Help! I just found out that my transom is rotten!

I'll admit I haven't been a regular here for some time, but back when I built my Broadbill from a kit, I was religious about following the advice from the many avid duckboat builders on this page. When I set out to build this boat I had no woodworking experience at all - as a matter of fact I was thrown out of woodworking class in 8th grade - but after reading Gordon McQuarrie's books (especially "The Armistice Day Storm of 1940) I decided that I had to have one of these boats. I threw myself into the process and it took me 18 long months to build it. I was so proud of the finished product, but knew that I had made some mistakes along the way.

My boat is now 15 years old and I just discovered that my transom and the stern section where it meets had cracks in them. I was, to say the least disappointed, and to some extent, crushed. I liken my relationship to this boat as one of my most meaningful in my life - my wife will attest the boat runs a close second to our marriage. But alas, my marriage is in much better shape than my spirits today. I feel terribly that I did not maintain this relationship with the love and devotion it deserves. Maybe I should start a 12 step program for wayward duck hunters. "My name is Bradley and I am a duck hunting addict."

I used a small screwdriver to chip away around the crack and here's what I found (see attached picture)

I am begging, pleading and possibly even offering bribes to anyone who can help me repair the second most important love of my life.

I would be most grateful.

Bradley Carleton
View attachment transom rot.jpg
 
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It's hard to say how to fix it without seeing it in person and knowing just how widespread the rot is and what construction components are effected. In a nutshell all punky wood has go to go. Maybe you can dig it out and patch in new wood, or maybe you have to reconstruct the transom. Really hard to tell from that picture. Sorry I don't have a cure for you because I know such discoveries suck and sometimes half the battle is figuring out just how to resolve the problem. But for starters if it were me I'd identify how extensive the rot is and what it will take to remove all of it. Inspect all other parts of the boat too.
 
Yes, some more and better pics, both close up and further away. If you built it, you can fix it.
 
Hard to tell by pics. Check with a good boat yard. Steve would be the man that could get you in the right direction. Is it just the transom or has it traveled?
 
Good morning, Bradley~


I live in Washington County, NY (South Cambridge) - west of Bennington. But, we have a camp near Port Kent - across from Burlington. If you'd like, I could visit your poor vessel sometime over the next few weeks.


Photo looks like aft end of bottom - correct?



Best to send me an e-mail:


sjaysanford@gmail.com


All the best,


SJS

 
OMG! It has traveled up the hull from aft to at least 1/4 of the total hull.

I am feeling quite hopeless.

Going to have a boat builder look at it and may take up any offer to provide advice/consult on IF it is even worth salvaging.

[:/]
Bradley
 
Bradley, John Bourbon might be consulted, he is not far from you. Being a stich and glue construction, it will be a challenge to repair based on what I can see in your photos. You obviously need to remove all the wood that is not sound. You can scarf the panels as it typical in stitch and glue, and likely add some framing to support fasteners. If you want to make the effort, I would not demolish anymore until you get some templates of what you need. Maybe a roll of brown paper to trace out the pieces you will be removing, or get yourself a set of Devlin's plans. Then remove all the rot and then some more to define what the new panels will be. Scarf, epoxy, and glass.....
 
Dave,

Thank you for reminding me of John Bourbon. I know him as a fellow duck hunter but hadn't thought of tapping into his resource of knowledge.

My boat is not a stitch and glue however. I bought it as a kit (nails and such). Probably my biggest mistake was doing so. (Tha and having no woodworking background).

I will contact Mr. Bourbon and a few others.

Again, thank you for your comment re: not cutting any further without creating templates!

Bradley
 
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