Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

[ProjectBass]

We have this boat that was given to us by a family member who has passed. Its a 15' fiberglass bass boat by HydraSport. Its been sitting for about 4 years. Today, we were pulling up the carpet and noticed that a piece of plywood has been crudely laid on top of the original floorboard. It was covered in a single layer of fiberglass with silicone all around the edges to seal it? I guess. Anyway, the plywood is certainly rotted. So we go to pull that up and UGH!! Under this crudely laid plywood is the original floorboard. Stripped of its carpet, covered in adhesive, with a massive crack in it about 3 foot long. Please see photos.

Now I know the RIGHT way to do it would be to remove the upper deck and replace the floorboard. This is a debate between my fiance and I over cost, time effectiveness and end result.

My question on his behalf is....

He would like to do as the previous owner and simply place a new floorboard over the existing floorboard only, this time, he states it will be sealed correctly. Therefore, eliminating the cost and labor of removing the upper deck shell and replacing the entire floorboard. My argument is that if we are going to restore this boat, that it should be done correctly the first time so it doesn't fail and we have to do it again. He states there is no need to go through all the hassles when the end result could wind up the same.

I am looking for opinions and suggestions on both sides of this fence. Will putting a new board over the existing damaged floorboard be equally as effective as replacing the original floorboard in solving this problem? What are the pros and cons of removing the upper deck shell and replacing the entire floorboard? Please HELP!! We are fairly new at all of this and need an expert opinion.

Thank you!!

Shanna

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

Welcome to iboats!! Congratulations you are in the right place to get it fixed.

Repeat after me..... Silicone is for fishtanks and bathrooms...... not for boats!

Remove the cap and do it right the first time and you will get years of use out of it. If it is just band-aided it will not be safe.

Covering the problem will not work. There may be damage below the rotted deck too

Do a search here and tale a look at the fully restored projects.

 

[kandil]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

I would remove the old wood and see what else is rotted and fix it right but that is mefrom the looks of this mold and rote the stringer and the foam is probably bad too

 

[Bondo]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

My argument is that if we are going to restore this boat, that it should be done correctly the first time so it doesn't fail and we have to do it again.

Ayuh,....

I agree with You,...

Do it Right,.....
Keep it Dry,...
It'll last Forever....

Scrab it Up,.... You may Not see the end of next season.....

 

[sschefer]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

I agree with doing it right. It's always better, (and usually cheaper), to fix your boat at home rather then on the lake.

 

[ProjectBass]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

The nightmare continues....

After posting my thread we pulled up the old board completely to get a better look at the old floorboard. WHOA! Now its really bad! I don't have any pictures yet but I will take some tomorrow when it is more light outside.

Complete rot. You can drag a screwdriver through it and it just flakes away... Not that I didn't expect this but now its turning into something I don't know if we can handle.

I saw in a previous post something about the stringers and the foam....excuse my ignorance but this is my first dissection of a boat. I am going to guess that the foam thats running down the center of the boat with some fiberglass on it is what you are referring to. There were some 2X4's directly under the rotted floorboard that are in perfect condition....I will take pictures of those too....

I have convinced my fiance now to replace it but he is still trying to avoid removing the cap. Can this be done? I noticed screws holding the cap to the floorboard all the way around, is there anyway we can remove the old board this way and "slip" a new one in?

Thanks so far for your feedback. Its greatly appreciated.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

Once you post some more photos we will be able to help.

The foam is floatation (just in case) and sometimes it is styrofoam blocks and sometimes it is poured in and expands in place. The key is to make sure it is not wet and water soaked.

 

[oops!]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

hi.....welcome to i boats !

Will putting a new board over the existing damaged floorboard be equally as effective as replacing the original floorboard in solving this problem?

No

What are the pros and cons of removing the upper deck shell and replacing the entire floorboard?

pros....the boat will last 25 years....it will for all intents and purposes be a "new" boat.

the process of doing it togeather....will be great for you too.
the enjoyment and gratifycation you will get out of doing it will be fantastic.

cons.....

if the boat is rotted...(and it most likely is)
1-200 man hours of labor
1000 dollars approx.


but....you arent there yet....!
you need to take core samoles before you proceed....

AND.....how is the motor?.....does it run...or is it going to leave you stranded.

if you intend to keep the boat.....if the boat is going to suit the purpose of what you are going to use it for.....and you like the boat......restore it.

we can walk you right thru it....peice of cake. the boat ...when done will produce many hours of enjoyment for you two.

cheers.....and welcome to i boats
oops

 

[ProjectBass]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

Honestly, at this point, I don't know yet if the motor runs. I was told that it ran the last time it was used and that was over 4 years ago. It has not been started since. Right now, I am working on getting the engine cleaned, tuned and primed to start it since it has been so long, I want to make sure everything is right before I attempt to start it.

if the boat is rotted...(and it most likely is)
1-200 man hours of labor
1000 dollars approx.

Are you referring to the fiberglass of the hull being rotted? How can I tell if the boat is rotted?

God, I hope not....

Regardless, we like the boat a lot and want to keep it. We wanted to have it in the water by summer but its looking less and less likely the farther we dig into the boat.

