Transom wood

[Hanr3]

I need to replace the transom wood on my boat. I need a 1"x8"x4' piece. It looks like the original was oak and it has seen some better days. What should I use, plywood, oak, or something else?

 

[RStewart]

If it was me, I would use plywood and seal it.

 

[BloodStone]

I need to replace the transom wood on my boat. I need a 1"x8"x4' piece. It looks like the original was oak and it has seen some better days. What should I use, plywood, oak, or something else?

I used a combination of 3/4" red oak & 3/4" plywood glued & screwed together. Outside of me going into the realm of ultimate stupidity & putting a 70 hp on my little 14 footer, nothing outside of another boat rear-ending me at high speeds is going to break it imo. Just make sure you seal it & use a good UV resistant varnish & you should be fine.

 

[ben2go]

I cut two pieces of 1/2 inch untreated plywood to the shape I needed.I glued them together with polyurethane glue.After that I mounted the new transom with stainless steel hardware.Zinc,plain steel,and galvanized hardware with corrode aluminum and cause leaks.

 

[CarlF]

If there is aboat yard in your area, see if you can beg/borrow a scrap of marine plywood to fit. If not, exterior grade plywoo with a good sealer will work.
DO NOT use pressure treated! it will corrode the aluminum.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

I did mine from 2 pieces of 1/2" plywood and an oak board. 1"x12"x48" with an 1"x6"x48" oak board all glued and screwed together.

 

[Hanr3]

Thanks for the information guys.

Made a trip to Menards yesterday looking for options. They had some Stainless Steel hardware, but not enough of everything I needed. Being the puriest I am I was hoping to find a piece of 5/4 white oak in Menards. That's a pipe dream. We do have a local hardwood lumber suplier in the area and I might see what they have in stock. Otherwise I may end up with a 4x4 piece of oak paneling and glue two pieces together.

I did locate and buy stainless steel hardware. Turns out we have a National Marine store in town. Swung by there during lunch. $25 later I had what I needed. Stainless sure isn't cheap. I could have bought the whole lot for $5 had it been zinc, or anything else.

Couple of pics of the transom.

 

[Hanr3]

I found my solution at work today.

I was eyeing up some 1 1/2"-2" thick plywood we use for pattern equipment. It is similar to marine grade, no voids, plus it has like 20 layers. It doesn't wrap, shrink, etc. However my only concern was if it was made with water proof glue. Thought about some of the resin products, and then eyed a nice hunk of 1 1/2" rough sawn mahagony. We have a ton of 2" thick stuff, but that 1 1/2" piece is perfect. Plus mahagony is one of the preferred woods for boats.

I picked up a piece of 1 1/2" x 10" x 4' Mahagony for $20. Ripped it to 8 3/4", thickness planned, and planned the sides smooth. Final dimensions is 1 1/4" x 8 1/2" x 4'. It is one beautiful piece of wood.

I'll add pics to my boat mod thread linked to in my signature.

Thanks for your help!