Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

[jtw37]

I just bought a 16' Sylvan Sea Monster (1988) and the floor has been removed by a well intended individual, but not finished. So, I need to put the floor back in it. I plan on the Marine grade. The best I can come up with is, it should be 1/2 inch thick. Am I correct in this? Also will have to replace the carpet. This boat will be for fishing and was thinking indoor/outdoor type carpet. It also has a 1975, 50hp Johnson. Is this overkill for this boat? If not overkill, is this a good motor overall.

I also have a 60's Fiber Glass Tri-hull that I am working on, but it is for the pleasure time on lakes. Brand is a Cathedral. Not much info on that one. But is a decent boat.

Right now I'm wanting to get out of my 12" aluminum boat I've had for 38 yrs and get this Sylvan on the water.
Thanks for any help.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

That motor is definitely not overkill. I just googled sylvan sea monster to see how substantial a boat we're talking about and most of the ones I saw had 90's on them. If anything the 50 might be a little weak. If it's got good compression it's a good motor. Parts are still readily available for it.

Marine grade ply is ideal but it is quite expensive. A lot of us have used regular exterior ply. The Arauco ply from Lowes/HD is really nice. Just make you don't use pressure treated anything in an aluminum boat. As for thickness, that's a matter of personal preference. I personally find 1/2" to be too springy and have put 3/4" in both the restores I've done. If you can find 5/8" that would be a great compromise.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

This boat will be for fishing and was thinking indoor/outdoor type carpet.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Those 2 words shouldn't be used in the same sentence,....

Much less in the same Boat,....

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Post pics of your boat for the best help.

Boats that use 1/2" decking use the 2 part expanding floatation foam to support the decking so it feels solid. If you don't plan on using this method I suggest 3/4" decking for a solid sturdy build. MDO will be your best plywood for that boat, it already has an epoxy coating on it when you buy it and it's cheaper than marine grade. MDO is used in boat building, outdoor sign making, and concrete form work so you know it's strong and waterproof.

Like Bondo said, carpet in a fishing boat is just nasty.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

I'm running a 1988 Alumacraft that is about 50lbs lighter than the Sylvan and am using a 60hp 2cyclinder Johnson. If all you're going to do is fish with this then you should be happy with the 50. If you also want to pull a tube or skier then you might find it a bit underpowered. Remember this isn't a 100mph bass boat.

Am unfamiliar with the construction of that hull but agree that 5/8" or 3/4" ply is best. Also watch the plywood you buy. While researching ply for my boat I found that between HD, Lowes and Menards there is a thickness difference with HD being the thinest.

 

[jtw37]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

I'm running a 1988 Alumacraft that is about 50lbs lighter than the Sylvan and am using a 60hp 2cyclinder Johnson. If all you're going to do is fish with this then you should be happy with the 50. If you also want to pull a tube or skier then you might find it a bit underpowered. Remember this isn't a 100mph bass boat.

Am unfamiliar with the construction of that hull but agree that 5/8" or 3/4" ply is best. Also watch the plywood you buy. While researching ply for my boat I found that between HD, Lowes and Menards there is a thickness difference with HD being the thinest.

Not planning on tubing or anything along those lines. But this has got to be better then the 12 foot viking I've used since 1975. More stability and more room for sure. The motor will be to get me on the lake. After that, the Trolling Motor will be doing the work. Talked to a friend yesterday, that work's for a Boat company, about getting me some marine plywood. He thinks he can. Should know today. Tried to fire the motor, but found that it had a blown fuse. Hope to get that today. Got to get this thing operational soon, as the mutual agreement with the wife is, I have to immediately sell my two 12 footers to regain some of her piggy bank money. Then the question came up about my 60's Tri-Hull Oh well, I'll work around that..

Bondo, why not? What do I put down in it's place?

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced
This boat will be for fishing and was thinking indoor/outdoor type carpet.
Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Those 2 words shouldn't be used in the same sentence,....

Much less in the same Boat,....

Yesterday, 07:43 AM

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Bondo, why not? What do I put down in it's place?

There's numerous options. jigngrub & I both have marine vinyl in ours and are big fans. It's very textured and non-slip but also washable. This is mine: http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2504.jpg

There are also roll on coatings like Kiwi Grip, Durabak, etc. Another member recently did his with that new deck restore stuff from Lowes/HD and it looked great. I checked out a sample of it at Lowes the last time I was there and it seemed tough as nails.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Don't know that I would spend the extra cash for marine ply to be used on a deck and then only covered up with vinyl or carpet. BCX exterior ply is all that is really needed.

