plywood transom question

Nope, you're better off with joined stock than finding a suitable piece long enough. You can scarf, or laminate in one of two basic orientations (vertical or horizontal), to get the timber the length you need. Scarfing is the easiest, but least strong. A vertical laminate is next on the list, where the pieces are essentially laid on their sides, glued together to the profile of the timber, with staggered seems, then the keel stood upright, so the glue lines are vertically oriented. The most difficult is the horizontal laminate, where keel wide, but thin pieces are stacked one on top of another, glued together again with staggered seams. The laminated timbers will be substantially stronger than a full length piece or even the scarfed timber.

 

hey PAR, the original keel was made from a single piece of what looks like pitch pine four and a half inches wide by 2 deep, the bottom beveled to take the garboard ply sheets, and a four inch by half inch outer keel board. If laminating multiple layers is the best option? seeing as the new boat will be two feet longer, my keel will need to be thicker, i was thinking 6 inches wide by 3 deep, is this too much? and what thickness of boards would i use to get to 3 inches deep eg 3x1" or 6x1/2"? cheers again

 

We're getting into the guessing game here, can you post some images and sketches of your boat and modifications ideas?

 

hey PAR here are a few pics of the boat before and during stripping. [/IMG]

in this pic showing the basic backbone of the boat, the two sections either side of the hull have broke off about 3 ft infront of the stern. Basically all the timbers running the length of the boat need lengthened by 2 ft and beefed up accordingly.

i'll try to get a few snaps of the keel later. cheers

 

here are a few pics of the old keel and one of the timbers that run either side of it. there was very little in the way of frames or anything connecting the two, but i'm planning on making frames to connect the keel, stringers, chines and sheerclamps to help hold the boats shape while under construction and strengthen it for when it hits the water. you can see in the first photo there is a kink in the keel about three feet from the bow end, this is a separate piece which seems to be glued with a scarf type joint.



on the photo of the keels transom knee you can see the bevel where the plywood runs over the keel and butts together in the middle, an outer keel then clamps them together.

on the last two images you can see how one of the garboard timbers sits in relation to the keel, it is these timbers along with the keel itself that I think need beefed up due to being two feet longer than original.

 

That's a lot of work you are thinking of...is it worth it?

The condition of the timbers looks poor and the structure and shape has completely gone. Seems to me that you will have as much work (or more) as to build a new boat and about the same costs but finish with something with lots of inherent problems.

You could find a similar small cruiser any-day for a few hundred euro, that may need some minor repair and cleaning and go out on the water.
Nick.

 

Hey Nick, you right about buying a ready built boat, but i've always wanted to build my own, i have the time, space and tools, and spread out over a reasonable time, i'll have the money. I made up frame templates while the boat was still in one piece so these will help set the new timbers. If done right the new boat will be free of any major problems for a long time.

 

Yes, I am doing a project for very similar reasons, rebuilding a steel hull.

Many of the things I have done would have been simpler and faster if I had been able to start from scratch but for me, my project makes sense because most of what I have is ok and I would never be able to afford to build something new of that size. When I saw your photos I could not help thinking that you would be much better off buying a set of plans and building something new (or buying an existing...but you want to build). You would have much more control over the shape and quality and probably complete it faster. I doubt that a new build would cost you much more either.
Nick.

 

Hey Nick, yes building a new boat from plans is pretty much what i'm doing, though instead of buying paper plans and templates, I bought wooden plans and templates. The advantages are that I was able to see roughly what the finished boat would look like proportion wise, and when buying paper plans and templates that is all you get. Whereas doing it this way costs nearly the same but you get a trailer, engine, controls etc. all the things that cost a fortune once you've just spent all your savings building the basic boat!