1996 Rinker Captiva rotten floor under drivers seat.

[Nucklez]

I bought my first boat last weekend, and looking to fix all the bits and pieces up on it. The only real problem with it that I can see as a newbie boat owner is a rotten circle in the floor under the drivers side seat. It's a small captains type chair, with a 9" circle foot that bolts to the floor. From what I can tell, the previous owner stripped the bolts from the floor then added bigger bolts, those stripped so he turns the chair to make new holes. The original hole become wet and cause a 10" circle of wet rotted black yuck. I was curious what you guys would suggest on repairing this? Hopefully I won't have to rip the carpet out for this one hole. I cut a hole in the carpet under where the chair mounts so we can get some work done. What I'm thinking is to do the following:

1. Dig the rotted wood out
2. Fill it with resin such as this video
3. To reinforce the chair, get a circle of 6062 aluminum cut at 16", and mount the chair to it with bolts.
4. Bolt the aluminum to the floor.

What do you guys think about that? Am I going to waist my time, and should I pull up the carpet and replace the entire board? I'm no expert in any of this, but I want something that will last. This spot is the only soft spot in the floor at all.

Thanks in advance, and I hope to offer any advice I can in return when I gain the experience!

 

[ricohman]

Re: 1996 Rinker Captiva rotten floor under drivers seat.

Since boats rot from the bottom up, I think you have a lot more rot than you can see.
I guess you need to make the decision on how you want to repair this. The way you have mentioned won't be the proper way, but maybe you can use the boat for a while and part it out if you don't want to fix it or stick someone else with a rotten boat.

 

[Nucklez]

Re: 1996 Rinker Captiva rotten floor under drivers seat.

Since boats rot from the bottom up, I think you have a lot more rot than you can see.
I guess you need to make the decision on how you want to repair this. The way you have mentioned won't be the proper way, but maybe you can use the boat for a while and part it out if you don't want to fix it or stick someone else with a rotten boat.

As much as I hope you are wrong, you probably aren't. I'll work on poking through the wood this afternoon, and post some pics. I'll at least do this procedure, and hope for the best for this summer. Inspect it again if it makes it until winter and see where to go from there. I have no want to stick it to anyone else, I love this boat! I'll learn whatever I need to learn to keep it going. Thanks for your help!

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: 1996 Rinker Captiva rotten floor under drivers seat.

It is possible for deck rot to be isolated to some poorly sealed holes such as those used to mount the seat, but we just usually aren't that lucky. Poorly cared for fiberglass boats older than a few years most often have a good bit of rot, I'm learning. Use a drill bit to drill some test holes in your transom, motor mounts, stringers, and floor to give you an idea of their condition

At the transom only drill about an inch deep from the inside. Drill as low and as center as you can. Try several spots, especially under and around through hull bolts and stuff. Look at the shavings. Red/brown/black and damp are not good. Light like fresh plywood and dry is good. The only stringer you may be able to access is on the sides of your bilge without cutting away some of the deck. If everything checks out satisfactorily then fill the holes with some 3m 5200 and thank the big man upstairs!

While you have the hole cut under the seat, use a piece of PVC pipe with some teeth cut on the bottom to check the foam for waterlogging. Twist and push till it meets the hull to pull out a plug.

 

[Nucklez]

Re: 1996 Rinker Captiva rotten floor under drivers seat.

Well, to update the story here. The 9" rotted circle has turned into about 13" or so. I've been digging it out until I hit try wood. I've also removed the foam in this section down to the hull where it was wet. It was only about 6" or so deep. So, I've removed all the wet foam until I hit the dry foam all the way down to the hull. The worst part of the story is that the "lag bolts" that were used to secure the seat over and over where tapped into a stringer. Those lag bolts ended up being stripped up too. I have no idea how rough this guy was on this seat. Geez! I'm going to use the 3M 5200 to fill in those holes in the stringer. Thankfully, the lag bolts didn't dig into the hull, boy were they close on the starboard side of the chair. My current goal is to have a fun boat for the summer, and start the tear down to replace the floor this winter. I'll drill a spot or two in the stringer near the lag bolt holes and make sure it isn't rotted. From the outside it looks good, but I know that isn't what I'm looking for. Tapping tests on the motor mounts and transom were good, but I'll get to drilling them too once I pickup the sealant this afternoon.

FYI, the wife agrees that new carpet would make it look sooo much better anyway. We just have a nice journey ahead of us this winter.