Yet Another Transom Job in the Works - ?ions

Fishjack · #1 01-10-2006, 01:31 AM

It's been a while since I have posted - I have been tied up with all kind of hurricane Katrina work here in the middle of "ground zero" Gulfport, MS. Things are a little closer to normal and I want to start on my transom replacement project. I plan on totally closing in the transom and doing away with the in deck rear live well.

This is where I need my 1st piece of advice -
The only hardware/marine supply store that stocked marine plywood was located in Biloxi right on the bay and everything got washed away including their extensive stock of marine plywood.
Shipping on marine plywood is really expensive if I ordered it online or elsewhere and had it delivered.

There is one locally owned marine store that can order the "Penske Board" by the sheet. They don't stock marine plywood and cannot order just a couple of sheets of plywood.

Should I stick with my original plan to use marine plywood (2 pieces of 1/2 inch) and just plan on driving to Florida or Louisiana to get it or substitute the Penske board for marine plywood??
I can get the Penske board for around $100 per sheet of 1/2 inch. I have done my research here on the site and have seen the Penske board mentioned a couple of times.

I am going to do the job from the back of the transom. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. And I'm sure I will have more questions as the project starts.
Thanks in advance.
Jack

Michael Vezzosi · #2 01-10-2006, 10:52 AM

FishJack, just found out we will be building another Jersey Speed Skiff before the end of the month. Builder met with a new glass supplier located in central Fla. this past weekend and decided to build the core/stringers using Penske board. He told me that the 4'X 8' sheet cost $200, but we usually use 3/4". Stronger, half the weight (at least) and will not rot. Reportedly works very similar to plywood. Looking forward to trying new product. Good luck with your refurb. Vezo, Part II.

Fishjack · #3 01-11-2006, 12:39 AM

Thanks for the reply Vezo, Part II - I know that a couple of boat makers use the Penske Board in their transoms.

I have read all the debates/comments on wood vs. composites for cores etc. and realize that many top boat makers still use marine plywood in their boats.

My problem is the local avaliability of marine plywood and would like to find out if anyone here had used the Penske board for a transom rebuild.

Thanks again... Jack

strick · #4 01-11-2006, 12:49 AM

I like marine ply 2 pieces of 3/4 inch not 1/2 inch. Then go light weight on everything else such as transom cap etc... I used core cell for my transom cap and hard top. I used plywood to core all my hatches and CC.

strick

warthog5 · #5 01-11-2006, 05:01 AM

FishJack If you feel like making a run?

Merridith Lumber in P'cola has 3/8in, 1/2in and 3/4in Fir marine ply in stock all the time. I don't know how much it is now after all the hurricane crap. I will call and ask tommorow if your interested?

Fishjack · #6 01-11-2006, 04:34 PM

Strick - Thanks for the info - man I spent over an hour last night at your homepage looking at the seemingly endless number of restoration photos you have. Just the pictures and the order they are in are very informative.

Warthog5 - Thanks for the offer - P'cola is not a long run at all. I will give Merridith Lumber a call. Is the 3/4" Fir Marine Ply the standard everyone uses? Thanks again.

warthog5 · #7 01-11-2006, 06:42 PM

Yes it is. [850] 476-3626 It's $76.26 now. Still not to bad.

8701 N. Palafox st. Pensacola,Fl. 32534. We call it "Old Palafox" around here, because Hwy 29 is also called Palafox too.
But anyway you can plug that in Map Quest to get direction's.
My home number is [850] 455-0415 if you want to drop by and see a custom Mako. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Fishjack · #8 01-11-2006, 09:48 PM

Dang Warthog - $76.26 for 3/4"???? - Biloxi Lumber (where they stocked it locally here on the MS Coast Pre-K) wanted like $94.00. Many Thanks..

A road trip over that way just gives me a good reason to stop by J&M Tackle in Orange Beach... May as well make a day out of it..

Do you know if they are open on Saturdays? Kinda hard to get away from work during the week around here lately.

peterb · #9 01-12-2006, 12:52 AM

Jack,

Great to see you posting again. Good luck with the transom rebuild. Please send pictures, as maybe one day i will work up the courage to do somehting similar.

Peter

Fishjack · #10 01-12-2006, 02:10 AM

Thanks Peter - I sincerely appreciate yours and everyone else's concern about the Classic SeaCraft members here in this area right after Katrina.

It was over a month after the storm b4 I got the internet back up and running (using cable) and about 2 days after they got my cable up the debris haulers (while loading debris in front of my house) broke the main cable feeder on my street and I was down again for weeks..

Anyway - the ole "FishJack" is long overdue for a transom rebuild.. with the number of boats in the area that need fiberglass work and the lack of fiberglass repair shops (boat yards period- there are none left that I know of)
I figure why not try it myself.. afterall I have nothing else to do... yeah right. Oh well hope to have her ready for the summer.
Jack