Re: 88 Four Winns Candia. Help finding and getting to anti siphon valve (fuel tank)
That's how mine started, but not every case of soft spots on the floor wind up needing as much work as my boat did. Sometimes you can get lucky and just have to replace parts of the deck or the whole deck and not have to re-do stringers. Doing the deck itself is much easier than the stringers in terms of the woodworking and fiberglassing skill you need. The problem with older boats is that this type of construction (wood frame, foam filled hull, plywood decks, carpet on top, most holes not sealed) is VERY prone to rot. It is not a good way to build an open boat but it was very common, they were all this way back then. Moisture gets under the carpet, it can't dry out, the holes are not sealed that were drilled for the seats, so the bacteria in the rain water and moisture can literally eat the wood. It is a big project first you have to decide how much work the boat is worth to you. And keep in mind that fiberglass work is hazardous, the dust is bad for your lungs and the resins are bad for your skin. You must wear protection (tyvec suit, gloves, goggles, proper respiartor for both dust and vapors). There are many threads in the restoration forum that you can read. Look at friscoboaters, he did great work on 2 boats and made youtube vids to document it.
I had the glass shop do some of the work and I did the rest. I did all the removal, demolition and then had them do the stringers so they would be level and well glassed in. I replaced the foam, and installed the new deck. Then I had them gelcoat the new deck but I probably could have done that part myself. Reinstalled the seats and sealed every hole with 3M 4200. That was 5 years ago, it still looks good. But it was a BIG job. So think it over, if you have room to work and a sheltered shop it can be OK, doing it in a driveway under a cover is not optimal but that's what I did.
I've said this before and I'll say it again, get rid of the carpet all it does his hold moisture and makes the conditions for rot perfect. You will see that the rot starts, anywhere holes are drilled and moisture can't evaporate. The seat bases, screw holes, etc. I'd never buy another boat with a plywood deck covered with carpet. They will all rot unless you live in the desert or stored it inside and let it dry out.
BTW, the older boats were better in some ways as you say. For one they do have more room inside my 88 H-200 as much more room than a new one and more room than an H-210 which is the same length as my boat. In addition, the older boats have an open engine compartment and are easier to work on, there is no molded in 'glass that goes all round the back of the engine and down to the deck. The newer ones with EFI and cat converters they can keep, I like my simple boat with points n condenser ignition and a carb.
