Boat repair

I aquired a 12ft aluma craft or alumilite boat today with trailer. It needs new transom wood and hardware. Any recommendations on the correct wood to use? Treated plywood? A specific marine plywood? It's missing the outside piece but I can see the outline of where it used to be. The inside piece is there but getting bad. It looks like a 2x6. The hardware is rusted out so I'll replace that with stainless. I've never owned or worked on a boat so this will be a new experience. I have a 6hp Johnson to hang off the back.

 

There are actually different grades of treated plywood. You should use marine grade. Regular pt is will work for a short period of time

 

I just read that traditional pressure treated construction wood shouldn't be used on aluminum boats because it eats the aluminum. I'll definitely be looking for marine plywood.

 

I purchased an aluminum boat some years back. the original owner had used pressure treated plywood in one part of the boat. It had pitted the aluminum. I had to get some specialized coating to fix that area. Pressure treated wood is corrosive to aluminum. Get the marine stuff and you will be fine

 

Thank you. That's the plan after some research.

 

I used oak on my grumman. White oak is better if you can get it. Lots of different woods are used in boats. Varnish it or oil it, will make it last a long time

 

That was another question I have. Spar Urethane? Something else? Some online say fiberglass resin.

 

Yep. All gone.

 

yes here when rebuild bathroom window framings due to rot, PT was first choice, I remember when the said no to metal flashing on PT which is aluminum

 

Yes. I'm greatly looking forward to it

 

Glad you said that....I was thinking about using it on my boat.

 

What about plastic? I was thinking about something UV resistant and putting counter bored holes for the clamp pads on the motor to sit in.
My boat is also a 12' aluminum and the transom wood is gone.

 

If I could find something stiff but not brittle that was as thick as I need, I'd try it. The inside board is probably 1.25" thick or more. The rear is missing but the hardware is still there. That looks to have been 3/4" or so based on what's protruding of the bolts.

 

I also had an aluminum boat with rotted transom wood. The boat was stored upside down during winter months and the transom would be covered in snow just a few inches off the ground. Got about 25 years from the mount before having to replace it.

I used what was around and gave it a coating (or three) of varnish. Didn't last anywhere near as long as the original, but by then, the boat was only used as a row boat.

I would go with marine plywood in your case.

 

Is marine plywood available at places like home depot or do I need to go to a boat specific repair establishment to aquire it.

 

Coosa board

check it out
widely used in your required application
May be overkill but this will give you a rabbit hole to dive into!

I have a 12-footer that needs the same attention. Handy little unit with an old '82 Johnson 7.5 hp 2 smoker. Actually, been thinking of rehabbing the setup and getting some regular use out of it!

 

Thank you. I'll look into it.

 

Just do an internet search. The closest HD to you that has it should pop up. About a 20 minute drive for me and I live in a town with a popular harbor and quite a few marinas. Go figure. Our HD is a bit smaller than others and that is probably why. Been a long time since I had to do any fiberglass work. I had a dinghy that would get beat up, mostly from dragging it across somewhat rocky/not sandy beaches. I'd wear out the rub rails on the bottom.