Cutting up boat floor - how close to edge can I cut?

[NatedoggAZ]

Hello,

I am about to cut up the floor in this area only - how close to the side am I supposed to cut? I don't want to cut into the hull obviously...

Thanks!

ND

 

[Mechanicalmike08]

If ur using a circular saw set it to just the depth of the floor or a little shy. Then it shouldnt really matter. Your only going to get as close to the edge as your saw will allow.

A picture or description of your boat would be better

 

[NatedoggAZ]

Ya... sorry, trying to upload via cell
.. says pics too large...urgh

 

[NatedoggAZ]

Here are the pictures

 

[Mechanicalmike08]

The way most do it is a circular saw set to the thickness of the floor. Get as close as you can to the edges the saw will allow. Peel that section up. Then use a oscillating tool to cut flush to what you want.

By the looks of it your stringers are rotten too.

 

[gm280]

Good advice given thus far. Either way, you have to get ALL the rotted wood out and fair the fiberglass in prep to reinstall new floor. Grinding comes into that picture as well...

 

[kcassells]

Well with a floor that rotted be prepared for a LOT more work. I smell total rehab.
I don't think it will matters how close you cut to the edge cause its all rotted. Post some pics.

 

[chevymaher]

As was told to me when it was my turn. The more you leave the more you got to grind. My personal advice. Leave a inch to be sure not to cut through. Then once it is cleaned out and you can see I used a whiz wheel cutter on the grinder to trim as close as I dared before I went to grinding.

I know it is doing it twice but hey I was new and I did not go into much less through the hull. Worth the time to me. Kinda the measure twice cut once.

 

[NatedoggAZ]

Well...

The EXACT thing I was trying to stay away from and prevent from happening... actually happened...

I cut through the hull..

I know I am not the first this happened to... nor will I be the last.... oh well...

Its just about a 4 inch cut. Hopefully just injecting some epoxy into the cut and/or using some Marine Tex will do the trick.

Anyways - the floor was not rotted - just the stringer in which I mostly removed... just need to remove a little more and replace. I'll post a new thread on that part of the project.

ND

 

[gm280]

Well...

The EXACT thing I was trying to stay away from and prevent from happening... actually happened...

I cut through the hull..

I know I am not the first this happened to... nor will I be the last.... oh well...

Its just about a 4 inch cut. Hopefully just injecting some epoxy into the cut and/or using some Marine Tex will do the trick.

Anyways - the floor was not rotted - just the stringer in which I mostly removed... just need to remove a little more and replace. I'll post a new thread on that part of the project.

ND

NO... :nono:

Don't just put some resin in the cut. It will leak down the road. You need to grind out the edges out some ways from the cut and apply fiberglass with resin, and then do another layer as well. And even go to the outside and do the same. While the actual cut seems thin and small, you actually cut through a few pieces of fiberglass layers. So do the repair the right way while you have the opportunity.

Please take a look at this and see what is involved; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9hfpOCnzEs

Yes we all have been there and this guys shows and tells you why you do it the right way. JMHO

 

[AShipShow]

Ouch! Yea, I was lucky enough to not join that club yet, but seen plenty of pictures just like yours... the above advice is definitely correct. You can't just inject with resin or you will fixing a rotten boat again in a couple years. Fix it right.. you're already headed down the road of a full rehab so it will be a piece of cake to fix.