I guess, my main concern is, with the economy the way it is, we don't have a lot of extra money for something like this. So I want to fix it right, but in the most economical way possible. I'm actually excited about rebuilding this boat but he's just angry he can't go fishing on it tomorrow.

Can anyone recommend any literature that I might be able to utilize to assist beginners in this type of overhaul? I looked at one guide but it was more for larger boats and it was kind of confusing.

I guess what I need is some step by step instruction cause I'm looking at it all and I just don't know where to start.

Also, can someone give me a suggestions of what I can put this 85 hp motor on while I am fixing this boat? Approximately how much does it weigh?

Thanks again!!

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

The completed projects forum is the best place to start reading for step by step instructions on how things are done "real world". If you have time the best boat resto/soap opera on the site is the hull extension in progress thread in this forum. It's long,but very informative,and reads more like a book with all of the highs and lows you can imagine. Before you start repairing the floor the engine and drive need to be checked. Good luck with your soon to be new Boat. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=234392

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

There are quite a few threads on here how to build a motor stand, an 85 hp can't be much more than 200-250lbs. A simple stand out of 2x4 and 2x6 for the cross beam should be plenty. There are a number of ways to lift it up onto the stand which you can also do a search for. I removed a 235 hp outboard from a boat I had some years back with myself and three friends. Maybe not the smartest or safest but it worked fine with no incident. It was closer to 400lbs. I had a stand built and set up right behind the boat, lowered thetrailer tongue all the way. put plywood under the skeg of the ob drive then got everyone in position and had my wife crank the tongue back up which lowered the boat out from under the motor. Then we carefully turned the ob 180 degrees(rested on the plywood under the skeg) and put it on the stand then pulled the plywood out from under the skeg and it lowered right onto the stand while I redid the transom. I also through bolted it to the stand just to be sure. There are many ways to go about it this was the easiest and quickest (and cheapest) for me. Just make sure you are safe whichever way you go. I had never done any fiberglass type work on a boat before but after hours of reading on this site I was able to redo my transom and the boat was rock solid till the day I sold it and still is today. Good luck with your project...

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=272749

This is my Bayliner Capri project. You can get a good look at generally how stringers and fiberglass is/are laid out.

The stringers, the frame of your boat, is plywood encapsulated with fiberglass (in my boat, 3/16''-1/4'' thick). Because of possibly questional build quality and the rot you have with the floor, you need to take "core samples" of the stringers by drilling into them in various places and examining the shavings. If they're dry, you're in good shape. Seal the holes with 3M 5200 or resin and replace your deck. If they're moist, mulch-like, etc, you have to go ahead and redo your stringers.

Don't let it intimidate you though

 

[ProjectBass]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

Well, EVERYTHING is rotted. There isn't a wooden piece on this boat that isn't mush. Eveything has been pulled up and I have to tell you, I have learned so much already!

The transom is definately garbage but the plus side is that I can cut out the top and clean and replace the wood. I will need help with that later. The stringers I originally thought were inactive cores but it turns out there were active but the wood was soooo rotted, you couldn't tell there used to be something solid there. I originally thought it was just dirt. The tops of the stringers are also gone, so I am confused about that.

The only good thing in all of this is that the hull seems to be solid.

My newest round of questions:

How can I check the hull now that the boat is all tore apart? Can I just fill it with water?

Can the stringers be rebuilt with the existing fiberglass or would it be best to remove the old fiberglass and start from scratch?

What is the best wood to use to replace the transom and the stringers? I read in a fiberglass repair manual: http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/HowTo-Publications/Fiberglass-Boat-Repair-and-Maintenance.pdf

that trapezoid shaped stringers are better than rectangular stringers because they offer more support? Is this true?

I will be starting a new thread turned "Floorboard Nightmare turned Total Rebuild" to document my rebuild since this is going to be more than just a simple question. Now, you guys said you would help me all the way so I will have lots of questions cause this is my very first boat. I would greatly appreciate any answers or tips. Its gonna be a long spring....LOL

 

[Bondo]

Re: Floorboard Nightmare/ Can anyone help?

I originally thought it was just dirt. The tops of the stringers are also gone, so I am confused about that.

Ayuh,... Your 1st Thought is Correct,... Composted wood is in fact Dirt....

There probably was Never any Tops to the stringers, they were glassed along side, but not Over...

How can I check the hull now that the boat is all tore apart? Can I just fill it with water?

Naw,.. No Need.... Start sanding,+ vacuuming,+ cleanin',+ inspectin',+ measuring....
Any holes will be found during the refit,+ can be addressed as you go...

Can the stringers be rebuilt with the existing fiberglass or would it be best to remove the old fiberglass and start from scratch?

What is the best wood to use to replace the transom and the stringers?

Ayuh,.. Starting from Scratch gives you a Blank Slate,+ more leaway with the refit...

I prefer good ole CDX, plywood, 3/4" or 1/2" wherever necessary....
Encapsulated with fiberplastic,... It'll last a Hundred Years,....Especially if kept Dry....

that trapezoid shaped stringers are better than rectangular stringers because they offer more support? Is this true?

Pull stringlines, measure, cut-out, Loosely fit with a grinder,...
Then use Oops's Peanut Butter to set them into the hull...
It don't get no Stronger.....

Triangles,+ Boxes are Strong forms,... Flat panels are Not.....
Structure is Strength...