Do most old boats needs new floors?

[geedubcpa]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

Only the boats I buy need new floors - actually on an aluminum boat the floor replacement isn't that big of a deal - however the fiberglass looks like a real mess.

 

[trief]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

I noticed another thing that many have talked about replacing decks but never did anyone mention if this can be done with
the boat on the trailer or should it be up on blocks?

 

[rosser1]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

mine new floor went in amonth ago, haven't gatten to fish off of it, but it looks good.

 

[geedubcpa]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

I noticed another thing that many have talked about replacing decks but never did anyone mention if this can be done with
the boat on the trailer or should it be up on blocks?

No need to take the boat off the trailer......I would say 90% of restoration is done while on trailer.

 

[tintug]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

You know what I noticed in pictures and in the project boat I have seen.
Leaves and Pine needles I think this is a big cause of floor rot they cover the floors and hold in the moisture.

In my own opinion I think the leaves and any other stuff that ends up on the deck will cause damage if left there to soak up water. But when I ripped open my Blue Fin I believe that the carpet and the pour in foam did the most damage. With the foam in the way that it was the water could not get into the bildge causing the foam to rot and the deck never able to breath and also rot. I would never put carpet back in a boat or the 2 part foam just based on this one project.

 

[trief]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

I agree with the debris part but as far as not replacing the foam well that is another story...The foam is supposed to be closed cell boyency foam that is not supposed to absorb water it helps the boat stay above the water and also not sink so not replacing it can be a BIG problem it can also change the way the boats sits in the water without the foam it might sit too low causing the water line to be too high.
Now im not a expert on this and dont claim to be but this is what I have read at some of the manufactures sites and other forums.

 

[redfury]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

The hulls displacement is what determines how it sits in the water.....the more weight you add to it, the lower it's going to sit. Adding foam to the hull does not make it more buoyant. Take a bottle cap and float it in a glass of water, then take some shaving cream and put a dab on it...it's not going to change it's buoyancy unless the cap capsizes.

 

[nerys]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

Hmmm on the deck floor thing I kind of thought mine had both.

My deck is shot but the floor underneath (the foam surface) seems fine.

how do I tell if its water logged?

I noticed the floor was uneven. ie some "sections" are higher than others. (this appears to have been intentional ie its MOLDED this way.

its a 1974 Larson 186

Replacing the deck for "function" is extremely easy. I just dropped in 2 chunks of plywood. Done. cost me $28

Over the winter I intended to get rid of the ply. The "wood" based interlaced in the foam (I assume to support the deck?) is shot. I am hoping to find some scrap aluminum to replace that. I want to use some expanding foam (can you get this in a sealed variety instead of open cell?) to "level" the floor so its even from to back.

then I am going to build a simple lumber "deck" ontop of the floor. I plan to have cross members every 12 inches and then run lumber bow to stern to great a nice pretty real "deck"

except for "slots" to keep things rigid I plan to have no actual attachment of the deck to the floor. this way I can remove the entire deck as one piece from the boat and repair replace lateral supports as needed and decking as needed each winter if need be.

I plan to use regular old cheap lumber like you would use in a house at first. I can fine tune the design and maintenance will be ultra cheap.

As I get more money and if I decide to keep the boat I will use better lumber.

What kinds of wood are good for water and rot resistance? I know teak but I can afford an entire teak floor in a 19ft boat hehe

for now. I tossed in some cheap 3/4 home depot ply and am just enjoying the boat. Slipped a damned hub so have to replace that to get back on the water again.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

Hmmm on the deck floor thing I kind of thought mine had both.

My deck is shot but the floor underneath (the foam surface) seems fine.

how do I tell if its water logged?

I noticed the floor was uneven. ie some "sections" are higher than others. (this appears to have been intentional ie its MOLDED this way.

its a 1974 Larson 186

Replacing the deck for "function" is extremely easy. I just dropped in 2 chunks of plywood. Done. cost me $28

Over the winter I intended to get rid of the ply. The "wood" based interlaced in the foam (I assume to support the deck?) is shot. I am hoping to find some scrap aluminum to replace that. I want to use some expanding foam (can you get this in a sealed variety instead of open cell?) to "level" the floor so its even from to back.

then I am going to build a simple lumber "deck" ontop of the floor. I plan to have cross members every 12 inches and then run lumber bow to stern to great a nice pretty real "deck"

except for "slots" to keep things rigid I plan to have no actual attachment of the deck to the floor. this way I can remove the entire deck as one piece from the boat and repair replace lateral supports as needed and decking as needed each winter if need be.

I plan to use regular old cheap lumber like you would use in a house at first. I can fine tune the design and maintenance will be ultra cheap.

As I get more money and if I decide to keep the boat I will use better lumber.

