rotten floor questions

[mannbc]

I have 1987 glasstrem I/o motor has very few hours on, but floor, and stringers are shot. It is also shot under motor mount area.
I have been reading the various posts...some say use just marine ply, some say presure treated ply is ok. Anyone who has used presure treated please let me know how it has held up, and if you would use it again.
Not really sure what is needed to replace the rotten wood under the mounts. It is built up aprox 6 inches and everything under the fiberglassed over part is rotten. I have read somewhere to cut off the top, pull out all the wood, then replace it with good, dump in some epoxy, pop back on the cover, wait for epoxy to dry. All sounds smple, but what is this epoxy stuff, and how do you use it. Do I dump some in the hole, put in a layer of wood, dump some more, more wood, more epoxy, utill to the right height? Also can this be treated wood boards, or just plywood.
Stringers, everything I've read says they are made of plywood, fiberglassed over to the bottom of the boat. Can they be wood 1 x 4's cut to height or is there a special reason why they are plywood. Also do they need to be glassed over the entire legnth, or can I do it in say 6 inch intervals.
I would also like to hear about anyone mistakes that has already done this type of project....so I can learn from them, before I make the same mistake.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

 

[oops!]

Re: rotten floor questions

hi bob.....welcome to i boats.......

this is the place to get all the information you need....including wood, fiberglassing, ect.....

youve got some reading to do before you start......

there are step by step picture tutorials on this site....its ALL here....

read skanky beast revisited at the top of this forum......

the hull extension in progress thread...(all of it).....even though you arent extending the hull, all the lessons and materials are there, including safety gear......(very important)

erik greens....unintentional stringer job.....

after that, just get in and start ripping.......

if your going pt ply.....(the pros and cons are in the above threads) buy it all now....so it can dry.....

well get to the rest as you come to it

cheers
oops

 

[oops!]

Re: rotten floor questions

btw.....plywood is stronger than dimentional lumber for stringers

 

[Coors]

Re: rotten floor questions

If the mounts are big enough, say 6" by 8", yes, you can cut of the tops ( f/g shell should be at least 1/4" thick); dig out rot, install new wood with epoxy. (West Marine has it, but your local discount boat store has it cheaper).
But they rotted from water in the bilge coming in through the engine mount bolts(4200 will stop that), or, attached to rotten stringers.
It all needs to be handled at the same time.
The fun begins...

 

[mannbc]

Re: rotten floor questions

Thanks to everyone responding so far! I've been doing the reading...have much more to go. However, I have more questions...
Is epoxy better for a beginner to use, than the poly resin? It sounds like the epoxy will give me more room for error.
I have also found the transom is rotting also, so the motor will need moved, or removed. I was thinking I mat be able to break loose the motor and slide it forward 3-4 feet, using my tranny jack. Then I can work on the back end of the boat, fix transom, motor mounts Bilge area, and install part of the stringers. Is it ok to install half the stringer, then move motor forward, and work on the rest?
I also see that the stringer disapears under the front part of the boat...it is all fiberglass on the front bow of the boat. looking at it from underneath it looks like the plywood under the front is good, but can't tell where the rot in stringers end.
I am new to this fiberglass stuff and really worried about doing it.
I have attached a pics of the mess.

 

[beauff]

Re: rotten floor questions

Man that is a mess. I had to replace the deck in my boat & just aboat done. Did a lot of reading here & I never done glassing before. My moto is just do it. You learn as you go along. As far as the motor gos I think you will need to remove it while you do your work. that way its out of the way while you are glassing & repairing.

 

[mannbc]

Re: rotten floor questions

I have another thought.....What if I do the floor in front of the motor, then slide it onto the new floor, while I do the back side?

 

[Bondo]

Re: rotten floor questions

Ayuh,....

The Outdrive Has to be removed 1st,.....
Then the Motor,....
Then the Transom Assembley.....

Get it Out of your way,.... Preferably somewhere in your garage, on the lawn under a tarp,...
Working Around it will mearly make your job More Miserable.....

 

[Coors]

Re: rotten floor questions

btw.....plywood is stronger than dimentional lumber for stringers

Ooops, enough epoxy and cloth= who cares if the wood form rots?
The plastic shell is the strenght.

 

[mannbc]

Re: rotten floor questions

I moved the motor today. Started ripping of the bad wood on the motor end and transom. PT in garage drying, just need to figure out what supplies needed, going the epoxy route.....looks easier than poly.
I am not clear on what fiberglass is needed, read don't use mat, but can use roving or cloth. I either ok, and what weight should I buy.
To laminate the transom to back, I need to layer of cloth, then ply, then cloth, then ply, then cloth, right.
So anyway whats everyone suggest I buy for materials?
Back to more reading!!!!

 

[Bondo]

Re: rotten floor questions

Ayuh,....

If you going Epoxy,.....

I've had Great Luck,+ Great Service from Larry at raka.com for resins, additives,+ cloth.....

 

[mannbc]

Re: rotten floor questions

Still not sure what weight cloth to buy, and from where.

please help!

thank in advance.

 

[Coors]

Re: rotten floor questions

Ayuh,....

If you going Epoxy,.....

I've had Great Luck,+ Great Service from Larry at raka.com for resins, additives,+ cloth.....

Ask Larry. It's not brain surgery, but read old threads in here, if you've never done it before. There is a lot of thought, and pre-cutting that needs to be done before the cans/bottles are opened.
Again, read up, as you can build it up so strong, that who gives a rats azz if it gets wet anymore- the outer skin is stronger than that pos wood.
And, rip out the foam. Water -sucking abomination.

 

[Bigdaveaz]

Re: rotten floor questions

A Big Sponge!

 

[mannbc]

Re: rotten floor questions

Got side tracked last year......going to try to do this project this and next month....Anyway removed mtr from boat, and started grinding out everything. Question has anyone ever looked at thier boat from underneath after they cleaned out all the stringer fiberglass and foam? I can see light through the gellcoat. Is this normal? Should I put a layer of biax on the hull before laying back in everything?

 

[Bondo]

Re: rotten floor questions

I can see light through the gellcoat. Is this normal?

Ayuh,.... A Good fiberglass lay-up is nearly Clear, to somewhat translucent....

Sounds pretty normal to Me...