Getting started

[abl1111]

Welcome to the board. I am re-doing a SC23 Tsunami w/ a buddy who is a pro fiberglass guy. It seems that all the pros like to use plywood to rebuild with. Don't know why, but they all do. They figure - if it is built right and sealed right and maintained - then it will last forever. I tend to agree! I will however, be epoxying all thru-transom holes so the bitch will never rot again ! Can I get an Amen !

As for cutting the transom out. I did this myself and it is a 12-16 hour thing ( I had a bigger area to work on - i/o's ). I used a circular saw in some areas to make some 'entry cuts' and a sawzall w/ a wood blade to do a lot of cutting ( I used the sawzall to go through the wood and you can easily hear or feel when the blade cuts through the wood and taps the inside of the glass - then you stop!). The above tools just help make 'chinks' in the wood -then I used either a wonderbar, a few big screw drivers, and a new, sharp chisel/hammer to remove the wood. Some areas came off easy - in sections - others fought me the whole way. Some sections I was able to take off the (2) pcs of 3/4" ply and in others, on ply at a time.

Take your time. There is no easy way around this. It sucks and then your done! Until you have the next pain in the ass part to do. Do it systematically and ask A LOT of questions.

And in the end - you'll have an awesome boat !

Another tid bit: take it easy and make it an enjoyable project or it can really suck. Always have a cooler of cold beer around - it is great when you bash your hand, cut yourself or are plain ole' freak'n tired !

Good luck !

Alan