Date: 5/8/2008
Name: Jim Dorchak
email: jim@sccompass.com
subject:Losing your Rear End? Glassed-Over Bolts?
Glassed-Over Bolts!You have to grind the glass off the bolts. You may need to use a dremmel in the tight spaces.
I have some experience in this matter. When I rebuilt "Compass" I climed back into the spider ranch (Aft at the Transome) and found that the rear transome was a Half and Half (not like the kind you pour in your coffee) it was half glass hull and half reinforced glass sandwich ( just like the overhead a fibre glass / balsa sandwich). The Balsa had rotted and left a shell of the interior (or inside the hull) glass that once was "The piece of Bread" on the inside of the boat. I grabed this glass sheet in my hand, as it was just flapping in the wind, and pulled it away from the hull to be discarded.
This immediately exposed the bolts and the small aluminum plates that made up the backer support or acted like a large washer. These plates were +/- 4" X 2", and were badly corroded and became trash as well as the old glass. They were held against the transome by the weight on the outside and were loose. No Balso was left only the blackend mulch looking what used to be the balsa in the bildge.
NOW, I had read about the transome being ripped off of a SJ-21 boat when a big boy (200 pounder) tried to climb into the boat using the swim ladder. The boat sunk and I do not remmeber the rest of the story, but the main point was that I felt that the transome needed detailed attention. This is especially important since one side of the transome has no reinforcement at all and I belive that most of us have swim ladders on the NON-REINFORCED side!
Even though the transome is some what thicker glass than the hull section, I felt that it should be put back better.
I know about weight problems and all that for racing, but I am a large man (200 Lbs) and I do not want to take a chance, so I replaced the reinforced section and then some with Glassed in Marine Grade Plywood that I had to rip lines into to allow enough flex to match the camber of the transome (in 4 directions). I used a bottle jack and two by fours to brace the glassed board onto the surface of the transome from inside the boat. Then I poured resin into the holes and around the sandwich to make a solid mate, with no air pockets. I also purchasing some stanless steel plates to replace the old aluminum plates and used the bolt holes to help pull the glassed board tight until it cured.
This was a major job. I have young helper boys (My sons) who could climb into the rear with me and help and help on the outside as well.
I feel much better about the job and feel that it is better than new.
When I got my boat I was assured that the transome was in good shape. It felt good to me! Does yours?
I would check, or pay your kid to go back there with a drop light and take a few pictures.
Could save your life..........
and your boat!Jim Dorchak
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