around thru bolts in transom when removing present board.
 
Carl, I have to do the same thing to my Lund this winter/spring. I'm going with the marine grade plywood that Menards sells. My wiles garden boxes are made with this wood and after 5 years in the weather they look great. My boat is a 1993. If it lasts another 28 years I have the feeling I won't be spending much time in a boat by then anyway.
 
Carl said:
What sort of synthetic material do you recommend?

Thanks!
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Really depends on lenght , width and thickness needed. Lots of options from synthetic deck boards if 5/4" board will work to the sheet goods that if I remember right is called starboard.
 
Carl

Call ISCO plastics in Mulberry, FL and see if they have any 1.5" thick black HDPE drops they'd sell you. Don't price a 4x8 sheet or you may have a heart attack. Tell them the overall size you need and maybe they have a scrap piece for cheap. You can cut it on a table saw and drill it with standard drill bits. It will last forever and strength will never be an issue.

Eric
 
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