1969 glasspar refloor

[headhunter2]

Had this boat for 6 months, been out on the puget sound about 20 times hull seems solid. But...went to put in new seats and the screws don't take.. Time to refloor. Here's what im thinking... using fir 3/4 A/C with resin on bottom and glass/resin on top...haven't refloored a boat before but im very mechanically enlclined an experienced with salt water corrosion, in the navy. Let me know what you think guys and any pointers are appreciated.

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

this is going slow due to work/family time consumption but I will get it done. Here's where I'm at got most of the floor out portside totally mush down to what appear to be the stringers stbd side not so bad but It all goes. Here is a pic of what I believe to be the stringers on this
http://s772.photobucket.com/albums/yy4/brewedin78/?action=view&current=IMG_3117.jpg

Looks like a 1x10 solid run for to aft of solid lumber that connects to glass at the keel and glass overlays over top to the hull with two cross members, foam underneath. Im new to boat restore but haven't seen anything like this on any post anywhere. Please if you have any input on this let me know. Im thinking of replacing the stringers if that is what they are with ply vs solid wood but im open to any inputs thanks.

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Well after going off to play navy Im back to work on my own boat now, just got all of my materials and am finishing the demo work now, foam removal. Current plans are to install 2x10x12" douglass fir stringers and a 25/32 AC Fir ext grad ply for the deck, all glassed with resin. Picked up some A/B foam today, west marine can suck it I got 2 gallons for a 100 bucks vs thier 100 bucks for a quart, same stuff. If anyone has any input on my project please post I still have not seen this stringer type on any other post yet. More pics tomorrow.

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Sounds like a great plan..and welcome home! Thanks for your service.

The few things I would suggest is to find a local fiberglass shop to get your supplies..the box stores, west marine all have jacked up prices. I got 5 gallons of GP laminating Resin for $110 with hardener. And 1.5oz CSM for about $4.25 a yard on a 50" role.

Get LOTS of cheap paint brushes, and just throw them away after use, rather then trying to clean them with Acetone..you end up making a mess and waisting acetone. Same with Gloves. Get 4 or 5 mixing cups and after you use them, let the resin set and dry, don't try and clean it out...after it sets, you can squeeze the cup and the resin will break off and the cup is clean again.

Also, not sure if you changed your mind or not, but in you original post you said you were just going to poly the underside of the deck rather than adding a layer of glass. I spoke with quite a few boat rebuilders in my area, and they all said to add a layer of CSM at least. I put down one layer on the bottom and will put 2 on the top.

Good luck!

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Thanks for the info. So far as today goes worked unitl my muscles didn't work no more. Got the foam out, man does that stuff suck to get out. Grinded and sanded the hull to deck area. For tomorrow clean up, pressure wash more sanding and pressure washing then maybe get the stringers cut. Remember from my pics these are not normal stringers so if just looking at my thread take a look at the picks earlier and give me any tribal knowledge you have please!! No pics today...too messy right now anything within 3 feet of the boat turns white but tomorrow ill have picks. By the way its a 69 Glasspar citation with a larson serial number tag....any info on this?

 

[Spinnaker]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

MTrive08

I have to say as good as putting FB mat on the underside of the floor sounds it is not necessary. Adds strength but a couple coats of resin will be just fine. Seriously, it's a lot of work and doesn't need it. Guys here might be rolling glass under their floors but it's overkill. I too have been building luxury yachts for 15 years. But if that's what you feel you need to do go right ahead.

I'm not trying to be a know-it-all, just trying to save you some very unnecessary work.

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Once again thanks for the input guys, think Im going to just resin the underside of the deck vs csm and resin, I only plan on using this boat another 2-3 years. Here are todays accomplisments, got the sanding done, rest of the foam out, pressure washed and the stringers cut. Got some pics to go with it too. Once again any input is great input. Thanks for looking.
http://s772.photobucket.com/albums/yy4/brewedin78/boat refloor 14feb10/

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Well just put on the last coat of poly on the stringers. Next step is to move the boat into my neigbors heated garage so I can fix the cut in the hull i made and start putting the stringers and deck together, can't wait to do the 2 part foam...uggg.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Sounds like you are moving right along!!
I have seen people not even use anything on the bottom of the deck-as someone on here said-gravity will pull the water down. Having said that, I do believe the coat of resin is a very, very good idea.
You are in the same stages as I right now. Fun, fun stuff isn't it?

