Fiberglassing floor

jhk1959

Cadet
Joined
Sep 12, 2005
Messages
29
Can anyhone give me a ballpark estimate what it would cost to have the floor in an 18 foot bowrider fiberglassed? <br />Thanks,<br />John
 

swimmin' for shore

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 25, 2004
Messages
490
Re: Fiberglassing floor

It would cost a lot. A couple of thousand bucks, probably. Part of this depends on the state of the wood. If it's already bad, you're going to have to have it replaced, and that costs more yet. <br />Why not do it yourself? Are we talking about an outboard or inboard/outboard? Hundreds of people here are doing floors in their backyard. That's how most of us end up here in the first place. If you have an indoor place to do it, you can work on it over the winter. Otherwise, you'd probably have to hustle now. If it gets too cold, your fiberglass won't cure.<br />Where are you at in the suburbs, KK? I'll be in the northwest suburbs this coming weekend. If you want to take a look, I'll have some free time on Sunday. Shoot me an email if you'd like. You can click on my username and see my email address listed as my homepage. I have a rental car, so I'll be able to get around the city, and though my wonderful girlfriend(who lives in that area) will chastise me for it, there's very little that I'd rather do when she isn't around than look at boats, work on boats, or dream about the first two. :) <br />By the way, if you do decide to do it yourself, you would have to account for the following:<br /><br /> Wood -pressure treated would work, although I may be lynched for saying so. 45 bucks a sheet, and you'd need 4.<br /> Fasteners Some people just thicken their resin, and glue the wood to the stringers. I prefer to screw it down with SS screws, but that's up to you. <br /> Resin You have a choice to go with polyester or epoxy resin. You decide. If you use the search button, there are a lot of posts that face this question. Epoxy is better, but it's more expensive.<br /> fiberglass cloth Fairly, you need, at the very least, a layer of woven roving, and a layer of lighter cloth-I prefer 2. You can buy this at your local marina, or you can buy it online. It's much cheaper online, but you'll have to pay for shipping. <br /> Floor covering Last but not least-what are you covering the floor with? Non-skid or carpet are the most simple answers. Figure for that cost. <br />My last floor, in a 16' boat, cost me approximately 550 dollars. There isn't a doubt in my mind that you can do it for a similar price. You'll save a lot of money, and you'll know exactly what is in your floor. You'll probably do a better job than they'll give you at the marina, and you'll be more confident with your boat than ever before.
 

garrett61

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 13, 2005
Messages
159
Re: Fiberglassing floor

Just to add im my 2 cents worth. I am also re doing an entire floor/transom in a 19' with a o/b .<br />the cost you have is very close. You HAVE TO figure in all the tools required also. Yes it can be done with hand tools but it will take alot of time and frustration without power tools.<br />I'd say 70 percent of my project cost was tools i didnt figure them in seen as this is my first full restoration id only done a 14' prior.<br />good luck just take it slow.<br />There are 100s of great minds here all on one site use it to your advantage.<br />Garrett
 

Realgun

Commander
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
Messages
2,484
Re: Fiberglassing floor

With tools and material it was 1100 approximatly for me. <br />Thats removing the floor. <br />Coating all plywood with 2 layers of epoxy. Covering floor with glass cloth and epoxy. <br />SS screws every 6 inches. <br />Coating edges with fiber reinforced epoxy.<br />Coating tops of stringers with fiber reinforced epoxy.<br />Installing tank with fiber reinfoced epoxy.<br />Constructing the frame for and aft of fuel tank and double coating with epoxy. <br />And replacing all foam under floor.
 

bigbad4cyl

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 28, 2004
Messages
386
Re: Fiberglassing floor

id suggest a new boat , as these project prices go up and up with each step , and uncovering of bad material/ goods ........especialy if you are the perfectionist type.
 

swimmin' for shore

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 25, 2004
Messages
490
Re: Fiberglassing floor

Garett, thanks for adding tools to my asessment. And you're absolutely right. I didn't have the tools for my first rebuild, either. Fortunately, I don't have to add them to any of my cost estimates now. Thank God.
 
Top