Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!.......

[IBrokeMyFreakinNeck]

I thought I was FINALLY about to be able to take my boat on the water after all the work I have been doing to her.<br />I had this feeling that I should check underneath her one more time. <br />I found right in the center underneath that there was was some chips in the fiberglass. I started to dig with my fingers, then a screwdriver and low and behold the screwdriver went right on up through the boat. Rust, dirty looking water started dripping out and I pulled out some wet, rotted pieces of wood. Sh!!T!<br />My boat is a 1972 16 ft. TIDECRAFT fiberglass bass boat and has had a new floor (supposedly), carpet, and casting decks put in it. It looks great from the top.<br /><br />Now I am contemplating tearing up the floor and seeing how bad the damage is, OR just try selling her as is, mostly for the Mercury 115 and trailer.<br /><br />I know it would be hard for anyone to give me a lot of advice without knowing the extent of the damage and some pictures. But can someone tell me about how hard of a job it would be to get her water ready?<br />When you walk on the inside of the boat, the sides are weak but the center is not. I'm hoping the damaged area is about 4'x6'. <br /><br />Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[olmpilot]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!.......

'72Merc1150, Not to be discouraging, but my "repair" project started out being a vertical soft spot (1'x9") near the step into the cabin... Take a look at the picture link below and you will see how that soft spot grew. From what I've read here, and my own experience, expect the worst and be greatful if it doesn't materialize. Did you replace the floor or have it done, or was that by a previous owner? My very limited and unskilled observation is I would be very skeptical if you found that kind of rot near or through the hull rather than just the flooring like I found (or was it the center of the floor?). Good Luck!<br /> http://www.rawdesigns.com/Personal/boat/Decking Removal/project.htm

 

[Realgun]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!.......

Sounds like a bad repair to hide serioss hull damage. Are you able to view the damaged area from the top?

 

[IBrokeMyFreakinNeck]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!.......

There is no damage viewable from the top of the boat. In fact, I just got in it and walked around with my big self. I'm 6'1" and 280lbs. There are some soft spots mainly on the sides of the floor but the middle does not move at all.<br /><br />I'm thinking that I might be able to get away with just fiberglassing the hole I put in the bottom underneath the boat with the screwdriver and just use it like it is for a while until I find an aluminum boat that I can use my 80hp Mariner on.<br /><br />Again, there is no visible damage unless you crawl under the boat and look at the small hole I made with the screwdriver.<br /><br />I know fiberglassing the hole would be the easy way out, but I just don't know if I want to put the effort in this old boat.<br /><br />By the way the deck and floor work was done by the previous owner of the owner I bought it from. I talked to him and he said that he paid $500 to have it done.<br />Heck, I only paid $100 for the boat, motor, and trailer, with papers!<br /><br />More suggestions?

 

[olmpilot]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!.......

Again, I would be cautious myself. If you were able to put a hole in it with fingers and a screwdriver, what might happen if you hit a dead head or a rock on the beach (if you beach it) or any other obstacle, and start taking on water without knowing it? Just my pessimistic 2cents worth and from what I found during my investigation of the "soft spots". The glass will keep the floor hard from what I found, but that is no indication of what you can find below that glass in the form of rotted wood.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!.......

72Merc - The floor might be the least of your problems. Below the floor and under the deck are the stringers. Most likely they are rotten and the transom as well. These are the main structural components of the boat. Yes you could patch the hull from the outside and that might get you through the season but I would not try to go much above no-wake speed. You risk the hull splitting or the transom comming off. You might be better off pulling the engine and looking for another (but sound hull). <br /><br />If you decide to repair yours be prepared to spend hundreds ($$$) and gobs of time. It can be rewarding though.