1964 MFG Cartop 12' Resto

[Cdubb2010]

Hey all,

Got a old boat I want to get in ship shape again over the winter. She's seen better days, someone used some gross greenish house paint on the hull and the floors are busted up. I got it legal last season but didn't make it out on the water so now is the time to make it right and make it what I want her to be. So first thing is first, the floors. The are broken out and what's left is brittle as hell, what's the proper way to fix that? The floors appear to be a thin fiberglass. My thought was good plywood, some good sealing primer and some carpet but I'm just unsure on how to handle the remains of the old floor. What's the best plan of attack? I tried uploading a photo of what I got but the photo size is too large and I have no clue how to downsize it on a phone, so if anyone know the truck to that let me know also. Thanks again.

 

[Woodonglass]

This might be of interest...

Best way to post pics is from a Free Photobucket account. Upload your pics there and then copy and paste the IMG Code back into iBoats.

 

[Cdubb2010]

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/...ps49ee51ae.jpg here's a direct link to the boat since the link option on here says the photobucket URL is invalid...and that's is quite interesting, very cool old ad! Thanks for that

 

[jbcurt00]

This is the only pix:

 

[Cdubb2010]

Thanks for posting it jb, it's rough not having a computer sometimes lol But yeah what do I do with the floor? Cut plywood to fit, prime it and lock down with some kind of adhesive?

 

[steelespike]

If the hull is sound and reasonably flat interior how about something like paint on bed liner.It would save weight and unnecessary complication.

 

[Woodonglass]

A dremel or multitool would make short work of cutting out the remaining portion of the deck/floor. You could leave it out or replace it with 1/4" or 3/8" PLYWOOD coated with epoxy and Glued to the bottom and tabbed to the sides of the hull. Finish it off with 2-3 coats of oil based paint.

 

[Cdubb2010]

If the hull is sound and reasonably flat interior how about something like paint on bed liner.It would save weight and unnecessary complication.

I think the hull is sound as far as I can tell, I would prefer a floor in it for it's appearance and function but I won't rule out doing as you describe if a floor is too tall of a order.

 

[Cdubb2010]

A dremel or multitool would make short work of cutting out the remaining portion of the deck/floor. You could leave it out or replace it with 1/4" or 3/8" PLYWOOD coated with epoxy and Glued to the bottom and tabbed to the sides of the hull. Finish it off with 2-3 coats of oil based paint.

What kind of glue should I look for?

 

[Woodonglass]

Epoxy. You're gunna need it to coat the wood with so I'd recommend you use it to glue the wood. You'll want to thicken it a bit using some fine wood dust from your sander. Make it like mayonaise and spread it on.

 

[Cdubb2010]

Very good, just any old epoxy will do? Then any special considerations for the plywood? Marine grade or anything special?

 

[jbcurt00]

Are those fiberglass tabs holding the seat benches to the deck (floor) or the hull. Does the deck run under the benches? Or is the deck only between the benches?

 

[ondarvr]

Don't glue the plywood down, just set it place, if you need to secure it just screw a small block to the seat base over the plywood.

I wouldn't go to any extra effort to seal the plywood, just paint it, if you leave the floor sections unsecured you can pull them out and store them indoors when not in use, they will last for ever that way. Plus lots of stuff finds its way under floorboards, gluing them down ensures they will never be seen again.

 

[Woodonglass]

Yeah but...Not very stable if you go to walking or stepping around inside the boat I wouldn't think. I understand your reasoning but the design of the boat is kinda funky so... Not sure I'd wanna leave em loose especially if kids were gunna be in there. I'd have to ponder on that!!!:noidea:

There IS another alternative for the wood. Depends on how you care and maintain her. If you keep her covered and out of the weather most of the time, you could just seal the wood and paint her like ondarvr suggests and the wood, glued in or removable, would last for decades. The Old Wood boat builders Sealed their wood with a special formula and then painted it and would last for a long time. Some folks like to use it and some don't I still do. I have great success using it cause it works!!! Cheaper than epoxy and lasts a long time. Up to you. It's your boat and your decision.

 

[ondarvr]

The only place stepping may be an issue is at the very outside edge, if it is an issue the block screwed to seat base will lock it in place, it will never move, but will still be easily removed. Light, easy, simple, cheap.

 

[Cdubb2010]

JB the deck is only between the benches and I think that tab is actually molded into the hull. I really like that idea ondarvr but I wonder about the blocks since they are being drilled into 51 year old fiberglass, I worry about it cracking and blowing out. Like woodonglass I wonder if it would be stable but I like the idea of it being removeable yet theoretically soild. My nephew would be the only kid on that boat in the foreseeable future and he's only three months old, so I got some time to figure out these floors before he needs to learn to fish. She's a strong old girl but I don't want to put too much into her.

 

[jbcurt00]

No matter how you decide to put the deck back, you'll need to get the old out, and clean up what's left. Post a pix once you get the old out.

From the pix I posted it almost looks like the deck is only covering the semi-vee down the centerline of the boat. Then once that piece is in place, there's a layer of fiberglass across it and the outer sides of the hull. Look at the layer of peeling fiberglass along that semi-vee's edge leading to the bench tab in the top center of the pix I posted. At the tab there's no void below the fiberglass to allow for a deck, and that fiberglass skin looks continuous to me.

 

[ondarvr]

If there's wood in the old floor I'd pull it out (hard to tell in the pic), if it's just glass I'd leave it.

The screws can be made to hold without much work.

 

[Cdubb2010]

Did have it out on a pond last year with oars to test her (four guys none of us under 6 foot 200 lbs 200-300 pounds overcapacity) and she performed well and didn't leak a drop. But the floor in question was coming apart the whole time into small peices, I wonder if the excessive weight played apart in it. It is just fiberglass, no wood so I suppose I could leave it, would there be any cons to leaving it there?

 

[ondarvr]

Leaving it gives a little support for the hull and the new floor, there is no downside.