Cold Molded Transom ?

[Dale Genther]

I have a 41 ft wooden German Frers Sr. sloop built in 1952. The transom is built of mahogany planks about 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick. The transom structure is sound but cosmeticaly it is not good enough to finish bright. Therfore I have always painted it white. I am giving consideration to cold molding over it with mogogany. My plan is to apply two layers of 2 inch wide by 1/8 in. thick layers of mahogany diagonally onto the transom with epoxy. The second layer would be run at an opposing diagonal to the first layer. A third layer of the same strips would be added running horozontal. My reasons for considering this are: 1) Allow the transom to be finished bright, thus allowing me to add additional coats of varnish over the painted on name over time (repainting the existing white while cutting in around the painted on name is a real pain) 2)Add additional strength. Any opinions or advice on what I am planning to do?

[Bob Cleek]

Well, with 1" plank, you may be able to strip and sand that transom down to the point where you can varnish it. Taking 1/32 or even 1/16" off of the top isn't going to hurt it any. Hell of a lot less work, too! What's the point of adding "strength" to your transom. It's strength comes from its framing, not the thickness of the plank. You would only be adding weight to no purpose there. If you want to have a varnished transom and cannot sand down to bare wood, then epoxy veneer 1/8" stock down on it, looking like the original planking, and varnish that surface.

If the only reason you want to varnish is to be able to paint over the lettering... forget it. While that can be done, in most instances the varnish yellowing will make your lettering look like crap in short order anyway. You'll be either relettering or cutting in with varnish instead of paint any way you cut it. (Although varnish might be easier to do than paint.)

If you want to avoid the cutting in and lettering to some extent, you might consider making up some nice carved nameboards and screw them to the transom. They are then easily removed when you want to finish the transom.

[Art Read]

... Or get some nice,($$$) bronze letters?