I just got my 2005 22-Cruiser back from the shop after discovering the forward edge of the transom was delaminating... the fiberglass was separating from the foam core. I originally thought I had done the damage, but when I looked at photos from when I bought it in Washington, the crack was already there.
The shop worker told me it's a common problem with production-grade outboard boats. The C-Dory is made from two fiberglass molds, one for the hull and one for the top-sides. The joint between the two pieces runs down the top of the transom, where in my boat, they are sandwiched around a piece of medium-density closed-cell foam. The gaps were filled with putty, the top of the transom faired, and the black plastic trim hid the joint. It's a weak spot, because the two pieces aren't fiberglassed together. He said it's likely the torque of the bouncing outboard motor pulled the layers apart when the trailered boat hit bumps in the road.
He said he found minimal water intrusion, and the transom was still structurally sound. He removed the plastic trim, filled the voids with a pint of fiberglass resin, put three layers of fiberglass over the top of the transom, then painted it black to mimic the plastic trim.
I feel l like a C-Brats weenie for hiring someone else to do the work. But we've entered the rainy season here, and I have neither a dry place to work nor the tools nor the experience. I just wanted it done so I could keep on playing. Hopefully, it's stronger than when it left the factory. I want to go halibut fishing on the next nice day!
The shop worker told me it's a common problem with production-grade outboard boats. The C-Dory is made from two fiberglass molds, one for the hull and one for the top-sides. The joint between the two pieces runs down the top of the transom, where in my boat, they are sandwiched around a piece of medium-density closed-cell foam. The gaps were filled with putty, the top of the transom faired, and the black plastic trim hid the joint. It's a weak spot, because the two pieces aren't fiberglassed together. He said it's likely the torque of the bouncing outboard motor pulled the layers apart when the trailered boat hit bumps in the road.
He said he found minimal water intrusion, and the transom was still structurally sound. He removed the plastic trim, filled the voids with a pint of fiberglass resin, put three layers of fiberglass over the top of the transom, then painted it black to mimic the plastic trim.
I feel l like a C-Brats weenie for hiring someone else to do the work. But we've entered the rainy season here, and I have neither a dry place to work nor the tools nor the experience. I just wanted it done so I could keep on playing. Hopefully, it's stronger than when it left the factory. I want to go halibut fishing on the next nice day!