Reglassing floor ???

[twintrades]

Hi there new to Iboats.

I picked up a glasspar lido sport Free yesterday.
My question is that the floor dosnt look rotten just looks like the old glass disintergrated. The mat is still there. Can i glass over the top?

There are some little support rods holding the fancy deck work up. ( verry light.) The glass pulled loose on one of those too. Would i be able to clean one up and re glass it down ?

Also is matt better than woven fabric?

All is new to me

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

you need to find out whats underneath, soaked saturated foam?

 

[twintrades]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

So should i cut a section of floor out? Id rather not cut into this one if i could help it. I cant afford much so the cheper the better.

I'v never cut into a boat before. So where should i stop/start. Could someone show me a pic of what i could expect to see under the floor? Like what is down ther to screw to?

Also the floor is soft in some spots ( not like its rotten just thin plywood) Would appying layers of glass and matts make it stronger?

 

[i386]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

If it's soft, you probably have some rot. Even thin plywood, if braced properly will not be soft.

To be safe, I recommend you check for water/rot like tashasdaddy said. The least destructive way to do that is:

Cut a plug out of the deck with a hole saw. You can use a small bit to probe first as you don't want to drill your hole into a stringer or other support structure. Your keel stringer will run right down the center so a few inches to either side should be clear. Once you've cut out the plug, take a piece of PVC pipe and cut some teeth into one end. You can use this as a tool to take a core sample of the foam. Push/screw it all the way to the hull to get a good sample. If it comes out wet, you've got problems. Your soft spot would be an ideal place to test.

 

[oops!]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

hi twin....welcome to i boats.

the above responces are bang on, ill just add, a few things.

search "core sample" on this forum.......tashas daddy posted a pic of the pvc pipe with teeth. its an brilliant way to find out if the foam is saturated.

the best place to take a core sample is in a inconspicous spot, like under the seats.
make sure you are not approx 4 feet from the transom, or in multiples of four feet from the start of the deck in the bow....

the deck is 4x8 sheets of ply, uasually laid on 4 foot centers, so if you do a core sample on the joint, you will also be going thru the frames...(deck support).

also the bilge area (center of the boat) is uasually void of foam, so taking a core sample in the middle of the boat, will do nothing, you want to be about a foot from the side of the deck, where it joins the gunwhale, (vertical side of the boat).

ok....as far as glassing over the old deck, if the glass has delaminated away from the wood, it needs to be replaced. if you glass over it, you will cause a void, that will trap water, and all your work will actually speed up the rot process.

using a grinder with a grinding disc, cut the fiber glass at the deck /hull joint. make sure not to cut into the hull. if the glass has delambed, (once you cut the deck hull joint) you can just pull up the glass, like a peice of veneer.

as far as matt better than cloth........each has its place.....
matt, or csm (chopped strand matt) is used to add fiberglass to "resin rich" area between the substraight and a cloth type fabric. (this is just one on the reasons for it)
cloth will add stregnth along the longitudinal axis of the cloth...(the direction of the long strands)

.both matt and roving are used on the new deck hull joint...(matt next to the wood), and matt will be fine for the new deck covering........

but i have the feeling, there will be more to do than just, glass the deck...

hope that helps

cheers
oops

 

[twintrades]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

OK ill post some pics later. But you were right...... Rot... stood on it on the trailer and stomped foot went through. Oh well could i replace only part of the floor ( back half where the rot is) Or do i have to do it all? Also should the ply Be screwed down or nailed? (Its neither right now is that normal?)

Write more later

 

[oops!]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

do it all....the wood is wet, and rot has started.....(its a fungus)

and screw the deck, theres more to it than that .....but well get to that later....theres a millino things that have to happen before you get to that point

 

[twintrades]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

Could you elaborate ??

What briefly is all entailed? Id rather cut out all the bad wood leaving the good wood up front to stay. Also im cheap. er poor is better way of putting it.

