20 foot sea craft overhaul questions

[fish4boats]

I have a few questions while I'm overhauling my boat

When I bought the boat I noticed that there was a second deck on top of the original which made me believe that the original deck got soft and they did a quick cover up

1. The foam is wet I was wondering if this was okay and what it dry out on its own or should I change it

2. The original deck was 3/8 plywood covered on top and bottom side with fiberglass. Now my new deck will be three quarter inch plywood with a chopped strand map following a 10 ounce fiberglass cloth will this suffice on the top side only or should I do both sides?

3. Last but not least the stringers look to be in great shape and are solid but I noticed that the fiberglass on them is not completely covered in resin. If I Scuf it and wash it down with acetone would it be acceptable to apply a new resin to assure a good waterproof coat

 

[GA_Boater]

Can't answer the glass questions, fish. But the foam will never dry out and it's been damaged by going through freeze and thaw cycles. You will need new foam so it has the original safety factor.

Good luck.

 

[fish4boats]

It Was a Florida boat. never seen a freeze

 

[GA_Boater]

Is it in Pennsylvania now?

 

[fish4boats]

Yes but it's in the garage for the winter till I get the overhaul complete. it's a heated garage

 

[GA_Boater]

The foam is still ruined and should be replaced. It will never dry out.

 

[Woodonglass]

I agree, get the foam out and and then core sample the stringers and the transom. You won't know for sure the condition of them until you do. If the stringers were poorly glassed then there's a really good chance that they'll need replaced due to water absorption. This link should be helpful for all the work ahead of you...Fabricating Decks, Stringers, and Transoms

 

[fish4boats]

I've Never done stringers before so I'm kind if worried about it. I tested them with a screw in a few sips and they gripped well. I will get the foam out but my budget is starting to get really tight.

From What I've read and I'm told it will take ruffly 3-5 gallon if resign to make the peanut butter and glass new stringers back in. This Is something I can't afford due to what I've looked at this would be close to a grand alone.

This Boat is heavy already which is why I questioned the foam in the first place. I mean let's face it. if Your boat goes down to drag it back and try to salvage it you might as well go buy another boat.

So in regards to all that would you recommend removing the stringers anyhow. also Would two gallons of foam be enough to redo it. also. How Do I go about getting the old foam out.

Thanks Again folks..

 

[harleyman1975]

That foam is full of water and that adds weight. why going 3/4 ply? 1/2 would be more than adequate. all that weight adds up!

 

[fish4boats]

It's a 8ft beam. there Is only two stringersabout two foot in from the the sides. and about a for foot gap in between in the center or so.

Do I need to fiberglass the to and bottom if the decking boards

 

[gsxrdan]

see the link in post #7, yes glass deck bottom (adds stiffness as well) good luck!

 

[fish4boats]

What Kind of foam should I buy. I know pour foam but what type and also ruffly how much would I need

 

[DeepBlue2010]

2Ib foam is the most common type for flotation. Any heavier, it is more for structural use. As of how much you need, you can estimate that by roughly calculating the volume of the compartments that you plan to foam. If the shape is so irregular to use good enough approximated math, use a painter measuring cups to pour water into these compartments and keep track of the volume you poured in. The sum of all numbers will give you the volume you need; add 20% more

 

[fish4boats]

No Title

Can someone tell me what this stuff is they used to glue the deck and kind of raise it. they Also used it to glue in the drains for the wet deck

 

[fish4boats]

Here is some more of that stuff that they used to put the back down. I do not want to use this stuff again because it did not make good contact everywhere. The Live Well was actually leaking down into the hull of the boat which I can only imagine how much the bilge pump Ran

Can't I just cut the deck down with deck screws and glass over it from there

 

[fish4boats]

Anyone for the above questions

 

[kcassells]

Fish4,
I can't really tell from the pics you sent. Can you take dif. angles further back? Try to highlight the areas you are referring to.
​KC

 

[fish4boats]

No Title

Two more things..

1. The stringers are only fiberglass.no wood at all. Should I still use 2lb foam?

2. The live well and storage in the front of the boat is heavily glued with that pink porcelain type glue. Also it is molded to the front of the boat. Here's the big question.

I tore all the foam out but under the livewell. It's wet but us it gonna hurt to leave just that little bit?

 

[kcassells]

Looks like most of that "adhesive" to adhere the deck down was a half baked idea. You'll find lots of peculiar techniques used by PO. The stringers look like glass over wood. You'll really want to get the very most of the foam out. It'l hold water a very long time. Plus you may find other issues behind it that may need to be a ddressed.
2# foam is the foam of choice if it's not structural. It probaly is 2# foam.
Welcome aboard! Take lots of pics, lots of questions, and take alot of before and during measurements. You won't believe how you will depend on them when reassembling the boat.

 

[Woodonglass]

I agree with Kcassells, unless you have core sampled the stringers to confirm they are either Foam Cored or Hollow there's no way to KNOW if they are wood free. I also agree that it would be best to remove ALL the waterlogged foam.