Oday 25 transom repair

[Calamitas]

I recently found a lot of rotted wood inside the transom of my 1976 O'Day 25 and spent a couple of days cleaning it out. Wondering if this is part of the original construction or aftermarket. Details: Where the gudgeon plates bolt on, there is a piece of 1/2" ply about 8" wide and 31" tall, vertical, right in the center of the transom as a reinforcement. Also, the entire starboard side of the transom had a piece of 1/2" ply laminated on, covered with a layer of fibreglass, reinforcing the area where the outboard motor bracket is bolted on. Anyone know if this was original? Has anyone seen similar cases? Any ideas as to source of water? The inside of the boat is perfectly dry so it's not coming from the lake!

 

[Corey]

Same on my 1976 25'

I haved the same wooden support where the gudgeon plates bolt on. Looks like it came from the factory that way. The wood on mine is also starting to show a little deterioration, so that will be one of my projects for next year.

Happy Sailing,

Corey
SV Donna Lynn

 

[Boat 'n Bus]

Ditto

Same wood configuration on mine as well. I found a large pool of water forward of the fresh water tank after the wet winter. It took me the longest time to find it but it eliminated the boat funk once I dried it out. Might want to check the integrity of the cockpit drain too.

 

[calamitas]

reinforcement

Does your boat have the plywood reinforcement where the motor bracket bolts on also, or only where the gudgeons bolt on?

 

[ruidh]

Like on my '71 O23

I saw a crack above my motor mount and some crazing in the gelcoat when I took it off. After cutting into the transom I saw lots of missing wood. I dried out the wood, reinforced what was left with CPES and filled with a Rot Doctor epoxy mixed with sawdust. My motor mount has been solid since that repair.

 

[seth]

I Just finished this project

It took me hours and hours. more like Daysd and days. I started this project in April and just finishied up. It took 2 gallons of Epoxy lots of coloidial silica, roving, and glass cloth. Then I used enough 1/2 in plywood to cover the entire transom and double thick plywood where the motor attaches. I also used red oak 2x4s to attach the motor mount and swim ladder. Then I painted the whole thing with white gloss.

This job is not for the faint of heart and if you have to drive 200 just to get to your boat your wife is not going to enjoy waiting on you while you are stuckin the lazzarett for hours on end. Also it is a royal pain trying get this stuff to stick because of the more than vertical angle. If you have it be sure to cover your hair. More than once she was giving me a haircut after a day of work because it was infused with plastic. It is really really really tough laying up fiberglass up there where the gudgeons attach. The resin on the cloth will stick to your gloves and you will pull the cloth off multiple times and learn exactly why sailor cuss.
I enjoyed the use of a few four letter words on this project. I just hope its all worth it.
Of coarse I could practically vacum the wood out of the thing and when I drilled holes in the inside skin of the transome it was as if I turned on water faucet. I think the bilge pumps came on sucking up all of that water.

Be sure to oversize the harware mounting holes,fill them with resin and then drill them to fit. You dont want water getting in to ruin your new tansome.

Good Luck, Your going to need it and an aweful lot of patients. I got through. I don't know how, but I did.

Seth-