If you feel like putting marine carpet back in the boat then do it. Some here get very vocal about putting carpet in a boat and they are entitled to their opinions and selections on what they put in their boats. But again it's not theirs it's yours.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Bondo, why not? What do I put down in it's place?

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced
This boat will be for fishing and was thinking indoor/outdoor type carpet.
Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Those 2 words shouldn't be used in the same sentence,....

Much less in the same Boat,....

Yesterday, 07:43 AM

Ayuh,... I guess you've never tried cleanin' Blood, 'n Guts off a Carpet before, eh,..??

 

[ThrottleBack]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

If you do use carpet don't use indoor outdoor, use marine. Hooks snag into indoor outdoor

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Uhhmmm Ditto on the Blood and Guts!!!!!!!

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Uhhmmm Ditto on the Blood and Guts!!!!!!!

My last and present boat are carpeted fishing boats and I've never had a problem with blood'n guts in either of them accept maybe my own. If you don't want blood'n guts in your boat then don't gut/clean fish in your boat.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Well, Guess you've not had to dig very many treble hooks out of the belly of a Blue Cat or Channel Cat like we do here in Okie-Land! It can get pretty "Blood and Gutsy" in a hurry!!!

 

[ThrottleBack]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Well, Guess you've not had to dig very many treble hooks out of the belly of a Blue Cat or Channel Cat like we do here in Okie-Land! It can get pretty "Blood and Gutsy" in a hurry!!!

Why would you even bother? If you are releasing the fish it's usually better to just leave it in, and if you are keeping them just cut the line and after you filet the fish at home you can get your hook back.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Well, Guess you've not had to dig very many treble hooks out of the belly of a Blue Cat or Channel Cat like we do here in Okie-Land! It can get pretty "Blood and Gutsy" in a hurry!!!

No I don't even try to extract hooks from gut hooked fish because it ends in a dead fish. If it's going to be a dead fish then it ends in the livewell. Hook intact. Even gill hooked fish can be dealt with w/o getting blood all over the boat or myself.

Now if I were to mainly fish for Great Lakes Salmon were the fish are consistantly gaffed then no there would be no carpet in the boat.

 

[jtw37]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Thanks everyone for the replies. Didn't mean to get a scrimmage started. But I do like the idea of not putting carpet in the boat, as I did have carpet in the boat that I'm replacing with the Sylvan. The carpet is nice, but I think the floor is going to get the coating and not carpeted, just wasn't aware of the stuff. Blood and guts aren't any concern, but I do spill some things and I don't like the thought of it being in the carpet. I do however have two good connections for carpet and Marine plywood and do plan on putting carpet on the parts that aren't floor.

Did get it running today and it ran great. It hasn't ran since 2007, according to the guy I bought it from. It does help to have a Certified Marine Mechanic for a brother. Need to get the floor going now.:joyous:

 

[ThrottleBack]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Instead of putting carpet in my buddies bowrider maybe 10 or 12 years ago we painted the floor and mixed blasting sand into the paint. I think we painted it white I really don't recall but when it was all said and done the sand made the finish very rough and gritty.

 

[jtw37]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

Yeah....No. Don't want to do the sand trick. Much better stuff out there to work with. Picked up marine 3/4 plywood yesterday. Three sheets @ $15.00 ea. Glad we have Boat Mfg in our area. Also come home with some 3/8 x4x8 marine plywood and another 50 hp Johnson. Price was right. Getting ready to start drilling out pop rivets, so I can get the old wood and carpet out of the boat. Got to get this done asap so I can sell my other boats and keep the wife happy. The secret to that is tell her the faster I get it done, the quicker I can sell the others :joyous: My grandson is supposed to come over and lend a hand.

 

[ThrottleBack]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

To each his own, worked great for us. People have been doing that for a long time.

 

[jtw37]

Re: Aluminum Boat needs floor replaced

To each his own, worked great for us. People have been doing that for a long time.

I thought you were saying that you didn't like it, because it was rough and gritty, maybe to a fault. My mistake. One thing for sure, there are a lot of options to choose from. What part of Missouri are u in? anywhere near Perry or Hannibal?