Anyone with an aluminum boat knows how important the transom is. That surface area on the stern pulls together both the look and the functionality of the boat. That’s why it’s essential that you know how to effectively repair the transom when any issues arise. We’ve put together a list of tips to help you with boat transom repair—as well as some recommended products that can help you along the way.
Know Your Board
The boat transom board can be a bit tricky to figure out—especially if you never consider it until it’s time to repair it. But try to understand what’s going on. Do you have dry rot? Is the wood simply getting old? Do you have other issues that have caused the wood to deteriorate over time? Think of it as diagnosing a problem. With the proper diagnosis, you’ll be able to come up with the right way to repair it and won’t have to spend a lot of money doing the wrong things.
Use A Git-Rot Kit For Dry Rot
Dry rot is one of the frequent problems for anyone repairing their aluminum boat’s wooden transom, which is why it’s a good idea to seek out a Git-Rot Kit for repair. This kit utilizes a two-part liquid epoxy that can penetrate the rot and use the natural fibers of the wood to get deeper into the wood than you might imagine. This can restore the wood’s strength, which means you may not have to replace it as you originally thought.
Equip Yourself With The Right Materials
Effective boat transom repair means you’ll have to use the right materials along the way—otherwise, you’ll just frustrate yourself and wonder why it can’t be easier. For instance, you might want cartridges of Life-Calk to handle any repairs at the edges of the boat transom, especially if any of them have come loose or if you’re installing anything new.
Clean The Area First
One of the most overlooked parts of effective aluminum boat transom repair is failing to clean out the area first. Cleaning out the area will give you free reign to move around and handle everything that you need to handle. It will also help ensure that you do minimal damage to the rest of the boat as things move around. We recommend that you clear out any and all debris, loose boating equipment, and anything else that might be in the way. Keep some Boat Cleaner handy for anything that needs to be cleaned before re-installing as well.
Remember, Maintenance Matters
The old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure bears out when it comes to your transom and the rest of your boat. Keep it clean and well-maintained if you want your boat to be as “healthy” as possible.
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