I know it is pain, but I have seen a lot of finished become unfinished with these pesky cracks at the corners. the only way I have found to fully cure this, is prior to paint or gel, LAY A COUPLE LAYERS OF, SAY, 3 OR 4 OUNCE S-GLASS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STRESS (PARALLEL TO THE BOAT SIDES) AND A LAYER THAT IS ORIENTED ABOUT 45 DEGREES LEFT, AND THEN ANOTHER RIGHT. THE TRANSOM WILL BE A LITTLE THICKER, BUT NOT MUCH, AND YOU WILL HAVE A GREAT DEAL MORE STRENGTH ON THE SKIN, WHICH IS WHRE THE STRESS REALLY OCCURS UNDER POWER. START THE GLASS IN THE SPLASH WELL AREA AND WRAP UP AND OVER ONTO THE OUTSIDE SKIN OF THE TRANSOM. BY USING THESE THIN LAYERS, THE GLASS IS EASIER TO LAY IN PROPERLY WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A LOT OF VACUUM BAGGING. YOU CAN SIMPLY PUT BRICKS OR WHATER ON TOP TO HOLD POSITION AT THE SHARP ANGLES.

You're gonna get sick of hearing me say it Dave, I love this boat, can't wait to see it! Looks fantastic!

[ Post made via iPhone ]

not to revive an old thread but just picked her up today, all the cracks in the well had allowed water to seep into the transom. It was solid except for the outer 2" on both sides, well she is all fixed now, tank is in the floor knees are in, transom is new and ready to re-rig. finally it only took 4 years - LOL. deck repainted and you can see your face in it, hats off to ronny haylock for a job well done, here is a couple pics of the rigging job I am doing right now on a 81 vector this thing is brand new - sorry should have posted the vector pics first. Oh Well I am *** backwards anyhow.

have you checked with fibrenew in Gatineau ?

That is slick for sure, aaron did a fab job on that boat. You know I was looking at the new tank designs on the Victory motorcycle tanks and they have one that is flat black with a white semi circle in the middle and then red pin-striping between the white and black, it looked really slick and I thought about this boat right away. It does look good with the lower seats I cannot wait to install them tomorrow my posts are 6" but the seat will sit down on the pole by 3" or so.

For perspective, This is Aarons Virage with the seats mounted on the floor. (Aaron and I) This was his maiden run. I got to drive it shortly after. What a rocket!!!





Aaron and ?? Baker at the Frost your nuts run last Oct.

Good looking boat Dave!

Decided to re-do it again. gonna loose the ski locker and move the tank to the floor, loose the splash well and another very cool mod that I will keep you in suspense on if I can find a glass guy that I can trust to do it properly. I still think that the transom is solid I tested a small area a couple days ago and there is no rot that I can find, the jackplate has not made any impressions on the outside, if the knees would have been installed in the first fix as I asked, this would no even be a question at this point. I had it out for a decent run the other night and the crack is not getting any larger, But I want this thing 100% so if I am loosing the well I will do the transom as well. I have a corvette glass guy from way back who has offer to help out, but currently I have 15 motors to re-build and 6 merc complete resto's booked for this winter so re-building this boat is gonna be tight to fit in. I have been trying to fix an overheating 200 for a while and finally got it licked I think, this is a little shot with my 30p DR4 performance prop nowhere near wot, that prop sure like to lift the nose. it's been a while getting used to looking down the nose of this thing you always want more trim- LOL.
I finally got the new Todd front Buckets seats Ron and I have been discussing I got the pedestal and the slides, I am removing the boxes and installing the front seats tomorrow morning will post some pics of them. The look wider but when held up close to the original ones in the boat they are that much more. I went with 6" bell fixed posts which should lower the seat quite a bit in the boat.

WHAAAAATTTT!! LOL. I have a couple things cookin. We will see what transpires.

Dave

15" 280 on 8" jack.
Getting fiberglass into the corner joint as far as possible will reduce any chance of cracking at the seam.

I wish the factory would have put some woven roving in with the mat when the splash well was laid up. The corners are the weak link.

I just finished making brackets to mount the bow eye and motor mount holes to a 20' gantry crane. This will serve as a rotisserie. David needs this to work on his splashwell. With the boat up side down and the floor at 6', you can stand under the boat and work on the underside of the splash well.