90 Bayliner Capri NEED HELP

[pirates08]

Hello,

I just recently bought a bayliner capri and have noticed significant floor rot around the bilge area. The wooden supports that surround the opening have rotted and broken off leaving the wood very soft around the edges of the bilge. First of all I don't understand why their is an opening between the two lounge seats anyway. It can't be used for storage because water gets inside it, and it can't be used for a livewell. Would you consider this opening a "bilge" or not. What purpose does it serve? and how in the heck does water manage to get inside this area? Does that mean I have a leak somewhere in the hull?

I am going to the replace the floor and I was considering just covering over the opening with plywood to avoid having soft spots a couple of years down the road. Is that a good idea or not?

 

[oops!]

Re: 90 Bayliner Capri NEED HELP

hi pirate.

WELCOME TO I BOATS

this is a great site with awesome people.
just about everything you ever wanted to know about boats is here.....
any boat pro you ever wanted to talk with is right here...the best mechanics...electricians...they are all here.
any question you ever wanted to ask has allerady been covered on these forums.....just use the search button.

when i got on here all i did for the first two months was use that search button....just about every thing i know came from these forums....

im not sure what holes you are talking about?....
if you can post picks...it would really help.

one of my boats is a bay liner capri...19 footer..i/o.
i think you will find that a lot of bliners were prone to rot....stringers ...foam and transom.....

some people just cover their floor with new wood ...and be done with it....
but you will end up doing it again.....with worse problems.....

id suggest you take stock of your situation......do you have the time to do it?..(approx 100-200 man hours)....dont let that scare you...thats 2 hrs a day for 50 days...2 months) .....the money....(floor...foam...transom....approx $800-1000)
and the place to do it?....

i think youll find just about every one here will tell you.....do it all...do it right the first time....and...never..ever worry about it again......(im in that group)

but what ever you choose....were here for you.

cheers
oops

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 90 Bayliner Capri NEED HELP

Hay Welcome , and what he said !!!! lol John

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 90 Bayliner Capri NEED HELP

the cut out between the seats is a ski locker, for storing water ski's and ropes. and yes it is sort of a bilge, it has to drain into the bilge, or it would be full of water. sure you can cover the area. the boat was not a bad boat. the owner was a bad owner, not properly caring for the boat. keeping it covered when not in use.

 

[pirates08]

Re: 90 Bayliner Capri NEED HELP

Is the only way to get to the gas tank taking up the floor in the rear of the boat. I wanted to inspect the tank for leaks w/o a whole lot of hassle. Also, i have got the same problem that many other capri owners have also. There is a hole in the floor right when you first walk into the bow. And the floor seems bare as if the fiberglass resin has gone away. The wood grain is clearly visible with a whitish tint to it. What has happened? I've been reading different forumns and this seems to be a problem with many capri owners.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 90 Bayliner Capri NEED HELP

http://70silverline.250free.com/Skankybeast.html

 

[oops!]

Re: 90 Bayliner Capri NEED HELP

if your not doing a total rip out.....you can pressure test the tanks.

ill climb aboard my bliner and look at the deck area you are talking about....it sounds like the resin has just been worn off....but if the rest of the floor is soft.....id really think about replacing the whole thing.....then you can see what the strings and foam look like.

cheers
oops