Another floor question

[ColdFire]

Ok I purchased my first boat from an old friend, for quite a deal, it is a 1987 AstroGlass 178 fish'n ski with an 87 115 merc on it, the boat and motor only have 278 hours on them and whole set up runs great. The previous owner attempted a floor repair but he wasn't to successful, The plywood under the fiberglass has started to rot rather quickly.<br />Now before I start I have ordered runnabout renovation, and fiberglass boat repair to help guide me, and I have been search like crazy here, and I must say there are some talented people floating around this board.<br />Ok I am attaching a couple of pictures to help out with this. <br />First the Boat:<br />

<br /><br />Now the Repair:<br />

<br />The foam is dry and all of the remaining stringers and the transom are dry and solid. Just the floor plywood and the 1/2"x 2' brace are starting to rot<br /><br />and an example stringer:<br />

<br /><br />Now I am just looking for guidance before the books arrive. I am thinking the best plan of attack here will be to split the boat and completly redo the stringers and transom, if for nothing else but peace of mind (hey I like the boat and I will probably never be able to get a new one so I would like to get another 10yrs out of it) But I am puzzled on how to do the floor since is was originally glassed in.<br /><br />Thanks for your advice

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Another floor question

Your pictures are not displaying, cold fire. How are you trying to post them?

 

[bossee]

Re: Another floor question

The images display fine when only URL is copied and pasted in a new browser window Address row (and enter), but not when IMAGE (or URL) is used here.<br />Strange.<br />Unusual paint, silver metallic, was it orginal on the boat or has someone repainted it? Cool...

 

[CTD]

Re: Another floor question

If the stringers are good why replace them, same with the transom. I would drill a small hole here and there in the stringers to check for rot, if ok reglass over the holes and leave it be, same with the transom. Thats one heck of a lot of work if not needed not to mention money. You say the foam is dry, I'd also drill test holes (carefully) to see if its dry all the way down if ok leave it too, say thanks and just do the floor. You can do the floor in sections like the width of a sheet of plywood, to make it last longer epoxy both sides and edges, apply a coat of epoxy on the foam before you lay it down for extra rigidity, use epoxy and 18 oz roving or tri axial mat to secure floor to sides of boat, cover the floor with 6 oz cloth to water proof and use sealer on all screws you put in the boat. and thats my 2 cents worth.

 

[ColdFire]

Re: Another floor question

Ok Here is another try at the pics...<br />I am using instructions from this post to post the pics Posting Photos <br /><br />

<br />url: AstroGlass <br />patch.<br />

<br />url: Old patch <br />stringer<br />

<br />url: Stringers <br /><br />It is a black and silver gelcoat. The whole boat is in excellent shape except the whole floor behind the consoles. The gent who sold it said the patch was required after a long day of fishing and drinking, they managed to rip the seat off . I sliced a brick out of the foam and it is dry all the way thru and there isn't any evidence of water intrusion. just around the old patch. So I guess then the best approach is to cut out the whole floor only, replace any foam and bracing that may be need then epoxy the top and bottom of the new plywood floor and then epoxy the new floor to the old top?

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Another floor question

I think you seem to have most of it covered. After that, it's just materials. Use marine plywood-it has no gaps where the layers are pressed together, and therefore is without weak spots. After that, follow the instructions you've already seen. Between the floor and sides of the hull, use a thickened epoxy to fair it in, layering it with 3 layers of cloth between coats of epoxy. Your books should cover all of this, and you'll have a deck that should last you longer than 10 years. Hope it turns out great for you.

 

[cc lancer]

Re: Another floor question

If thats water in your last photo, sweep out the trash, get the bow up as high as possible, and cover it up. If there is any water in the stringers the last thing you want is for it to freeze. Clean the bilge area and dry it, if you have any encapsulated water it may leech out and travel to the back.<br />Boats are water resistant, not water proof, it you keep your boat covered when not in use the floor will out last you.