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Well the poly is drying slow, been almost 24 hours in a 65 degree garage and still has some pretty sticky spots, I did follow directions and mixed for 30 seconds prior to applying but it should set up by tomorrow. Won't get anymore done till the weekend any how due to work.

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Got to work on the boat the last couple of days here are the results

First put the boat in a heated garage got it up to 75 degrees.

Fixed the cut in the hull I made with a circular saw during demo, used penut butter, painters tape then sanded the inside and glassed over with csm.

heres the outside of the cut after repair

and the inside

Next I got the new stringers in, used doug fir for all materials coated in poly

new stringers fwd (holes are for pour in foam)

new stringers aft

fwd stringers glassed in

Being this is the first time I have ever fiberglassed I learned a couple of things today, csm and paint brush good, biaxial fiber and paint brush bad
and I need to get more glass, resin and paint brushes.

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Finally got the foam in, wasn't as bad as I had expected the holes and having the boat tilted up helped alot, used more foam than expected though, I could only get the garage up to 73 so it didn't get to expand to its full potential. I used fiberlay 2 part that is supposed to be great at 75 degrees and up. Filled in the foam holes yesterday and put another coat of resin on the stringers.

Now for the fun part, I started cutting the actual deck, I'm using three sections of doug fir exterior grade 3/4, tonite i got the aft section rough cut with 55 degree bevels to help it level to the hull, my plan is to sand the edges so there is about a 1/8th to 1/4 gap between the hull and deck then bond the deck to the stringers with PL premium and deck screws and a bead of PL on the deck to hull joint. After that I plan on filling the gap with poly penut butter and using 4" tape on the joints. Hope to get more done tomorrow and maybe be glassing the deck on saturday. Thanks for reading.

 

[I'D RATHER B FISHN]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

I am getting ready to attempt the same type of work on my 89 18' CC boat. I don't have any insight, but do thank you for the project updates & pics as they help me get my mind wrapped around what needs to be done.

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

MTrive08

I have to say as good as putting FB mat on the underside of the floor sounds it is not necessary. Adds strength but a couple coats of resin will be just fine. Seriously, it's a lot of work and doesn't need it. Guys here might be rolling glass under their floors but it's overkill. I too have been building luxury yachts for 15 years. But if that's what you feel you need to do go right ahead.

I'm not trying to be a know-it-all, just trying to save you some very unnecessary work.

Well I'm certainly not the expert here or anywhere. The business where I got all of my fiberglass supplies was owned by a guy that had been restoring boats for 20yrs or so. He said that in his experience just putting resin on the bottom of the deck will rot it much faster. I took his advice and for the few extra dollars in glass and resin it wasn't a big deal.

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Finally got the foam in, wasn't as bad as I had expected the holes and having the boat tilted up helped alot, used more foam than expected though, I could only get the garage up to 73 so it didn't get to expand to its full potential. I used fiberlay 2 part that is supposed to be great at 75 degrees and up. Filled in the foam holes yesterday and put another coat of resin on the stringers.

Now for the fun part, I started cutting the actual deck, I'm using three sections of doug fir exterior grade 3/4, tonite i got the aft section rough cut with 55 degree bevels to help it level to the hull, my plan is to sand the edges so there is about a 1/8th to 1/4 gap between the hull and deck then bond the deck to the stringers with PL premium and deck screws and a bead of PL on the deck to hull joint. After that I plan on filling the gap with poly penut butter and using 4" tape on the joints. Hope to get more done tomorrow and maybe be glassing the deck on saturday. Thanks for reading.

Nice work bro..You are moving right along! Looks like its coming out nicely..you'll be back on the water in no time.

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Put in some more hours on the boat today, got the whole deck cut and sanded to fit which was alot of cut sand see if it fits and repeat, glad this boat is only 16.5 feet and not 22. After reading some of the replies and the amount of time i've put in this project I think Im gonna spend the extra 30 bucks and glass the bottom of the deck vs just resin, thanks for the advice guys.

