1996 Four Winns Deck Rot

[bfischer]

I just bought a 1996 Four Winns and knew there were a few problems with it when I picked it up. The main issue is with the deck rotting right next to the left seat. I didn't really realize how bad it was until I almost fell through the floor showing off at the lake:facepalm: We put a band aid fix on it for the remainder of the summer...it's functional but I hate the way it looks. This winter the boat is going into the shop and will be getting a new deck installed and I was wondering if anyone has done this repair on this particular model and could guide me in a direction that will keep the maintenance and down time to a minimum. The boat is a great boat and runs like a dream. Handles like a champ too. Just trying to get a little info.

Thanks

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1996 Four Winns Deck Rot

What Four Winns is it??

 

[bfischer]

Re: 1996 Four Winns Deck Rot

It's a 1996 Four Winns 200 Horizon DLX

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1996 Four Winns Deck Rot

I have a 210 Horizon under restoration now.... If you want to see what you may be getting into under your deck. The link is below in my signature.

If your deck is rotten I'm pretty sure you will have some in your stringers,bulkheads and possably your transom.... Do you have pics of the rotted area?

 

[bfischer]

Re: 1996 Four Winns Deck Rot

I pulled some of the carpet up to check where the rot is. It's mostly around the access panel between the seats. The transom and everything else is fine and the stringers are in good shape. I'm going to replace the entire deck so I never have to worry about this problem again.
Thanks for the link..I'm going to check it out!

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1996 Four Winns Deck Rot

Thats where my deck was soft also around the ski locker hatch.... went much futher then just the deck.... Your stringres are good??? Did you pull up your deck and core sample them??? Just because they look good below the hatch won't tell you the whole story.

You need to first drill a 2-3" hole in the deck near the bilge area and core sample the foam below deck.....if it's wet you need do dig deeper...

 

[bfischer]

Re: 1996 Four Winns Deck Rot

We pulled up part of the deck but didn't do a sample. That will all happen this winter when it goes in for the deck refurb. It's going to be a project but a worth while investment if you ask me. I'm looking to do everything. Decks (and stringers if needed), carpet, upholstry work on the sides and just a general clean up and tightening of everything. When I start it I'll post pictures of the progress and hopefully it will only take me a month or so to complete. I work a month on month off schedule so I have a lot of spare time to get things done.

I really appreciate your advice rickryder and look forward to more in the future.

 

[Wetbehindtheear]

Re: 1996 Four Winns Deck Rot

Well, I just bought a 83 18' 470 Mercruiser, 180 Marquise Cuddy with the same issue. I have never done a project like this, but this is how I plan to do it.

I work in a CNC Shop with alot of extra room around the shop. The owner is a boat lover and has given permission to do the repair there. I will rip out the old carpet and seats. Then I will painfullly disassemble (hopefully) the floor in sections. Then I will digitize the individual sections on the machine and recut out of new material. Any framework will be done in the same way. I am thinking of using marine plywood with oak on top (for looks and conversation piece), but this may be too slippery.