Before I cut her open... Your thoughts?

[Off-Peak]

Okay?.. if two heads are better than one - I need some advice on this before I get too far in the wrong direction. This is my 1st boat and when i bought the boat it had a soft spot in the floor and it was raining and I didn?t think too much of it? The previous owner had a cooler for a seat that was not ideal so I decided to add a leaning post. I love the height, but now that soft spot has come back to haunt me..!!!! When a sat on the leaning post I heard the floor give a tad ? just a little cracking and I quickly got off?..
On the attached pictures show the top and underside of the soft spot?. I guess my confusion is how to DIY repair this and why I don?t see rotten wood or anything other than it not supported by a beam. I have an idea to cut an access port and try to reinforce, but before I cut, are there any other ideas out there??
Your suggestions are appreciated!!! (SPORTCRAFT 202 CC)
Kevin

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Before I cut her open... Your thoughts?

Too much weight for a small area.... you need to spread the load either on top of the deck or under it. You fould epoxy in some support below the deck (like a piece of 3/4 marine plywood) or a quick for the summer way out would be to lay a sheet of polyboard (say 3/8 to 1/2" down) and remount your leaning posts to that. Have it large enough to spread the load out quite a bit.

 

[Robj]

Re: Before I cut her open... Your thoughts?

My guess is your problems are more than just that small area, most likely there is more rot. If it is just that area, glue a 1/2 inch piece of resin sealed ply down to distribute the load and then glass over. Use Sikaflex or 5200 to glue the ply down. This should get you through the summer and during the off season open her up. Most likely you will be busy replacing the whole deck and removing soggy foam.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[Off-Peak]

Re: Before I cut her open... Your thoughts?

sounds good... i think I you are right - I just dont know if i am ready to open the boat just yet ;-)

Thanks for the advise and I will try to sneak a sheet if 3/4 under there with 5200... I dont want to put anyting on the top since we are always barefoot & I know I will end up kicking a top board

The trouble is that I cant see the area, I stuck my are under the deck and snapped the pic. I think I can smear the 5200 all over the marine board, feed it down and under and catch it with lag screws from the top.

Is It Possible To Apply Too Much 5200? Also do I have to buy the 5200 at West Marine? Those guys have such a mark-up!!!! Like Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart ect...

 

[Coors]

Re: Before I cut her open... Your thoughts?

Stringer dance time?
You need to start digging deeper, you may have rot under the floor.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Before I cut her open... Your thoughts?

Home depot sells the 5200.

I have soft spots in the same area, did the PO screw that cooler to the floor? I bet he didn't seal the screws and water got at the floor underneath.

I have a 2' x 4' sheet of 1/2" ply across the area, the edges are bevelled at a steep angle and it doesn't cause problems tripping.

 

[Off-Peak]

Re: Before I cut her open... Your thoughts?

I dont know much about boats, but its fair to say the guy that sold me this boat was not willing to deal with the age, upkeep, and restore of keeping the boat on the water. When I bought it, I had it on the water for 2 minutes and the crankshaft inner splines stripped from the lower shaft and I just had the crankshaft and bearings replaced... I will pick up the 5200 and get after it on sunday....

I knew that this would be a project and the wife doesn't mind me working on the boat..!! She loves the boat so its a WIN-WIN!!!