Westcapers Transom Replacement

Well this year is the big year, replacing the transom. The previous owner told me it would need doing but it didn't stop me from purchasing. It's been such a great boat that this massive project is well worth it.
Disclaimer: I'm not a shipwright nor carpenter, I'm a pipefitter by trade and honing my skills as a wooden boat builder on my own time, I make mistakes, cut the odd corner but in the end it'll be a strong functional result.

It's a can of worms, transom, bilge stringers, deck beams, planking, gunnel, decks and the odd rib. I certainly have my work cut out for me this winter.

More frequent updates can be found on instagram @westcaper

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Removal!View attachment 109728

Also have a few random smaller projects on the go, such as new water system/tank relocation, batteries relocation and rudder gland refurbish to name a few

Having the rotted stub machined off with a new socket to accept the new pipe, which will run full length through the hull for a greater seal. Going to silver solder the pipe on once the socket has been machined View attachment 109731View attachment 109732View attachment 109733

Nice. Look forward to seeing the progress on this. Brentwood is a nice area, my daughter used to row and I visited there a few times.

Plywood or planked stern?

Greetings,
Mr. WC. Formidable task indeed. Have you ever considered adding a few extra feet onto the repair?
Edit: Just a thought...I wonder if you make your exhaust joint with a short length of rubber tubing rather than a hard silver soldered joint might you reduce any vibrations from the exhaust being transferred to the hull?
Meaning, machine off the rotted section and silver solder on a short length of same diameter exhaust pipe THEN make the final join with rubber tube.

And I thought that I was ambitious in my boat projects...

Max Simmons said:

Nice. Look forward to seeing the progress on this. Brentwood is a nice area, my daughter used to row and I visited there a few times.

Plywood or planked stern?

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Right on, believe you're thinking of Brentwood college, in mill bay, but very close by!

It was three layers of plank, (horizontal vertical horizontal) but replacing with laminated plywood

RT Firefly said:

Greetings,
Mr. WC. Formidable task indeed. Have you ever considered adding a few extra feet onto the repair?
Edit: Just a thought...I wonder if you make your exhaust joint with a short length of rubber tubing rather than a hard silver soldered joint might you reduce any vibrations from the exhaust being transferred to the hull?
Meaning, machine off the rotted section and silver solder on a short length of same diameter exhaust pipe THEN make the final join with rubber tube.

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Actually it's my rudder gland! Nothing to do with the exhaust
And yes I have thought about extending, but my work load is already passed maxed out so I'll be keeping it as is, 39'

Comodave said:

And I thought that I was ambitious in my boat projects...

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More ambitious than I should be haha

I think silver solder will provide an interesting metal mix for electrolysis?

Brazing copper nickle to brass, using a silver solder or BCuP5 rod will be ok. I'm a high pressure brazer for submarine piping, no worries here, tis my specialty

Xsbank said:

I think silver solder will provide an interesting metal mix for electrolysis?

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Here it is machined and ready for a braze

You hauled out at Westport? I spent a winter on the hard there doing my engine replacement project.

Sure am! Was that last year?

hobbystuff said:

You hauled out at Westport? I spent a winter on the hard there doing my engine replacement project.

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WestCaper said:

Sure am! Was that last year?

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Yes. Was up on the hard from November until early March. Our boat is moored at the RVYC facility in Sidney, next to Westport. We are very familiar with Westport having been there for at least 12 years before moving to our current spot.

I too was there last year, October to March, replacing a section of the port side

hobbystuff said:

Yes. Was up on the hard from November until early March. Our boat is moored at the RVYC facility in Sidney, next to Westport. We are very familiar with Westport having been there for at least 12 years before moving to our current spot.

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Great project pictures and description! Keep them coming. I enjoy seeing others people's work and methods like this.

Ambitious first project but doable.

Whats the rest of the hull constructed from?

Thanks! Not my first, but it is my second major project on this boat, last year I replaced 16ft of the port side

The hull is constructed of for strip plank over oak ribs, with an epoxy glass overlay

syjos said:

Great project pictures and description! Keep them coming. I enjoy seeing others people's work and methods like this.

Ambitious first project but doable.

Whats the rest of the hull constructed from?

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L.P.
You are fearless!

Thanks J.H!

GoldenDawn said:

L.P.
You are fearless!

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Ended up cutting the deck out to replace deck beams, and bilge stringers. Removed an ungodly amount of styrofoam, spray foam and rot from this area

Working on planking lately. Ended up being 76 planks total, ranging from 1ft-9ft in length and varying widths around the chine. I purchased raw lumber and planed/ripped each plank to size. Not professional work no doubt, but not bad for a guy with next to no experience. Going to start glueing them in this week. Last photo is the exposed joints from last year's work. I stopped short knowing the project was growing and decided to just butt-joint the planks in anticipation of this year. Coming together nicely so far

And came across a Screamin deal on Craigslist for a swim grid off an old Bertram. 9' wide vs my original 10' but it follows the same curve and is 6" deeper which actually gives me 2sqft more area on the swimgrid. Got it for $100. All aluminum structure with hardwood planking. Cleaned all the paint off the metal, and sanded down the planks, counter sunk the holes and got new fasteners. Saves me time and money over building a new one from scratch

Planks glued, fastened and partially faired without compound

Keel timbers repaired and cleat block nearly ready to be installed. Still have to year up the starboard deck to ensure the stringers and deck beams are sound before blocking off access with the cleat block and new transom

Great photos -hope to drop by for a beer before the transom goes on. Is it complete?

GoldenDawn said:

Great photos -hope to drop by for a beer before the transom goes on. Is it complete?

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Thanks! Transom hasn't been made yet, but I dropped off the template. They're going to have a go at it in the new year. I still have 16 planks on the topside to install, plus ensuring the stbd structure is good to go before trapping it behind the transom. Stop by anytime! Those IPAs went down smooth [emoji3526]

Keel is done, cleat block is dry fit properly and the planking up the side to the gunnel is dry fit, minus the last two which get done in the cap rail process for ease of access all around

Very impressive, you are a braver man than I am.

Cheers
Parry

Thanks! Brave might be a strong word haha

Parry said:

Very impressive, you are a braver man than I am.

Cheers
Parry

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