Well, the boat is looking better with some layers of paint coming off, but I would be surprised if it didn't have some leaks.
Now, as background, in theory I'm an A & P, and though I never really worked at the trade, I do know how to deal with rivets and aluminum. But, I no longer have the tools around. Nor do I want to use lung-cancer-causing chromate primers.
All this boat needs is a piece of ply on the inside (rectangular) and the outside (typical keystone shape). From the hole sizes I judge that 3/16 or #12 machine screws held the sandwich together.
This boat has lived it's life in the Midwest, likely never seen salt or brackish water and not likely to. Apparently it was originally thinly painted a dark green but most of that is long gone.
So, questions:
I have some ply that was used for formwork by people building a concrete wall. It's seven ply, 3/4" or 23/32" thick, and has some sort of paperish overlay on one side. It seems pretty good quality ply. Anyone used this for transom material? Have an opinion on it?
What's the best way to treat the wood, and the aluminum/wood faying surfaces? I see all sorts of advice, from epoxy or polyester resins, to spar varnish, to POR15 (which I understand to be a moisture-curing urethane base product). This boat doesn't justify a significant investment of time and/or money, but I don't want to do a crude job either.
Thanks for any guidance.