Seacast, Arjay, or Carbonbond?

[Hoop]

I'm going to be replacing the wet transom in my 221B this spring and am heavily leaning toward removing the outer skin, gutting the wet wood, and replacing with a pourable composite. It looks like my three options are Seacast, Arjay, or Carbonbond (formerly Nida-core) and I was hoping to get some real world input. From the research I've done it looks like they are all about the same cost-wise with similar technical characteristics. Would love to hear & learn from some members (especially Stroken) that have used any of these pourable products and the experience they've had...both good & bad. Thanks.

[mrdelgado]

Arjay and Nida-core are the same thing. It has changed names a few times. I have 9 years on my Nida-core transom and no complaints, no stress cracking, no signs of failure. I'm actually going to use it to fill some voids when I do the floor in a few weeks.

I don't think you can go wrong with either product. I haven't read any negative press.

[Hoop]

Thanks for the feedback mrdelgado! Ive pretty much eliminated Seacast since it is a thicker consistency and Im thinking will be tough to pour through a funnel. I read that the Arjay/nidacore is solid but somewhat heavy. I have a F225 that weighs in at 580lbs and I know these boats are weight sensitive to begin with but do you think I should be concerned by any additional stern weight created by a pourable transom composite? I have already moved as much weight forward as possible and the boat rode well even with the weight of the four stoke, a bracket filled with water/wet foam, and a waterlogged transom.

[231]

I have replaces two transoms one floor and stringers using seacast over the years. No problem with pour. I built a rectangular funnel out of plywood that helped with pour. I am not familiar with Nidy-core but heard is good product. I lived 30 min away from the seacast dealer in New Smyrna Beach and able to pick up. Staff at seacast are very knowledgeable and always happy to answer questions and give pointers along the way.

[mrdelgado]

shipping is the killer...

Something new, I have seen small quantities on Amazon for sale. So you aren't stuck buying 5g pails if you just need a little.

It flows well, I even hollowed out my stringers some, to bond the stringers to the transom better. And it also flows too well, you have to make sure every pin hole, screw hole is sealed before pouring []

[ChuckB]

Approaching 8 years since my nida-core pour. I am pleased and currently have see no reason to use again.

[231Mike]

I poured my 231 transom with arjay and loved the product so much Ill be pouring my 261 transom in the next couple weeks. I was talking with their tech support and they recommend NOT using it for stringers and told me to look into Seacast for them. Arjay isnt flexible enough for stringers

[Hoop]

Can't begin to tell you all how much I appreciate all the helpful insight/advice. Mrdelgado is right...shipping is a killer! The shipping quotes I've gotten for 4-5 pails ranges from $135- $185. Amazon/ebay looks to be a good place to buy gallon kits for under $50 but here are the best 5 gallon pail prices I've been able to find:

Arjay 6011: $168- Merritt Supply

Carbonbond: $179- Carbonbond online store

Seacast: $243- Seacast online store

Since I'll be in FL visiting family next week it looks like I'll be stopping by Merritt in Pompano Beach to pick up some arjay. Now I just need to figure out how many buckets my transom is gonna guzzle. The transom volume calculators on the websites are saying 20 gallons but I'm thinking it may be closer to 25. Does that sound about right?

[ChuckB]

My 224 took ~12 gallons with me building up splash guards in cutout, so I would think 20 would be enough. I cant imagine full transom on same hull taking 13 more gallons.

[231Mike]

My 231 and about a foot of stringers took 13 gallons

[Sailor]

I used arjay and would use it again. My 25 took 4.5 buckets and that's with added splashwells and filled all the way to transom cap. I used a funnel to pour the last amounts and yes it's slow but it's more then doable. I don't think I would want to do an entire project that way. When you are pouring, only mix 1/2 a bucket at a time with catalyst so you have more time to work and CONSTANTLY check for leaks. The velocity at which it comes out of the smallest hole is quite impressive.