the dry wall screws along with the starboard pegs have been removed,the seams were ground out and filled with varying layers of fiberglass matt,wetted out with west system epoxy...we're almost home !!!!
the bracket was etch primed and the first 2 coats of epoxy have been applied...
the first series of pictures will show the bracket,and the pics will also show the lamination of the outer skin.note how the epoxy has oozed out of the holes in the skin,the clamping process assures a full bond-no voids....nice huh ??? what we have here is a complete unit from the inner skin all the way out to the outer skin....real strong !!!!
these pictures show the outer skin and how it's laminated to the core of the transom...the seams have been glassed into place...we're on drying time-yay !!!! after the epoxy kicks,the seams are ground down and faired into shape.the next step is the dura tec process-this will fill the "dreaded pin hole factor" and prep the surface for the gel cote...polyester based gel cote over top of west system epoxy,can create a problem...the amine blush-a by product of the epoxy kicking,can create a problem for the gel cote.the amine blush needs to be removed.gel cote will adhere to epoxy,however it won't be as reliable a bond without the duratec as a seperating coat...the dura tec provides a seperation cote,as well as seals the surface...after the duratec has kicked,it nees to be sanded then the gel goes on !!!!
almost done on this job.....the seams were matted into place,the rigging holes were drilled,the end grain of the ply wood core was coated in west system epoxy-this will prevent water intrusion into the core from these holes...
the bracket as well as the transom have been coated in "duratec" sealer-this seperates the epoxy from the polyester gel cote-epoxy and polyester products don't really play too well together,granted gel cote will adhere to epoxy,however,when the duratec is first applied,the bond will be much better...the duratec also fills the tiny pinholes that form when the epoxy kicks....
the duratec kicked and it was sanded,the transom has been gelcoted to match the existing gel and tomorrow the bracket will be installed,the replacement "shelves" for the batteries will be installed and the boat will be ready for delivery to the customer.....
whatta job huh ???
i'll post the finished pics tomorrow....
not all the way done....sorry....got tied up on an emergency...
the gel was wet sanded,then buffed with rubbing compound,the rub rail was reinstalled,and the bracket was reinstalled....i made up back ups for the bracket out of 1/4" aluminum strip...the bracket was sealed using 3m 5200 sealer/adhesive....the transom of the boat was painted with a copper based antifouling paint and the bracket was painted with "tri lux",this is a tin based antifouling paint-it's compatible with the aluminum....take note of the break in the bottom paint,between the transom of the boat and the bracket-that;s there to seperate the copper based paint from the aluminum...
if you've got an aluminum outboard and your transom doesn't look like this-it's wrong.....
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