Alternatives to wood for transom?

[hermit]

Hey guys my wooden transom in my 16' aluminum is getting old. Getting a few cracks on the aluminum parts (stringers?) that come up and meet it in the center.

Anyway, the question is what should I use? This one appears to be a single slab of pine, untreated. It also lasted 20 years, pretty surprisingly. Use more pine but seal it, including drilled holes? Make something out of marine plywood? That sounds heavy to me. Get a slab of redwood? If plain wood lasts 20 years that sounds pretty good to be honest but I'm wondering if there's something else out there.

Edited May 30, 2016 by hermit

[2lbperch]

You can use "core-cell". It's expensive, but very lite. You wrap it with cloth and epoxy. Some premium boats use this instead of wood.

[Reel Overtime]

I used core cell to re do my fish box lids, at first i thought no way will this be strong but after you seal it in its solid and will never rot.  I got it from Jamestown distributors,

good luck Rick

[hermit]

Thanks for the tips guys I just looked into it, it'll cost me $250 from Jamestown but it might be worth it to not have to worry about it again.

[2lbperch]

If you can get it over the Canadian border, Noah's in Niagara Falls is where I get it. Shipping kills, but picking it up is cheap. They carry the east epoxy system also. It will outlive me though.

[hermit]

Great info, I go through there a few times a year on the way to London. Thanks

[jimalbert]

Theres also a product called SeaCast if you can pour the transom area.  Solid fiberglass will never rot.

 

Jim

[Roughrider IV]

Seacast, used it myself, good stuff.

[jimski2]

I looked at aluminum boats with huge outboard engines mounted and they use triple layers of three eighths inch aluminum plate to hold the engines. You might be able to reinforce your transom by adding the plates bolted through the knee braces.