Gluing Transom

[Chadd Hamilton]

What is the best glue for joining mahogany boards for the transome of my boat?

[ishmael]

Since you are building a glued-lap boat I'd probably just use the same epoxy on the transom. The one most important thing(there are others, like coating both pieces, so do a little reading) to remember when gluing with epoxy is to not over-clamp. Epoxy likes a little space to live in the joint. Well, not a gap (though it will fill those too) but if you starve the joint by clamping it too hard it WILL fail. I know, I've done it. It's really a simple matter of making the pieces come together without sgueeging all the glue out. If you have any doubt about it, glue up a few test pieces with varying amounts of pressure so as to get the feel for it.

Another option without this issue would be resourcinol. There are also other newer glues that would do the job, but I don't know anything about them.

Best of luck. Nice little boat.

Jack