Boat floor replacement???

[Sport240]

Just a quick question.

How do I know if I should be cutting out the floor of my boat and re-plywood/re-glassing?

I'm working on renovating a 1969 Arkansas Traveler 14ft Comet. The inside of the boat (glass) is in pretty good shape, but there are a few 'soft spots' on the floor. The boat has been laying around in backyards for years collecting water and leaves.

I'm thinking that the stringers may be a little soft and that the glass may have separated from the wood.

Could I just throw a plywood on top of the actual glass and re-glass on top, or am I looking at at cut-out job of the current floor and then ply and glass?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

JD

 

[R Socey]

Re: Boat floor replacement???

If you send pictures, it will help you get more, and better help - everyone loves photos! It is hard to conjur up images in your mind to try to give advise. My advise would be to tare all the bad wood out and replace. Good Luck!

 

[andgott]

Re: Boat floor replacement???

If the floor is soft- Anywhere- It needs to come out. Rot tends to start in the bottom and work its' way up, so it's likely that the floor is more rotten than you know, it just hasn't started to 'show' yet.

Putting a piece of ply over it all is a temporary 'fix' that doesn't really fix anything, more like hides it. Don't bother.

Also- The odds are, if the floor is rotten, any wood under it will also have issues. You are going to want to check out the stringers for sure, which will require floor removal. While you're at it, check on the transom as well.

-Andrew

 

[Sport240]

Re: Boat floor replacement???

Oops...think I used the wrong reply button.

Thanx for the advice Andrew...kind of thought this question was gonna lead me to cut and gut. Will post pics of what it looks like now, just in case...

This place is good...

JD