Wood replacement questions

[sclapsaddle]

I don't have many current pictures at this time due to me dropping our camera in salt water while camping at Kalaloch last spring and well everything was lost... live and learn I knew better.
Anyway, I have all the wood removed from the boat except the strips in the stringers that the floor screws to. All the tabbing has been ground back. I am ready to start the rebuilding process now. I purchased a couple sheets of 3/8"Hydrotek marine plywood to get started. I am not a professional boat restorer but my day job is restoring classic cars, steel, aluminum and fiberglass, so I do have 20 years experience with old wore out cars.
While researching the best current products/materials to use, I have found a big dilemma about wood-composite core and polyester-epoxy controversy vs. life span and cost. With restoring cars I always try and "restore" to original but with modern products and material.
On my boat, while tearing out the wood and fiberglass I found most of the fiberglass(polyester resin) would pull the plywood apart where the wood was not rotten, so I know the bond was good. While researching whether to use polyester on wood the main consensus is "use epoxy, polyester doesn't stick to wood". Well that is not what I found on my boat and boats are still being built that way. The latest info I could find is that polyester does stick to wood but seems to wick water into the wood over time, this info from supposed navel engineer or voids, added holes into the wood at a later time.
Cost is an issue, epoxy is quite expensive especially for how much I will need to rebuild all the interior, plus I am fairly familiar with polyester resin, unless I am missing something here. I am not trying to be cheap, just not waste my money on something I don't need. There are quite a few brands of epoxy with quite a big difference in price.
I have searched on these forums also and have found some discussion on this, but I am not sure which way I want to go. I know these boats have been around since the 50's-60's and some have not had the wood rot. It seems a bit overkill to build such a strong transom onto a light layup boat that might see 30mph on smooth water if I'm lucky.
So what should I do?
I will try and post some pictures of it's current state soon.

[Helmar]

Looks as all that hard work has paid off. She looks Great and should serve you well. Lots of fun times can be had now

[Kelly]

Wow! Great warranty! And the prop... that's the ticket!
I accepted your fb request for the Skagit group so I won't post if you're going to.

[sclapsaddle]

free to share, thanks for asking. I bought the motor at Jacobsen’s marine in Edmonds, during the boat show promo, 10 yr warranty and stainless prop included when I purchased the rigging kit. Thanks for the complements, we are very excited also.

[Kelly]

Also, can I share a few of these photos on the Skagit Plastics Inc Facebook page? Unless you'd like to share them there

[Kelly]

Holy smokes! That's looks amazing! I actually had goose bumps looking at the photos!
Nice work, feel proud for sure.

Btw, did you get that outboard at Bayside?

[sclapsaddle]

Sorry it’s been so long. A lot has happened this year. We got the boat in the water last Saturday!!!! 3.5hrs on the new motor and everything worked great. We had zero issues with anything.

I finally “finished” everything last week, after I hung and finished rigging the motor the dealer ran the motor for the first time last week. I got it back and finished a few things.

We we launched in Kenmore at the north end of lake Washington, 3 miles from our house, decent ramp for our first time putting the boat in the water.

I was a bit nervous, having no idea what could go wrong or not work or if the darn thing would even float... I did sand the entire bottom and painted it with intercoat vc epoxy performance coating which I thought is a great product, it seems to be super hard and slick, I can slide the boat around on the trailer even with the motor on without much effort.

It it was a lot of fun!! The motor runs great, fires right up and always stays idling. Boat seems to handle well, plenty of power. Responsive. Saw 35mph on the gps momentarily and the boat felt stable. The setup height and propeller seems to be good right out of the gate.

[Kelly]

Hope all is well and you're out cruising in the boat!

[Kelly]

Any updates?

[Kelly]

Here's the exit location on my '59

[Helmar]

I think I'm going to punch holes in the splash well and seal the hose coming through, so I can keep it high. I'd prefer to not go through the wood in the transom, so I will probably go out the side by the trim, up high. Thanks for the input!!

That would be my choice too.

[Kelly]

Have you decided what kind of exit fitting you're going with? I'm debating whether or not to get a plastic one and paint patch it, or get a chrome one to match the fuel vent.

[Helmar]

I think I'm going to punch holes in the splash well and seal the hose coming through, so I can keep it high. I'd prefer to not go through the wood in the transom, so I will probably go out the side by the trim, up high. Thanks for the input!!

Whatever you do with it, just make sure vibration does not loosen things up and seal the hell out of it. I have them pointing out both on the port and starboard side but being a retired firefighter, 1" hose and big pumps, Evac Fast

[sclapsaddle]

I think I'm going to punch holes in the splash well and seal the hose coming through, so I can keep it high. I'd prefer to not go through the wood in the transom, so I will probably go out the side by the trim, up high. Thanks for the input!!

[Kelly]

Your boat looks great btw... nice work!