What kinds of wood are good for water and rot resistance? I know teak but I can afford an entire teak floor in a 19ft boat hehe

for now. I tossed in some cheap 3/4 home depot ply and am just enjoying the boat. Slipped a damned hub so have to replace that to get back on the water again.

those would be stringers..and they are rotten..as you know...
The 3/4 ply is fine..but you need to seal it..if not glass and resin..then thompsons sealer or some other wood sealant, or it will start warping at the first hint of moisture...doesnt even have to rain..a few mornings worth of condensation will start the process

 

[pmat1]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

My deck and stringers are bad Every time i hit a wake a lag flys out from under my seat. Restoration thread coming in winter

 

[SteuryLover]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

MY deck on my 1976 Steury is original. They used 1/2" ply glassed on both sides then a non skid gel coat layer was applied. There is no flotation foam in the boat. The boat has saddle gas tanks so the floor is solid and looks like a bath tub. There is a 6" access hatch in the rear and a 8" under the center console. It really does not allow any place for water to go but out the back. The boat is 33 years old and shows no sign of soft spots or rot. I weigh 250 and my fishing buddy almost the same, I also have mounted a 32 gallon livewell in the middle of the floor. With 2 of us and the bait tank we are pushing 700lbs. The floor does not bow or sink one bit. Although I agree that owners are the #1 problem when it comes to rot, I do think bad boat design mixed with a careless owner is a majority of the problems. I have seen some boats that look like they are designed to hold water. Just my 2 cents. Here is a interior shot of my floor.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

The floors in my 74 are real good. Not as good as the day they were made, but not in need of replacing yet. I fugure my boat is 30 lbs or less heavy in 35 years. not to bad.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

My 67 has good original floors. As I understand it, they're glass covered wood, so I'm sure that helps. But the previous owner (there was only one) ALWAYS kept it covered when outdoors. And in the winter is was stored in an old limestone mine. Temp and humidity controlled all year long. Floors don't rot because of age, they rot because of neglect.

 

[Kainon]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

New to the Forum, You can see pictures here.. http://gallery.kainonmedia.com and a story here.. http://www.kainonmedia.com

My Question is this: I need a floor - I've seen using this is bad, and using that is bad.. but no real answers.

I've got a 1976 Starcraft Islander (as reg'd) but the HIN says 74G so.. I'm confused.

I removed the floor, flotation(covered in mouse urine) replaced the transom, and now need to install the floor and some flotation foam.

I want to use 2-part 2bl Density Spray in Foam, but am having a hardtime finding a good price, I need about 80cf of the stuff.

any alternatives ?

I want to use 1/2" plywood, but is marine worth the price ? vs a good exterior grade?

Thanks
Brian

 

[redfury]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

Sure, there are alternatives. I'm looking at Baltic birch which is exterior grade 9 ply 1/2 inch. About 50 a sheet, which is less than marine grade and better than the next alternative 5 ply arauco 1/2 inch at about $20/sheet. The difference in stiffness is enough for me to go with the more expensive stuff.

 

[jdlough]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

OKay. I have waited long enough.

No boats need floors. . .new or otherwise.

A lot of neglected, abused and cheaply made boats need new DECKS.

JB, maybe that was the problem. All these rotting boats had FLOORS, when what they needed were DECKS!

 

[Kainon]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

I like the Baltic Birch idea, Though, $20 a sheet right now is easier ($90 savings for me) .. I did have the thought of aluminum plate (would never have to replace) but need a thickness the comparable to 1/2" wood, with the same (or less) weight, I see the cost is $90 for a 3x4 peice.. ouch, I would need 6 peices.

I think I found a Foam to use.. Versi-Foam available @ Fire Protection Distributors.. Found one local, just need to ask the price.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

Sure, there are alternatives. I'm looking at Baltic birch which is exterior grade 9 ply 1/2 inch. About 50 a sheet, which is less than marine grade and better than the next alternative 5 ply arauco 1/2 inch at about $20/sheet. The difference in stiffness is enough for me to go with the more expensive stuff.

Baltic birch plywood is generally type II glue meant for interior use- not exterior glue. It is a very nice stiff panel with multiple plies, but not good on a boat.

Even the Type I (exterior) glue "Finnish" stuff is not recommended as a substitute for marine plywood. For exterior use, it is marketed in the USA as Finnish Birch, and is still the same multiple-ply european plywood made like the baltic, but it is laminated with exterior glue.

I personally would rather use ACX-Fir rather than the euro birch for anything exposed to the water. Euro birch is made with one of several birch species and interior veneers can sometimes have european aspen (poplar) which is not very rot resistant.

My 2 cents.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

Baltic birch plywood is generally type II glue meant for interior use- not exterior glue. It is a very nice stiff panel with multiple plies, but not good on a boat.

Even the Type I (exterior) glue "Finnish" stuff is not recommended as a substitute for marine plywood. For exterior use, it is marketed in the USA as Finnish Birch, and is still the same multiple-ply european plywood made like the baltic, but it is laminated with exterior glue.

I personally would rather use ACX-Fir rather than the euro birch for anything exposed to the water. Euro birch is made with one of several birch species and interior veneers can sometimes have european aspen (poplar) which is not very rot resistant.

My 2 cents.

Ditto...

 

[markwln]

Re: Do most old boats needs new floors?

I think most times when people see the floor going they just sell it. I know there is always someone like me who is willing to buy it up. Just spending the last couple weeks replacing my floor next is glassing . cant wait love the challenge.