ARJAY pourable transom job - 23' Sceptre

[77SceptreOB]

Well Gents, the time has come to start my transom restoration project in advance of my new engine (on order). I'm using ARJAY which is a pourable composite transom filler. After considerable research and consultation with several fellow CSC members, I elected to do it from the outside and cut off the skin to have full and (what I thought) to be easy access. The transom was wetter than I expected (from the Bait/cooler box drains down), but getting the 43 year old plywood out was tougher than I anticipated. I spent 8 hours of work time this past weekend getting all the wood out, including all the nooks and crannies. I'm half way done getting the wood off that was stuck on the transom skin. Next weekend is fiberglass prep weekend using 1708 Biaxial glass & Vinyl ester resin, and I hope to pour the ARJAY in the reconstructed (with skin back on) transom the weekend after next. Also, I'm planning on raising the transom height from 25" to 27"

[jorgeinmiami]

Did mine the same way and pouring it was easy. Just make sure you cover any holes no matter how small so it won't leak out.....ask me how I know lol

[jorgeinmiami]

Something I also noticed as you pour the main part of the transom you need to save some Arjay to let the initial pour setup and harden just a little so you can pour the 2 sides that are above and on each side if you try to do all at the same time it will just overflow

[77SceptreOB]

Good advice. Thanks for your thoughts.

[kmoose]

What's the weight difference with RJ over Bluewater 26? With the Back skin off it would be so easy to go with a 30" transom in Coosa.

[77SceptreOB]

Continuing to make progress. Tonight I cleaned all the marine plywood off the inside of the exterior skin piece. Still have some work to do on the face of the inside skin.

As for the weight of the transom replacement, the weight of the existing marine plywood (assumed dry) was estimated right at around 100 pounds. The amount of ARJAY to fill the void is approx. 17 gallons. At 7.6 pound per gallon that nets out at around 130 pounds. So the new transom is actually 30 pounds HEAVIER, not a benefit but that's the facts and 30 pounds more is not an issue with my boat's layout. As mentioned above, Coosa Bluewater 26 is by far the lightest option. For my void area, BW26 would weigh out around 60 pounds total. Certainly a 70 pound weight reduction would be advantageous. But in my case, I didn't want to cut into or off the cap and the motor well area as I felt necessary to install Full sheets of BW26 and get into a bunch more fiberglass work than necessary. I had a clear plan and was comfortable with the construction methodology and process using ARJAY.

[77SceptreOB]

More progress. 2" Transom riser extensions...(.375" thick built up with 1708)

[77SceptreOB]

Water / leak down test today. Unfortunately it didn’t work out due to the gorilla tape not having enough adhesion and head pressure of the water blew out the tape. But this was a bonus operation anyway. I’m satisfied with the sealing job of the inside skin and plan to reattach/fiberglass the outer skin back on in the next few days and pour the Arjay later in the week

[77SceptreOB]

Tonight I put the first partial layer of fiberglass down to affix the outer skin back on. Tomorrow I plan to remove the wood scab plates and do more fiberglass work with 1708. So far, so good.

[77SceptreOB]

Successfully poured the lower transom area this afternoon. Used 13 gallons to accomplish this pour of the extended 27” transom. I plan to pour the upper two wings tomorrow evening.