Right then boys this is the big one… Transom build time.

[mdt]

Sunday is earmarked as the day to build a 5.4 transom.

So the questions are.

1: will 3 sheets of 18mm marine ply bonded be enough?

2: how big should one make the knees?

3: any one got any other words of wisdom?

4: we are starting at 10am when should we open the first beer?

[willk]

Originally Posted by mdt

Sunday is earmarked as the day to build a 5.4 transom.

4: we are starting at 10am when should we open the first beer?

Strikes me you've already left it a bit late

[Bigmuz7]

I think you should put all your questions in reverse order .. she'll be a good un after that ......

ooh .. ok then .. how big is the motor ?

[JSP]

Sounds the kind of job that would take me 3 months. Keep us up to speed on it mate and take photos'!

[mdt]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

I think you should put all your questions in reverse order .. she'll be a good un after that ......

ooh .. ok then

Yes well the plan is to have the beer once we see the light at the end of the tunnel…

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

.. how big is the motor ?

As you may have guessed I am wee way off sticking any engine on the back of this as yet, but I am looking to stick to the consensus that a 90hp is the best motor to a 5.4.

I have only driven 2 other 5.4’s one with a 60hp 2/ and the other with a 125hp 2/ the one with the 60 was the sweeter of the two but just a wee bit too slow. The 125 was not too slow. So I am working out that a 90 would be a fine compromise?

[mdt]

Originally Posted by JSP

Sounds the kind of job that would take me 3 months. Keep us up to speed on it mate and take photos'!

Discussed with brother in-law last night, as it is he who is helping out. And we recon. How hard can it be?

Buy ply wood (18mm)
Cut ply to the template (have got the template done already).
Bond together with epoxy resin

Lunch

Cut knees
Epoxy transom to boat
Fit knees

Job done. or am I missing a few steps?

aye fear not shall take photos... up to the point I epoxy the camera to my hand

[GBR1]

Originally Posted by mdt

Discussed with brother in-law last night, as it is he who is helping out. And we recon. How hard can it be?

Buy ply wood (18mm)
Cut ply to the template (have got the template done already).
Bond together with epoxy resin

Hi mtd,

I would do this in a different order, the epoxy will take at least 12 hours to set, fast hardener will take around 4 hours before you can work on it but your bonding surface is pretty big for fast! I would by the ply on Saturday (if possible) and bond together, lots of G clamps and or weight and then leave over night. Try and keep it warm (not hot) and dry for this period. You then cut all three sheets bonded together on the Sunday morning.

The advantage being that not only can you have a beer on Sunday, you can also have a few after your work on Saturday!

[mdt]

Originally Posted by GBR1

Hi mtd,

I would do this in a different order, the epoxy will take at least 12 hours to set, fast hardener will take around 4 hours before you can work on it but your bonding surface is pretty big for fast! I would by the ply on Saturday (if possible) and bond together, lots of G clamps and or weight and then leave over night. Try and keep it warm (not hot) and dry for this period. You then cut all three sheets bonded together on the Sunday morning.

The advantage being that not only can you have a beer on Sunday, you can also have a few after your work on Saturday!

I was looking to cut the 3 sheets out first and then bond them together. As other wise I am going to have to cut out 54mm of ply in one hit. I have cut enough kitchen worktops in my time to know that if possible this should be avoided. I am being flippant about the time scale of this I am not for a second trying to kid my self that this will be an easy one day wonder.

Every one please keep checking rib.net on Sunday for info requests as the resin dry’s ahhhhh forecast is for a max temp of 10c on Sunday so we should have time to get it all lined up before the resin sets.

Seriously do you think it would make any odds to cut this as 3 sheets then bond them?

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by mdt

Sunday is earmarked as the day to build a 5.4 transom.

So the questions are.

1: will 3 sheets of 18mm marine ply bonded be enough?

That's an unusually thick transom for a little boat, 2 x 18 mm is the norm. any thicker and you may run into problems with steering clearance/motor fit.

Originally Posted by mdt

2: how big should one make the knees?

I'd make them to midway between the top/bottom fixings of the motor.

Originally Posted by mdt

3: any one got any other words of wisdom?

Put each piece in seperate, on a couple of layers (or one heavy) of wetted CSM, them clamp/through bolt till it's gone off, them put the knees in and overlaminate everything. If you start in the morning, you'll be finished by tea time.

[r mcdonald]

You could release wax a smooth flat surface, gelcoat it let it set, add some layers of CSM,add a layer of plywood , add a layer of CSM , add the next layer of ply wood, then some more CSM , then a layer of bubble wrap, then stick a layer of plasic over the whole lot,and use wide plastic sticky tape to seal it. Apply vacuum to it to clamp it all together.
Make sure you wet out the plywood before you lay it on the CSM or you will get a dry joint.

To locate the plywood you could use some wooden dowels (so they don't slide around ).

You will end up with a smooth gelcoat surface .from the smooth table

If you use epoxy resin you will have to use it every where, as polyester resin dosen't
stick to epoxy resin. Epoxy sticks to polyester well.

The picture is the trasom I built for the RIB I am building.
Hope this helps.
regards
RPM