How to detect waterlogged floor without removal? NOOB! :)

[240sx4u]

Guys, great site. I have a 1973 Chrysler Cadet. I bought this boat my freshman year of high school and blew up the motor two seasons later. It has been sitting, covered with tarps/plywood since then. That was 13 years ago.

NOW, dad says its time to get the boat out of his way and to my new house. I now have an indoor place to store it (huge shed) and a big garage to do work in. I am ready to take this badboy on. I now live near Madison, Wi so I am totally surrounded by lakes and waterways.

When I had this boat up and running, I had a 30hp merc on the back and the boat never really wanted to plane up. Max rating for the boat is 40hp. After reading this forum, I suspect water logged hull being the problem. Boat weight according to Chrysler was only 250 or so pounds, so I am assuming something is amiss.

I have read about weighing the boat to check for water. How much weight can be added by a waterlogged hull? The boat ALWAYS seemed to ride low in the water and just never seemed right. The photos in the brochures show the boat sitting higher in the water too.

I am fully prepared to gut the floor, I am very familiar with fiberglass work and am comfortable doing the repairs myself. I just need a vote of confidence!

Thanks everyone, looking forward to contributing.

Evan

 

[jonesg]

Re: How to detect waterlogged floor without removal? NOOB!

"I am fully prepared to gut the floor,"

oh yeh, well if you think anyone here is going to talk you out of it ..... Get on with it.

I've got a 73 Chrysler commander, CC fishing boat, it need ripping apart but not this yr. With enough power you can plane a brick, if the transom stays put.

Is there anywhere you can reach under the deck or check out the transom? it'd be a pity to rip the deck off to find good wood under there and all along the problem was the engine running on its last cylinder.

 

[240sx4u]

Re: How to detect waterlogged floor without removal? NOOB!

I figured nobody would stop me from removing the floor, its just a matter of figuring out if its really needed. I guess it is possible that my old motor was on its last breath. Clogged impeller was the cause of failiure. Ran beautifully until then.

Anyway, there is really no place to get in there to check out the hull...

Now that you mention it, someone mounted some sort of depth finder transducer flush with the bottom of the hull that I want to remove anyway. Ill have to take a peek and see if I can remove it.

I am hoping to pick the boat up this weekend, if not next month.

Thanks! - Evan

I just read another thread by a member who has the same boat, and pulled water and water logged foam out. I guess thats my answer!

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: How to detect waterlogged floor without removal? NOOB!

Use a long, small drill bit and put some holes in the deck and transom. If the shavings come out wet and soggy...you've got a resto project on your hands. Old waterlogged foam adds a lot of weight...I think water weighs 6-8 pounds per gallon. Good luck.

 

[fire7882]

Re: How to detect waterlogged floor without removal? NOOB!

I just pulled around 150lbs of foam/water out of a boat I just bought. If it has been sitting for 13 years and there was the slightest leak in the tarp, chances are the foam is soked. The boat I bought was stored outdoors and covered with plastic for 3 years. It seemed dry untill I started pulling the floor up.

 

[Ezrider_92356]

Re: How to detect waterlogged floor without removal? NOOB!

you can cut a hole with an hole saw and realy get a good look at things and if everything is good you can just glue the cutout back in.

 

[240sx4u]

Re: How to detect waterlogged floor without removal? NOOB!

you can cut a hole with an hole saw and realy get a good look at things and if everything is good you can just glue the cutout back in.

Yeah, this is likely the smart way to go about the situation. It would be kind of rediculous not to use it and find out that everything is fine (unlikely!).

Thanks - Evan

 

[Ezrider_92356]

Re: How to detect waterlogged floor without removal? NOOB!

yea that is how my restoration started was a few holes with a 3 inch hole saw followed by entire floor stringer and transom removal....lol

 

[Driven1]

Re: How to detect waterlogged floor without removal? NOOB!

If you wanna get real fancy, you can cut a square hole using a skillsaw angled toward the center of the hole at a 45 degree angle. When you're done inspecting you can cut a "patch" to the outer dimensions of the hole using the same 45 degree angle. Glue it in. If you got the dimensions right the patch will be level and nearly seamless.

 

[240sx4u]

Re: How to detect waterlogged floor without removal? NOOB!

If you wanna get real fancy, you can cut a square hole using a skillsaw angled toward the center of the hole at a 45 degree angle. When you're done inspecting you can cut a "patch" to the outer dimensions of the hole using the same 45 degree angle. Glue it in. If you got the dimensions right the patch will be level and nearly seamless.

Not a shabby idea!

I did have this boat overpowered for about 30 minutes before it went into storage over 10 years ago. 50hp on a 40hp boat. Now that I think about it, there was significant transom flex. There is also a huge steel plate over the back.

I am 100% sure I will need floor and transom at this point. The question is, will I ever do it. I am not sure I am willing to put 100s of hours and lots of dough into this boat.

Thanks fellas.

Evan