Finding rot without cutting the floor

11 footer

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Some of you may remember the pictures I posted in the fall of a old imboard bowrider, the brand name is Maxum, same hull as bayliners I've seen. Its just your basic 1985 20' I/O bowride. I put it away for the winter, its my uncles boat<br /><br />He's talking about hauling it out, and being he's in much better health now then he was last year, he thinks he's going to be using it a lot, with his wife and other family members, it has me worried.<br /><br />When I was out on the boat a few years ago, when going threw chop on plane, the whole hull would seem to shake and vibrate, everything on the boat felt loose. <br /><br />When I cleaned and covered it for winter, the floor seemed solid, but everything was moist. The engine cover was waterlogged, took everything I had to lift the thing up, under the dash was wet, just everything was moist. The boat has been neglected for the last five years I've known it, maybe longer. During the summer months its not covered, all the seats get rained on, and soak up all the water. <br /><br />It hasn't been used regularly in the last two years, last summer it didn't see the water, the summer before that it only went out twice, for very short rides.<br /><br />I'm worried he's going to start using it again and get into trouble, I'm expected to help him get it ready, and help him out the first few trips. Is there any way to check for stringer and transom rot, without cutting up the floor?<br /><br />I've heard of moisture meters, how do they work and where are they sold?
 

Bondo

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

I've had pretty good luck with an Ice Pick..........<br /><br />For the Meter,.... Maybe at a Garden Center you might find 1 of those "When,+ With What" to water the flowers Meters.........<br /><br />I use My Finger......... ;) <br /><br />Good Luck,...... It Doesn't Sound Promising......
 

BaysideMarine

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

When I check a transom I use a decent size ring/open end spanner or a hammer. As you tap around the transom area you will note any soft areas as the sound will go from a nice solid ring to a dull thud.<br /><br />The floor is as easy to check. Either pound around with your hammer or use the heel of your foot to find any softness.<br /><br />No disrepsect but although the US boat builders have better construction systems in place than here in Australia, rattly windscreens and hull/deck joins still seem to plague the US designs. The Bayliner's are not particularly well joined in the hull meet deck area...<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Nicholas
 

11 footer

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

No disrepsect at all, not my boat, and I agree. , Thats what I have a whaler! ;)
 

bigbad4cyl

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

i guarentee you have waterlogged stringers and could find some areas that need replacing ...find some dull sounding areas when you hit with a hammer and drill into them if the drill goes straight through like butter you have a soft area ....and there are more .....but do you want to open up a can of worms...........
 

11 footer

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

not really, what will happen if its just used as-is?
 

Solittle

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

Ryan - If it has bad rot the transon could rip off or the hull crack - - or both. Until you know if and the extent of the rot keep the speed down.
 

Bondo

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

I have to Totally Disagree............<br /><br />Even thou your uncle's boat is Only, 1 Step Up in the food chain from a Bilgeliner,........ :D <br />It's a Fiberglass Molded Boat.........<br /><br />She'll give All Kinds of messages before she gives up the Ghost.........<br /><br />Some of the 1st signs include,.......<br />The Center Windshield Doesn't Fit anymore......This is a Minor 1....<br /><br />Being an I/O, If the Transom is Real Bad,... <br />The Coupler will Puke Long before Anything could "If it has bad rot the transon could rip off or the hull crack".........<br /><br />She Might give you the Weebley-Wobbelly Feeling,... But that doesn't mean it's Over.......<br />Remember,... <br />
.....but do you want to open up a can of worms...........
Ayuh,......... Usually,.......... Once you Open Her Up,........ It's All or Nothing............. ;)
 

11 footer

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

Sounds like you looked the boat over!<br /><br />One thing I remeber from working on it for a week getting it clean and winterized in the fall was the center winsheald didn't fit right!!! It had to be forced down,,, so whats that mean?<br /><br /> The weebley-wobbelly feeling is was evident when going threw choppy water on plane last time I was out on it, three years ago.
 

Bondo

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

so whats that mean?
Get Rid of the Folding Section......... Or Leave it Open..........<br /><br />The Only Real Question here is,.....<br />What are the " Expectations " of this boat........<br /><br />1)Total OverHaul,+ Refit ??<br />2)Cob it together,+ Sell it ??<br />3)Run It, Till the Coupler Gives Out....??<br /><br />Do You Really Want to Know how a Maximum Bilgeliner was put together in 1985 ?????? :D
 

biloxiriver

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

FYI - spun two couplings on a WellCraft I/O a couple of years ago. Took it into a marine mech and the first thing he did was go to the outdrive, grabbed it at the prop and flexed it. It moved just enough to be seen and he told me that was why the couplings spun. Cost me $2,500.00 to have the transom cut out and rebuilt but she didn't spin anymore couplings. Transom wasn't "rotten" but she was gettin' there and weak.
 

tengals123

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

BaysideMarine, where in Melbourne are you?
 

1965MT

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Re: Finding rot without cutting the floor

[I've heard of moisture meters, how do they work and where are they sold? [/QB][/quote]<br /><br />The one you are interested in takes advantage of the electrical capacitance of water.<br /><br />I have used a moisture meter to do what you are saying. The kind I have is about $260 but they can be found cheaper. I use it for measuring the moisture in wood.<br /><br />The way to use it on a boat, You are not looking for exact moisture readings because there are too many variables. So, put the meter against the hull at a known dry spot. This will set your baseline, on my boat the reading was 10%. Now, start moving the meter around to various places on the hull and transom. If the spot is saturated with water the meter will peg at its highest reading, mine is 30%. I would expect a little variation of about +/- 4% on the moisture reading for the areas around any stringers,etc... You can use this to map out the wood in the boat.
 
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