I put a seat in it when I had all the pieces in for fit check and man did that feel good. I decided to make a base plate for my seats that will be glassed to the deck and the seats will bolt to the base plate with stainless T bolts. Im gonna glass the deck first then rough it up PL premium and deck screws through 3/4 ply(for the base plate) and then add a layer of glass over the base so that the seat bolts DO NOT PENETRATE the deck. The seat boats will be coated with 3m 5200 when installed. My seats are on a 4 bolt 7" riser like you find at walmart or cabelas. If anyone has any advice on the seat plan let me know by tomorrow around noon or to late for me. Here are some pics of the deck.. Thanks for looking

new aft deck

new fwd deck

port deck edge meeting hull

faired edges where the deck sections meet each other, used 45 degree angles

Afte bilge pocke cut out, one nice thing with this stringer design I can stick a fan in the fwd section of the bilge and blow out the rear access to assist in drying

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

After reading some of the replies and the amount of time i've put in this project I think Im gonna spend the extra 30 bucks and glass the bottom of the deck vs just resin, thanks for the advice guys.

Wise choice.

I decided to make a base plate for my seats that will be glassed to the deck and the seats will bolt to the base plate with stainless T bolts. Im gonna glass the deck first then rough it up PL premium and deck screws through 3/4 ply(for the base plate) and then add a layer of glass over the base so that the seat bolts DO NOT PENETRATE the deck. The seat boats will be coated with 3m 5200 when installed. My seats are on a 4 bolt 7" riser like you find at walmart or cabelas. If anyone has any advice on the seat plan let me know by tomorrow around noon or to late for me. Here are some pics of the deck.. Thanks for looking

The deck looks great..nice work on the 45 degree angles! I too am going to be making a base plate for the seat pedestal to mount to. I don't want the screws holding down the seat pedestal to pentrate the deck.

Here is a picture of the base I made..I'm waiting on the seat pedestal to arrive so I can fit it in. I was planning on on using PL and Glass forsure..but was undecided as to whether or not to use deck screws as well. I suppose since the entire base will be sealed with glass and covered in Gel Coat, I'll use deck screws as well for added strength.

This is what I'm shooting for when I'm done. I think these bases are a bit bigger than mine however.
http://picasaweb.google.com/pacerdude/EntireDeckReplacement89Celebrity224se#5318809936442602594
http://picasaweb.google.com/pacerdude/EntireDeckReplacement89Celebrity224se#5318809940858448114

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Finally it's starting to look like a usable boat again.

Today got the bottom of the deck sections glassed, installed the aft and mid sections. I used PL premium and deck screws dipped in PL to secure to the stringers, when doing this I drove the screws then pulled them out and coated with pl the re drove so that the hole was sealed. While waiting for the fwd deck section to set up I poured 2 part foam under the new deck sections for added strength and sound deadning.

One note for anyone who wants advice with this 2 part stuff is a hair dryer is your friend if it is below 75 degrees. Put a hair dryer in the hole your going to pour in then move it to the next hole when you go to pour, this worked very good for me, I learned it here on Iboats but it would hurt to post it again. Also if you get your foam from anywhere than WEST MARINE (Ripoff Central) it won't hurt your wallet as bad. I picked up a 2 gallon kit of fiberlay for 100 bucks at a local marine shop.

For tomorrow I plan to install the fwd section of the deck then fill the gaps and tape. Then it is time to glass in the whole deck....finally....I need more resin!!!

Here are some pics from the day.

Pic of the 2 part foam

Bottom of fwd section
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy4/brewedin78/redeck 27feb10/IMG_3793.jpg

One of my foam holes, 1" every 18"

Here you can see some of the foam oozing out the side

Pic of the aft deck installed you can see the seam at the bottom where the mid and aft sections meet the seams are glassed over and PL Premium was used when placing together.

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

Finished getting the deck sections in today, got the deck to hull gap filled, used a poly penutbutter for the big gaps and PL for the small gaps, I don't know how the PL will work out I'll find out tomorrow after it dries. I would have used PB for the whole joint but ran out of filler material so if the PL doesnt set well for this application I'll pull it out and PB after getting some more filler. Here are some pics from the day.

Deck to hull joint with PB

Another view of the joint

Fwd deck section installed and secured

Fwd deck joint

Pic of the deck paint I'm gonna use

 

[headhunter2]

Re: 1969 glasspar refloor

The deck is taped in....one step closer. Now to fill the foam holes on the deck and sand yet again, then for some 1.5oz csm for the deck...after this project I don't want to look at a sander for a while. Here's the pics.

Fwd deck taped in

Aft deck taped in