14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

[xtremefisher1]

Has anyone ever redone a fibreglass boat floor before? if so how hard is it ? instead of reglassing it can we just carpet the wood floor?

i beleive the boat i just got has a bad floor. when i went and looked at it it didnt seem that bad but since i got it home i might be in a little over my head here.

any pointers , any picture from a forum member that did redo a fibreglass boat floor before would muchly be appreciated.

either way if it can be done then i will just fix the 2 motors i i have with the boat and sell them and buy a tinnie if i really have to.

i am to believe that this boat is a 196? starcraft arrow. but am unsure as for the real model of the boat because the id plate is well worn off the boat


thanks again for all the help and suggestions . this forum is awesome

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

http://www.fiberglassics.com/research/83-book-part-two-transoms-floors-and-stringers.html

Here is a tutorial on floor replacement. If the floor is shot the stringers are most likely also. Maybe even the transom, this is why the guys here prefer aluminum boats. Nothing wrong with glass, they ride better. A little more work though.

Also check out Chinewalkers reatoration threads, he replaced the above mentioned areas in his American. Hopefully he chimes in and gives you some encouragement.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=61515
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=61646

Good luck.
Don

youtube vids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8x8GbcWN0k&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL46j2wF4Vg&feature=related

 

[xtremefisher1]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

instead of glassing the floor again can we use carpet or is that a structure thing ? i prefer a glass boat for stability with my young kids and they look better

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

Is the floor soft? If not then covering it will be ok. Is the transom good and stif? If you lean on the outboard is it solid?

Post some pictures if you can. I love the old Starcraft fiberglass boats. We don't have enough of them around here. And yes they look better. They are rated for higher horsepower too. I love the tinnies and glassers from the 60's and 70's, especially the 60's.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

I moved this to Resto where the glass guys hang out.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

Welcome to iBoats!

We can help you restore her to her original Beutiful self. Just post up some pics and we'll get started. With all the expert help here on the forum you'll be able to accomplish your goals for her in short order. There's a link in my signature line that will help you post your pics. Looking forward to seeing your project.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

Very doable. Multie redeckings going on now. Check mine out in my sig, I was a first time glasser too. I would deal the wood with either epoxy resin or use mat and poly resin. Carpet over ply will rot quickly.

 

[xtremefisher1]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

well guys you asked fo rthem here they are pictures of the boat during retoration

 

[xtremefisher1]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

more pics

 

[xtremefisher1]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

yet more pics

 

[xtremefisher1]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

oh but wait theres more

 

[xtremefisher1]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

well heres my boat please any help in tearing up the floor and any transom help would be great cuz my transom is rotten and would like to restore this boat because my wife actually likes it hahahaha

 

[zopperman]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

pics didn't work buddy

 

[xtremefisher1]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

how about now ????

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

Pics worked Great! Sorry but your boat is a total loss. But since I'm such a nice guy, you can tow it to my house and I'll take her off your hands!!!!

Seriously, I LOVE these old runabouts. She looks alot like my "Blue Flamingo" If you have the time, Patience and Money, you can bring her back to her glorious self. Your basic tools of destructions will be a Circular Saw, a Sawzall, a 4 1/2" grinder with a rubber backup plate and 36 grit sanding discs, pry bars, chisels hammers etc.. You MUST have PPE i.e. Respirator, Goggles, gloves, Tyvek suit. I would first take careful measurements of the width of the boat at the transom and the dash, both at the top and the deck level. You will need to make sure these stay constant throughout the rebuild. You next order of business is to remove the motor. There's a plan in the stickys at the top of the forum on how to build a motor stand. After the motor is removed, you should remove the rubber from the rub rail and remove the hundreds of rivets or screws holding the aluminum rubrail on. There may be some resin or caulk holding the top cap to the hull so the sawzall or a chisel may be required to break it free. Once free, remove the top cap and set it aside. You're now ready to cut out the sole/deck/floor. Use your circular saw and set the blade to the thickness of your deck material. Cut as close to the sides of the hull as possible. You will leave a lip but this can be ground away later. Remove the deck with hammer chisels prybars. Core sample the stringers by drilling into them with a 3/8 inch drill and inspect the shavings. If they are wet and mushy they must be replaced. A long Flexible blade on the sawzall makes short work of this. The grinder will do the rest. Transom removal is next. Prybar, chisels and grinder will take care of this. You should have the hull down to bare glass now and ready to rebuild. We'll cover that when you get there.

Keep the Pics and Questions coming. We're here to help.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

No better advice than that ^^^

And yes the pics work now for me too.

However, please don't tell me you're using that rope to lift the engine? You need something like webbing or chain that won't stretch

 

[registeroot]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

Nice old style boat with a nice old style engine. is that a johnson 40hp? looks the same as my 1961 johnson which is in pieces.

 

[xtremefisher1]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

ok so i got all the screws out but i cant seem to split the back end. is there a way that i dont know? please any help would be great

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 14' fibreglass starcraft floor/help/concerns

ok so i got all the screws out but i cant seem to split the back end. is there a way that i dont know? please any help would be great

The cap where the Splashwell attaches is probably glue to the top of the transom with resin. You'll need to crawl under there on the inside with a hammer and chisel and chisel her free. Lift the cap from the from with some bracing to put a little pressure on her so when you get it loose enug she'll pop off.