floor replacement newbie

[firemanjonny]

As 99% of the people on here, I am the same. Intended to attempt a straight forward decking replacement in my 84 larson. Being a virgin to this domain, I was in for some big time headaches. Like so many others out here, my stringers are shot, floatation foam soaked, what a freakin mess! A case of beer later and things still didn't look much better, headache was though!! OK so, I do have a game plan as far as stringer repair, think I have that handled, thanks to you kind folks. A freind here at work suggested putting in a few stringers, running from the 2 main ones in the middle, out to the sides, perpindicular, in an effort to give the boat more support. Any comments on that? Suggestions for F/G? Weight and type? Floatation foam, Kinda worried about putting spray faom back in, due to the water logging. The "Beast" thread suggested 4lb density foam. Where can I find that? Holy cows!! What have I gotton myself into? OH! being an I/O, Any quick check I could do, regarding my transom? Without cutting it up that is? Thanks guys!! and Gals.

 

[watermellonI]

Re: floor replacement newbie

Sorry to Hear it Firemanjonny
Pour foam is the best way to go if your gonna rplace the foam, it comes in a Kit I got mine from us composites, I suggest using it because it not only keeps your boat afloat but helps make it a little more ridgid.
Do a search on it here, theres a lot of info on it here and at diffierent manufacturers webbsites.

By all means yes check your transom NOW, mine was bad and found it after rplacing stringers and floor.
Tap it with a rubber hammer on the inside. it should sound the same nice and solid, if you find a spot that doesn t sound right use an ice-pick and poke a small hole from the inside of the boat, if mud or somethin like it runs out your in trouble. Dont poke all the way thru the transom you just wanna get thru the fiberglass to the wood.

Cross members would make your boat a lot more solid but may be overkill if your gonna put foam back in, the foam will go between the deck and the hull of the boat and bond them together. When the foam sets up its really solid stuff.

 

[firemanjonny]

Re: floor replacement newbie

Thanks for the info!! Say, if i do use the pour foam, won't it just potentially hold water again? How do I make sure I have enough in the cavity? Or do you pour it in before attaching the decking? If the transom is bad, do I need to dig that whole back wall out? Good lord thats alot! MAN!

 

[watermellonI]

Re: floor replacement newbie

As far as the transom goes yep its a PIA, but if your gonna keep the boat itll pay off in the long run. Do a search here for transom repairs cause its gonna depend on what type you have as to the type of repair your gonna do.

The Pour foam has got to be the coolest stuff I ve ever toyed with.
Once your stringers are done you build your deck and glass it in on the sides to the boat, then you go back and drill about a 2 inch hole in the deck mix the foam and pour it into the hole and the foam fills any voids. The stuff is really sticky and will bond to everything it touches, cat dog you wife kids oh yeah and deck and hull.
That s what I was sayin earlier it makes your boat really sturdy, yes it will absorb water but it takes about 10 years for it to soak it up

HOWEVER... your not to that stage yet, get your transom issue settled first, then stringers, then deck then foam.

I also have a merc 3.0l that I ended up rebuildin as well.

 

[firemanjonny]

Re: floor replacement newbie

Thanks for your help again!! About the pour foam, when I pour it in, should I be concerned about its expansion possibly being too great? In other worss, can it pop the seams? I do know construction type spray foam can have significant expansion rates. Pour foam must be similar? maybe drill several holes? glass them after?

 

[i386]

Re: floor replacement newbie

Thanks for your help again!! About the pour foam, when I pour it in, should I be concerned about its expansion possibly being too great? In other worss, can it pop the seams? I do know construction type spray foam can have significant expansion rates. Pour foam must be similar? maybe drill several holes? glass them after?

Yup. I drilled mine about 12 inches apart. Tilted the boat up and worked my way from stern to bow. YMMV depending on how the boat is constructed. I bought 2 sleeves of "solo" cups at the dollar store and just mixed small batches. It took me an evening to do mine. I drilled the holes back out after the foam cured and filled them with thickened epoxy.

There will be nothing screwed into my deck, ever. The only way I see water making it to the foam is if I have some sort of impact damage. I know some here don't like foam and I may learn to agree with them some day. For now I'm going to use it and do all the right things when it comes to screws, bolts, fittings, etc...

BTW...

Pick a good hot day to do your foam. The hotter it is, the more expands. Less chance of running short.

 

[firemanjonny]

Re: floor replacement newbie

thanks 386! This is turning out to be a nightmare! Holy cows, what did I get myself into!?

 

[oops!]

Re: floor replacement newbie

thanks 386! This is turning out to be a nightmare! Holy cows, what did I get myself into!?

heh heh heh.......

that what we all said !


ok....;here goes.....frames off the stringers will help....however the foam is part of the structural integerity of the boat, so if you foam it, the foam will be strong enough and you ll save a ton of work......

when you replace the stringers, fiberglass them in....not just bare wood, or youll be doin this again in 10 years.

do the transom now........its easest to take the cap.....(the whole freekin top) off the boat......

lots of guys pour foam thru the deck.....another way is pour with the deck off, and cut the foam down after. just make sure there is no voids.

read the thread called "boat rot, wet foam prevention"....good reading.

check the sticky on the top of the forum, called minimum saferty equipment, and follow it !

post picks, and well walk ya thru it !......youll be glad you did it right.

cheers
oops

 

[i386]

Re: floor replacement newbie

thanks 386! This is turning out to be a nightmare! Holy cows, what did I get myself into!?

Hah, you can't even imagine yet how many details are involved in fixing up an old boat. I believe you have to be the kind of person that likes doing the work and isn't too fixated on being finished.

 

[oops!]

Re: floor replacement newbie

btw....as far as fiberglass.......the standard here is 1708 bi ax......

but matt and roving are jusssssttt fine......get a larger thickness of cloth....the matt goes first beside the hull, then the cloth, then alternate...but never, cloth cloth....allways matt cloth matt.

poly vs epoxy is up to you.....polys just fine.....epoxy is stronger....you will need a lot....dont even think, your gonna get away with one or two gallons.

10 at least

 

[firemanjonny]

Re: floor replacement newbie

Thanks again guys! OOOPS! I had placed this reply in a different thread you had also added to. Any input on my theory below? Also, I am going to inspect the transom tomorrow. Is it possible to only replace say, the lower half of the transom? The rot that is. I simply do not have the space available to remove the cap. Wish I did.



Just FYI...I forget where on here but, there is a link to the coast gaurd regs site. I am doing the exact same process as you, as we speak. I had the same questions also. Guys here are extremely helpful! In any case, on the uscg site it explains the rationale, amounts, ect. for pour foam. Basically you do not "have" to use it. You MUST have a closed cell polystyrene type device, permanantly adhered to the structure of the boat. The pour foam is a convieniant way of doing this to make the production of the craft cheaper for the manufacturer. foam give support as well as adhesion to the decking, i.e. less width wise stringer are needed. Now, the question is do you need pour foam, and only pour foam? After reading the standards for the uscg, I interpret this. Pour foam is freakin expensive! I'm short on dollars. A member here had the idea of using swimming noodles. Problem is, they were put "in" his decking but, not secured. Boat gets smashed in half, noodles float from their respective compartments. Why not take up a large amount of the area previously foamed, put noodles in there (have them at the dollar store here) pour foam on top. I believe this is a tremendous savings, also meeting regulations! Comments? Am I nutz?