Resealing Lapstrate Bottom at Transom

[JohnPlatou]

In planning the repair of my 1960 17'Cruisers Inc. 202, I've found a small leak between bottom plywood and the transom about 4 inches wide.

I have not begun to replace the inner keel, but feel I have a good plan of atack.

From the research I've done on the inner keel replacement it seems Cruisers did not use any glue just bedding compound in the boats construction. This makes me believe that I could possibly lossen the bottom plywood at the transom by simply removing the screws and carefully pulling the plywood bottom far enough away from the transom to replace the bedding compound. Or is it best to remove the screws holding the transom in place and rebed the whole thing.

Is the boat realy that easy to pull apart? If it were gluedno way, but with bedding comound is it possible?

[JFH]

You've got it!

Just loosen the screws or remove every other one and loosen the others so the planks come free from the transom. Clean up the joint with folded sandpaper and apply bedding compound from a tube.
Re-screw (not too tight!!!) and let the stuff gush out. Do not remover until it is cured. Cut off the rubbery stuff with a sharp knife on the inside and outside, sand and paint. She'll be as good as new.

Jim