Quote:
Originally Posted by fdheld34
... if done correctly...
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Exactly.
As amateurs, we don't always do it correctly. A polyester resin layup with a plywood core, done correctly, and then not compromised by incorrectly installed fasteners will last 30-40 years.
A couple sheets of plywood bonded together and then laminated with poly resin and a layer or two of 1708 on each side may not last 10 years. The laminate on these original transoms was at least 3/16" thick inside and out. IMHO, A polyester layup thinner than that isn't going to protect a wood core from moisture.
Today, you can compensate for less than perfect technique by using the high end resins and core materials. But you still need to reproduce the original inner and outer laminate thickness to get a transom as stiff and durable as the original. It's a common misconception that the strength of a transom or deck comes from the core. The strength in a cored laminate comes from the laminates.
Dave