REMOVING OLD TRANSOM (Transom 2)

[bob mitchell]

    After long deliberation, and essentially a stall out on the project, the decision to remove the transom before finishing the last two full frames was made because 1) there was no chine to build to and 2) the side frame members were still well connected to the inner clamp, which meant that the sides would be a stable reference for the new transom. On the other hand, to remove and rebuild the frames first would have meant sawsalling them off the inner clamps and side. Then, without the chine, I would really be lost (the bottom members of the frame were gone. So the plan is to build a new transom and reinstall it before anything else. Then create the new chine from frame 36 to the transom (using whats left of the frames as some help) The chine scarf will actually have to extend forward beyond 36 to achieve fairness. Once that is installed, the frames can be faired to the transom.

         Sometimes I feel like I am cheating having an old boom truck, but it would be tough for a loner to do this project without a little help. Sometimes the stars line up, sometimes they don't. So the chains go up to the boom, and the green rope keeps the transom from swinging forward out of control.

 

 

           To detach the transom first I drove a pair of flat bars along the bottom and side seams - not all the way in - only enough to establish the line and allow the sawsall to run without binding. Since I am going to use the old transom as the pattern and mould for the new I want it in as good a shape as possible, and I want the remaining side intact for reference. Next I sawsalled the knee from the cockpit side, following the same procedure of opening then seam a little with flat bars first. Definitely did not want to stress and possibly damage the transom knee, which is now bolted and epoxied in place to the new apron. The last set of fasteners would be the deck/bulwark set, which I reasoned would peel pretty easy because the transom would swing outward against their axis of strength.  So with a little encouragement from the boom truck in the right direction off she came!

  Leaving a big hole to be filled with brand newness!!!!! Glory Hallehluyah!