We are almost there. Beginning with two raw boards yesterday morning, Joe and RJ have fabricated all the parts to Captivator’s new transom.
We allowed the glue in the tongue-and groove joint between the two transom planks to cure for 24 hours before removing the clamps.
Today they fabricated the interior transom frame using oak for the bottom bow and two side frames and Honduran mahogany for the center frame.
The individual oak components and the transom blank were cut to shape using the old material as patterns.
What cannot be patterned simply are the bevels and continuously-changing radii of the transom blank’s ends and the oak framing that runs up the hull sides. Sanding in with a belt sander is both tedious and exacting, and requires continual test fitting.
With the individual components fitting well, RJ and Joe assembled the new transom temporarily before final fitting ensues.
Once we have an excellent fit, the components will be released, final sanded, bleached, stained with Jel’d stain and sealed with three coats of CPES.
Sometime early next week Captivator’s new transom will be in place, bedded in 3M5200.