question: fiberglass hull, wooden transom

[seattleboatguy]

I've noticed that for the 1980s vintage Grand Banks 42s on yachtworld, the hull is listed as fiberglass, but the transom appears to be teak. Do they just screw some teak boards into an otherwise fiberglass transom, or is this honest-to-god teak planks on a wooden frame? Why did Grand Banks choose to do it this way?

 

[Xsbank]

The former.

It looks good?

 

[Pack Mule]

I think they just wanted hang on to that traditional wood boat look and the transom was the best place to do it . I think they look good .

 

[BruceK]

And not just the GB42s, others as well.
IG copied it too.

 

[Marin]

All fiberglass GBs from the GB32 to the Gawd-awful GB66 have this treatment. The hull mold puts a shallow rectangular recess across the transom and the teak planks are bedded and screwed into this recess.

A very few GBs were special-ordered from the factory over the years with no teak on the transom. There is a GB like this currently in our marina. I suspect what was done in these very rare cases was a fiberglass plug was glued into the transom recess and then filled and sanded fair. It would have made no sense for the manufacturer to fabricate an entirely different hull mold on the chance someone might want a plain fiberglass transom.

Either that or the transom recess was formed using a plug that was attached to the inside of the hull mold and for those occasional orders for no teak they simply didn't install it. The plain transom has no plank coves in it like the sides of the hulls do.

 

[BruceK]

One GB 42 had a drop down canvas panel to cover and preserve the varnished teak while the boat was on the marina. Better than paint, a shame my OP thought otherwise.

 

[Marin]

We have canvas covers for just about every piece of our external teak including the transom. Very effective in extending the longevity of a bright finish.

 

[Scary]

And you guy's never see sun

We have canvas covers for just about every piece of our external teak including the transom. Very effective in extending the longevity of a bright finish.

First thing I did when I brought my boat south. Covered berth down here is the best way to save your varnish. A lot of people do both.