 

[twintrades]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

 

[garbage-man]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

Welcome to iboats twintrader. I am just a couple of weeks ahead of you. Check out my pictures. http://picasaweb.google.com/tech.jenkins/BeforeRepairs I am removing the stringers and foam on the back 8' I though my transom was good as it was replaced just a couple of years back and basically had not been in the water since. However I guess the boat shop did not do the job I would have done. Where the stringer meets the transom the wood is rotten. You need to get the wood and let it dry. Also use protection, adaquet ventalation, disposable coveralls, gloves etc. You only have one pair of lungs. Be careful not to cut through the floor. I was cutting out the stringers and though I might have cut too low. I did not but be careful. I am wondering about sealing up sections and compartmentalizing the wood. That way if there is water penetration it will not spread. Well they guys here like John and oops say if you build it correctly it will last 25 years or your desire to own the boat. You can post pictures at picasaweb.google.com

Good Luck,
Mark

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

Welcome to the forums... that looks a lot like mine did... except mine was downright "soggy".

Unless I'm mistaken, that stringer is exposed, and stringers should never be exposed... so after you get the deck out, you'll definately want to check the stringers carefully, and consider replacing them. If they are rot-free, make sure they are all sealed in fiberglass.

Good luck, and welcome to itchytown, population: us. If you don't know what I mean yet, you soon will.

 

[twintrades]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

So your saying that the stringers should be totaly encased in glass ??

I opend up the floor there, To get a looksee.

Should i cut the floor all the way over to the sides ( is it called gunwalls)?? Also the floor up front seems good. Ill take a small plug out to be safe but i might just leave it alone up there.

Any one have a clue how much resin im goin to need? And how far will a quart go?

 

[Robj]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

So your saying that the stringers should be totaly encased in glass ??

I opend up the floor there, To get a looksee.

Should i cut the floor all the way over to the sides ( is it called gunwalls)?? Also the floor up front seems good. Ill take a small plug out to be safe but i might just leave it alone up there.

Any one have a clue how much resin im goin to need? And how far will a quart go?

Not far at all. Probably more like 5 gals to do your floor properly.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[seven up]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

Where's the rot ?

 

[twintrades]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

Just where you can see it on the pics.

And *^%& About the 5 gal thing. That stuff is expensive !!!

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

Just where you can see it on the pics.

And *^%& About the 5 gal thing. That stuff is expensive !!!

Yup. Might save a bit on shipping if you can buy it locally. Otherwise there are plenty of good sites... you'll have to decide on polyester resin or epoxy resin, too. Polyester resin is a bit cheaper, but you're still talking $20-30 per gallon... and then there's the actual fiberglass itself, which isn't too cheap either.

and yes, the stringers should be totally encased in fiberglass, to prevent them from rotting.

 

[seven up]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

It must be my immaculate degeneration.

That small spot ? That's it ? The sole looks pretty thin anyway giving the impression of being "soft". I'm not there so it's hard to determine if the plywood strength has been compromised from repeated wet/drying cycles...it'll be dry but easy to crumble apart...then it's shot.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

Well, the large patches of wet rot are enough to make it worth his time to replace the whole deck. Even if the plywood still has most of it's strength, it would still continue to rot, and then he would have to replace the deck in another 1-3 years. So it's worth his time and money to do it right this time so he doesn't have to do it again.

 

[twintrades]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

Now how do i go about laying fiber glass?

How many layers? Should i start with the matt? And then switch to woven?

Ive never done this before. I was told to start with resin then set the matt down and brush more over the top. HOw thick should the resin be?? 1/16 "??

And as long as the resin is still wet i can set more cloth right?

 

[4everphotos]

Re: Reglassing floor ???

lol!!! well, at least I'm not the ONLY one stumbling around trying to figure things out!

Here is a suggestion, if you are interested...wear out Google like I did. I've been dreaming for years about getting an old boat and refurbishing/repairing it, and I have read a lot of wonderful and even hillarious stories about what people have gone through.

I hate to break this to you, but you are probably going to have to bite the bullet and get ready to gut the boat, redo the whole floor and the transom, and pretty much rebuild the boat from the outside up. While I understand about tight money (I'm a single mom on a tight budget myself), it is better to do it right, have a job you can be proud of, and a boat that is safe, than to try and skimp and wind up with a disaster.

I'd say take it slow and easy, google boat building like crazy and read everything you can on this forum to get as knowledgeable as you can, buy what you need piece by piece if you need to so it isn't a huge all at one time expense, and try your best to do it right.

Boats can be replaced, but you can't, so it's well worth the extra time and effort to do it right the first time and be safe.

If all else fails and you don't want to fool with it, give me a call -- by the time we are done with my lil' ten footer, I'll be ready to take on a REAL challenge! lol!! thumbs up and good luck!