How to cut out transom skin

[rockdoc]

Nice hot saturday in July, and what am I doing? working on my boat! I should be out fishing. I really should be at that Barnstable SeaCraft get-together......but I have two Seacrafts that need work.

My '70 Seafari needs a transom, and it needs to be replaced from the outside. What have you guys used to make the cut through the outer skin? Grinder? Jigsaw with short blade? It seems to me a grinder with a nice heavy grit disc would do the the job, but I'm just wondering what you guys have used.

I'm in the process of pulling the MerCruiser engine and drive, everything, ( alpha one gen II) off the '70 Seafari to put into the '65 Bowrider. The BR has a great transom so that makes life a lot easier, but once I get the drivetrain out, I'd love to fix the Seafari and get it ready for either a bracket or another I/O setup. We're looking at a lot of beer to get these two projects done! I try to think of the time I spend sweating it out in the driveway as just another form of boating, but it's a stretch!

rockdoc

[warthog5]

Several tool's are possible.

Die Grinder with a cutoff wheel aka Wizwheel.

Circular saw set at a shallow depth

Plunge router with a temp. fence made from scrap lumber afixed to the transom with some drywall screw's.

The ultimate would be a Fein MultiMaster. This will be the next tool I buy.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=228013

Your not going to be able to do it with a jigsaw. It will jump all over the place.

[quonie]

Dam I was thinking there's got to be an easier way to remove the rotton wood. I was thinking of buying an I/O that needs restoration and was wondering has anyone tried to replace the wood without cutting the outside skin off.
In other words remove the old wood from the inside.
Has it been done? On an I/O your cutting alot of good glass
out. Thick solid stuff.

[strick]

The Fein MultiMaster is the cat's meow. I have one that I bought for use in my practice. I use it for cutting casts off. I had never thought of using it on the boat till I saw a gentleman who is a member of this site using one. They are also called bone saws. There will be minimal dust using that tool. It is an occillating saw (vibrates)If you cannot find one (there is more then one company that makes them) then the good old die Grinder with a cut off wheel is probably your next best bet.

strick

[Fishjack]

Circular (Skill) saw set at about 3/8 inch worked for me – assuming that you are just trying to get the skin off the transom.