first time owner,need help with floor

[chris cross]

picked up a glassmaster with what might be a bad floor, only in the very back where the jump seats go.motor area and transom area is solid. took an ice pick and pushed through the floor,didn't go through floor in other area of boat.i pulled some of the carpet up but didn't see much of anything.i have seen a number of postings where you guys cut out some of the floor, but i don't understand how to use a skill saw and just cut the floor and not the stringers.is it ok to cut into part of the stringers when i use my saw to zip out a small section to see what im up against?? the boat has been out of service for about 5yrs and it has sat in a weld shop out of the weather for the most part.it gets very hot and does anyone think there might still be moisture in the foam .will the weak area spread upward and mess with the rest of the floor.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: first time owner,need help with floor

Lotsa questions.
1. Most skilsaws have an adjustable setting, and you can choose the depth of your cut, so you can manage to only cut floor out without cutting stringers. I don't like that process because you don't know that someone didn't tack their floor down to the stringers with screws, prior to glasswork. It can be done that way, though.
2. It's good that the boat's been inside. That means it's been kept somewhat dry. No matter what the heat inside was, though, the foam's wet if it ever waterlogged. You'll simply have to take some out.
3. You're just going to have to test the floor to find out if it has weak spots, where they are, and how extensive the rot is.
Suggestion...get a hole saw at home depot or Lowes or whereever. Get a 3" hole attachment for it. Cut a hole and find out. When you have a hole, dig the foam out of there with a sawzall, pry bar, screwdriver, and whatever else it takes. Sawzall is a safe method, and the worst danger is usually bending a blade, but I cut straight down into foam with it, very careful not to go fast, and when the nose of the blade hits fiberglass, I move around the cut and pull the foam out. Not hard at all. Remember to keep the blade straight up and down. You cut things with the teeth, and not with the end of blade.
Start there, and tell us whether you have wet foam. The back end of the floor is most susceptible to being wet, so I'd start there and then work forward until you have dry floor. The big telltale, even before you cut, is if you your floor feels soggy, so don't cut more than you have to.

 

[alden135]

Re: first time owner,need help with floor

If you use a skill saw, buy a couple carbide tipped throw away blades for it and WEAR safety glasses.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: first time owner,need help with floor

You can drill a hole through your floor (3/4") to the faom. Then take a piece of PVC pipe pound it down the hole and get a core sample of your foam. If it is wet, you'll have to remove it.
Been there; Boat rebuild- floor project

 

[chris cross]

Re: first time owner,need help with floor

man i sure learnded a few things about,floors and foam.thanks for the hole saw idea and the sawzall.i put a 3" hole in the floor,got a sample of the floor only to find it falling apart in my hands.got a foam sample,that was dry but i smelled mildew so looked further only to find that foam 5yrs out of the water,still can be dripping wet. i only had enough time to do the passenger side look.the good news is the stringer is in good shape on that side.i tried to use a sawzall but we only had 8" blades,so i found a dull used small blade and a vice-grip and cut a 2' x 2' section out.would you beleave the darn floor was still wet.so now i need to know, after i cut out all of the bad area how do i put down the new piece and fasten it to the edge near the side of the old floor.i was under the impression that i could screw into a stringer but one of them is some what round.looks like a 1 1/2" dowl was used to make this.the other stringer is on the side of the engine,and that is square.and what can i use to replace the old foam i took out??

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: first time owner,need help with floor

Chris, I'd venture to say that ALL your foam is wet. and you are right.. it does NOT dry over time. Do a core test close to your keel.
There are a number of threads here and everywhere on redoing floors. Do a search. You have quiet a bit of work ahead of you.
Lot's of reading and learning.

IF you are going to refoam, I bought 2part foam on eBay. Never used it, it went with the boat when I sold it.

rebuild project

 

[tmh]

Re: first time owner,need help with floor

Even if the foam seems dry near the top, I found out most of my bottom foam was waterlogged. Really, this is a GREAT thing to find out because you may remove 100s of lbs. of wet foam and lighten your boat a lot! I did. It is amazing how heavy water-logged foam is!

Tons of threads here how to do it. For getting the foam out (after tearing out the old floor) try to get "chunks" at a time. I used a pick-axe wide blade with half "chops" to break free 1' sections all the way top to bottom. BE CAREFUL with this so as not to damage hull.

I also cut through my hull with a circular saw cutting the old floor out! DON'T DO THAT. Me careful and it's not too bad a job. Good luck.

 

[iwombat]

Re: first time owner,need help with floor

Y'know with as many people as there are re-doing floors, it's a wonder you can't order up a load of pre-resined plywood. I know I'd buy some. Only having to resin up the cuts would sure save a pile of time.


Wishful thinking, I know.