Boat getting Upholstered

[wewefirex2x]

My boat is in the shop all torn up. The upholster called me the other day and said he found a soft spot in deck. I went to take a look and it is in front of the bildge over top the fuel tank. I have the stringers marked out. The peice I need to replace is only about 8 inches wide. Since the stringers are so far apart I need to actually replace a 28"x16" peice.

1. He will not cut deck because it is overtop the fuel tank. There is 12 gallons of fuel in a 40 gallon tank. Is it safe to cut floor with fuel in tank? Other than a circ. saw what else could I use i.e grinder.

2. He would like to router 1/4 inch from stringer to stringer and replace with 1/4 inch steel. I do not like that idea.

This is the only place where the wood is bad but he is only allowing me 4 hours to fix. I have to leave the boat in his shop so he can fabricate the rest of the interior.

The foam, stringers and rest of floor are completely dry. I have accessed them from holes that are in the deck.

Please Help!!! This is my first deck repair

 

[92excel]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

1. He will not cut deck because it is overtop the fuel tank. There is 12 gallons of fuel in a 40 gallon tank. Is it safe to cut floor with fuel in tank? Other than a circ. saw what else could I use i.e grinder.

2. He would like to router 1/4 inch from stringer to stringer and replace with 1/4 inch steel. I do not like that idea.

Unfortuantly if you have a soft spot there, then more then likly you will have more rott that you do not see.. you said that you checked the rest of the floor and stringers and they seem fine.. did you drill into them to do a core sample or just touched the outside of them?

if you want a patch job then the circular saw set to your floor depth is the way to go. cutting with gas in the tank shouldnt be an issue.

This is the only place where the wood is bad but he is only allowing me 4 hours to fix. I have to leave the boat in his shop so he can fabricate the rest of the interior.

Its your boat.. you are allowed to do what ever you want..

 

[salty87]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqELnDPR0hQ

it's really a long add for epoxy but the method is mostly the same.

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

Thanks guys for the quick response....

The place where the deck is soft is not in the middle. It is where the fuel line and vent hose run. There is NO support and over time has become soft or rotten due to the fact its a high traffic area.

I have put way too much money into this boat to do a patch job. If there is more damage when the deck peice is removed I will continue to investigate further. Thanks again

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

Ok.Ok.Ok.

I went this morning and started cutting out the bad spot. The previous owner actually made a cheesy repair. WTF? Once the bad piece of deck was taken out, one of the supports over the gas tank came with it. The repair used a 2x2 piece of wood attached to a rotten support. I LOVE IT. I started to cut more wood out and am kinda in a bind. I do not know what to do now. I did not take pictures yet because I forgot my camera. I will post pics as soon as I get back to the shop.

Just wanted to update!!!

 

[92excel]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

you have to access the situation to its fullest and then decide on what you wanna do. basically you can patch what you got or do atleast a new deck.
you are going to want to check your stringers to see if the core it rotting.
you have to check the foam and see if its wet. not just touching it but you have to actually dig through the foam and check if the lowest point is wet.
Also check the transom.. this will tell you where you are.

Before you said you already have your mind set on keeping the boat so i would say let the guy finish the upholstery since you can remove it when you do a repair and take the boat home.

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

The guy is being great....He is giving me until the end of March to fix what needs to be fixed before he installs all the interior. I am also keeping the boat inside he shop using his air compressor and electric. Sweet deal. The one stringer is rotten and am in the process of removing. They used a bunch of glass and it is kicking my butt. The bulkhead? where the bildge is, is pretty rotten also. I may have to remove fuel tank, not sure. Like I said earlier I will post pics as soon as I get back to his shop Mon,Tues. I am so far in debt with this boat its not about worth its about being safe and happy for years to come...

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

This is the only picture I have for now. This was a previous repair by PO.

Where do I go from here? As you may or may not be able to tell, this is all the bad stuff I have found so far.....The stringer appears to be fine under the existing plywood because its as hard as a rock and completely different color.

 

[92excel]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

Take a look at the picture below.. its your picture..
The white arrow points to what looks like it used to be a stringer..
if thats the case then it runs the length of your hull and is most definetly rot alot farther forward then you have cut out.

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

WOW, I didnt know it would take this long....

A quick update,

My boat went to upholstery shop in February. Soft spot found. Fiberglass guy came and picked up boat. New stringers, deck, fore and aft bulkheads and custom made gas tank. The upholstery guy's schedule is ridiculous, his schedule is packed every week. I was alloted 3 weeks for my project until the severeity of the wood was found. It took fiberglass guy a month and a half, waiting on the tank to finish deck. This is what is completed so far, hope to have it back and in the water 2nd week of June. All interior peices are made but not yet installed. ALL wood has been cut and covered. I love it so far!!!

Camera Phone, Carpet is not dirty TRUST me....

 

[lowkee]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

That is a seriously nice upholstery job! Not a wrinkle or seam anywhere! Nice going!

 

[redfury]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

Looks good! It's gotta be a nice feeling knowing that you can trust the deck and what lies beneath it.

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

Thanks lowkee

Redfury, thats why i paid to have it done. Could not live with, did i do it right, will it last.

 

[escapade]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

looks great, can't wait to see pictures of it in the water

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

Almost there. I decided to go ahead and reconfigure the wiring mess in and around the transom. WHAT A MESS!!! Here are a couple more pics. Most of the stuff is finished but not yet installed.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

Thats a very nice job.

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

Walked in this afternoon to work on electrical and Surprise. These peices were put together. Entire boat has new wood. Amazing work!!!!

 

[wewefirex2x]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

I go Wednesday to pick it up. Custom cockpit cover is the last thing to be made,except for the wood panels in front of the two jumpseats!!!!

 

[wewefirex2x]

Finally Completeld and Home (Boat getting Upholstered)

Finally Completeld and Home (Boat getting Upholstered)

Cockpit Cover Completed. I like the attwood vent. The pole is not attached to the vent because I need to undo cover and recheck fuel lines after putting $45.00 for a half tank. Yes I know my swim platform needs love!!! Dont hurt me to bad, i also need paint LOL

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Boat getting Upholstered

That interior looks fantastic in fact I may actually try to copy your captains chair for the front 2 seats in my Starcraft . Differant colors but the general desighn is just what I had in mind .


Rick