I’m about to replace the damaged bilge pump and propane locker thru hulls on my 1986 30U. Does anyone know if the transom is solid fiber glass or is it cored?
It’s solid ‘glass. I installed a diesel furnace last year and had to install intake and exhaust pipes in mine (1984).
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay B.C.
Hi Mike, I believe it’s both. It’s easy to tell if you’re inside one of the lockers and you’re close to the transom. You’ll see that there is a distinct hump where the transom transitions from solid glass to cored.
Ron
Ron & Diane Schryver
“Alpha Waves” 1987 NS30U #393
Georgian Bay Midland ON
I did this replacement a couple of years ago - it is single fibreglass- no core or other
Safe Sailing
Cedric
Single Malt
#207 26c
Chester NS
Ron is correct. The transom is definitely NOT solid glass. However, the area where the exhausts usually are located is solid. You will find balsacore approx 2 inches above the exhausts and it continues up until where the stern navigation light is mounted.
Indeed, your swim ladder and other hardware within this area is mounted through a cored hull, the same way as the handrails on the cabin roof are mounted: without proper protection of the core that is! So if the sealant of your swim ladder hardware is failing due to age, you might be thinking of replacing it.
The PO owners of my boat didn’t know and the core of my transom is full of water. I discovered it with a moisture meter and drilled holes on the inside to confirm. Sure enough water sipped out the core instantly. Luckily it’s accessible from the inside so replacing the core doesn’t involve replacement of any outer skin hull.
Mark
N36 #25
Interesting. The reason I gave the manufacture date of my 30 in my first comment was in case there had been changes during the years of production. I remembered mine being solid ‘glass so I looked up the pictures of my furnace installation. As you can see there was no transition between solid and cored in August 1984. The raised area in the picture is a glassed in backer for the transom step.
I don’t doubt the others but apparently it is not a simple answer.
Paul M
It’s both on my N33, and evident by the easily seen “hump” which I discovered when attaching my swim platform last year.
Ed Strazzini
s/v PELICAN N33#36
Deltaville, VA
Paul
Funny I’m considering removing the Espar Diesel furnace on my boat. Since I converted to electric propulsion I no longer carry diesel fuel on board and have not used it in 10 years. My hat goes off to those who installed the unit since my body frame looks like it will have a hard time staying in a comfortable position trying to access it. 