Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!!

[JGra]

Hello all, I may be aquireing this boat in a trade for a old SUV that I have. The motor on it runs good and I will get a spare motor to boot for parts. The person that has the boat started to redo the floor but just never finished it.
I am very handy and do all my own work. I enclosed a picture and just wanted to get some advise on installiation, things to look for, do and don'ts or by looking at it is it worth fixing. It does not look to bad compaired to some of the pictures I have seen on other projects .I am fixing this up to do a little lake fishing, its not something that will be running up and down the lake for hours. I really will not have any money in it a far a getting the boat. The SUV I am trading needs alot of work and is not worth more than a couple of hundred bucks as it sits but it has a sold eng which the guy trading needs for his vehicle. The motor alone I think would be worth the trade.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff171/laptoprescue/SANY0173-1.jpg[/IMG]

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff171/laptoprescue/SANY0163.jpg[/IMG]

 

[jonesg]

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!!

I'd do it.
How is the transom, they usually all rot together.

Looks like an older Chrysler.
I have a 20' chrysler boat, 1974.

 

[JGra]

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!!

The transom is I am told in good shape but you never know. The boat is a couple of hour away and by the time I got there to look at it was almost dark. The motor is a chrysler 90 that he cranked up for me for about a minute but I dont know what it will do in the water. I havent ever owned a chrysler outboard before but I hear some people like them and some hate them. Just a mater of opinion I guess. This will be my first floor job and just wanted to get some input on if was too far gone to attempt by looking at the pictures and how to install the floor. Also I quess there was foam under the floor, what type do you put back in. Does it come in blocks or do you use spray in foam?

 

[sschefer]

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!!

Sounds to me like your about at an even break on cost right now. No harm no foul if it doesn't work out. Now all you need to do is ask yourself if you're ready to own a hole in the water that you throw money at aka a boat.

Boat restoration is a blast as well as engine restoration and trust me, you'll do both before your happy.

Here's the rules if you want to play:

1. Never put your boat above family.
2. Save only receipts for returnable items.
3. Never say the words boat and budget in the same sentence.
4. Never, ever, say "They boats finally done" or you will be counted a liar.
5. Never watch Myth Busters blow things up while you're restoring your boat.

If you think you can live by those rules.... Then what are you waiting for, its a great boat and will do just what you want it to.

 

[JGra]

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!! PIC'S

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!! PIC'S

Believe me I know all that too well. I pulled out a old 15 ft john boat that I have had sitting for 15 years about 5 month ago to try and get it back on the water. Had and old 1968 merc 200 20 hp. Spent about 2 months cleaning up the boat, replacing all the wiring, seats, carpet, total trailer restoration plus went thru the 41 year old eng that runs great now.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!! PIC'S

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!! PIC'S

Believe me I know all that too well. I pulled out a old 15 ft john boat that I have had sitting for 15 years about 5 month ago to try and get it back on the water. Had and old 1968 merc 200 20 hp. Spent about 2 months cleaning up the boat, replacing all the wiring, seats, carpet, total trailer restoration plus went thru the 41 year old eng that runs great now.

Cool, are you still living by the rules..... ROFLOL...

 

[JGra]

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!! PIC'S

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!! PIC'S

I did towards the end but not at first. Seems like I would spend every free minute I had working on that boat. My wife did not seem to like it very much at all. I learned to find a balance between spending time with the family and working on the boat. One question you may be able to answer. I dont know if this floor was fiberglass or wood from the factory. I am going to go back with the wood floor and with some sheets of foam and try to get the foam to fit as best I can. As far as attaching to floor back bown to the hull, are they screwed down to the stringers (stainless screws of course). No problem there but how would you attach to the outer edge down. I wonder if it was all fiberglass to begin with.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!! PIC'S

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!! PIC'S

I did towards the end but not at first. Seems like I would spend every free minute I had working on that boat. My wife did not seem to like it very much at all. I learned to find a balance between spending time with the family and working on the boat. One question you may be able to answer. I dont know if this floor was fiberglass or wood from the factory. I am going to go back with the wood floor and with some sheets of foam and try to get the foam to fit as best I can. As far as attaching to floor back bown to the hull, are they screwed down to the stringers (stainless screws of course). No problem there but how would you attach to the outer edge down. I wonder if it was all fiberglass to begin with.

I don't know for sure, I think I've seen them both ways but I think the least expensive would to be glass over wood and tab it in at the sides. I'm not a glass person. The guy that usually seems to be able to answer that is Opps. You might just PM him to get the best answer.

 

[notsunkyet]

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!! PIC'S

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!! PIC'S

hey there JGra im doing a resto on an 86 bayliner now... that boat looks almost identical! alot of your work is already done! you just have tons of gringing and fitting work left hehehe....but put new stringers in and redo the transom....almost garantee it gone too!
as far as the foam... FUGETABOUTIT.... dont need it and alll it does is make a big sponge.... use plywood and resin/glass over all to acheive water resistance...i used 3/4 ply and yes that is alittle overboard but i only want to do this once lol.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Floor Reinstalliation NEED ADVISE !!!!!

There ya go.. good advice. I put foam in but I used pool noodles and only did it as an after thought. I did mine after the deck was in and just stuffed them in throgh the holes I cut for the seat posts. You'll get a lot of arguments about the foam so I won't attempt to make a recommendation. I know my boat is tighter now than it ever was but I doubt it was ever really level float like the sticker says. I just did it so I could say I had it there if I was every officially questioned about it. Technically the law lets you off the hook but in today's world it may not be a pretty court battle.