Floor Rot ??????'S

[Sean Riddle]

I have a "62 Fabuglas Runabout with some serious floor issues. Deck has several large rotten spots and two of the three stringers are not in the best of shape either. Middle stringer appears to be solid with no rot but other two are quite rotten in spots where glass only went 1/2 way up stringer. With the age of the boat I assume polyester resin was used along with what I am sure is woven roving. It appears stringers are only bad in the areas where the old lounge seats were. Is it possible that I could remove the bad sections of the stringers, "sandwich" two new resined stringers around the old one and then glass the heck out of em? Any advice as to material and technique would be greatly appreciated. This boat has been in my family four generations and has a lot of sentimental qualities and I would like to restore it right the first time!!!! Thanks for any help, Sean

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Floor Rot ??????'S

Optimally, replacing all wood is best, but you could "scab" it all together, just make sure everything is glassed in as best as possible. You could use poly to get it done, nothing wrong with it. Epoxy has superior bonding abilities and does not have the nasty stink, but poly bonds good enough if used properly, prep is key (even with epoxy).

 

[Sean Riddle]

Re: Floor Rot ??????'S

Thanks Jason, Could you also give me some tips as to preping the glassed hull after all stringers are out of the way . Should I clean with a de-greaser (non caustic) or something like this before glassing new ones in. Thanks again, Sean

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Floor Rot ??????'S

Here is an interesting read related to cleanining:<br /><br /> http://www.westsystem.com/ewmag/20/Contamination.html

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Floor Rot ??????'S

Check out Jason's link and you can see the process for yourself.

 

[petrolhead]

Re: Floor Rot ??????'S

Would it be possible to splice a new length of stringer in? If you carry the splice well into the sound wood, and epoxy it in so there's no gaps or air pockets, it should be pretty strong and more elegant than sandwiching reinforcing pieces either side. Several layers of glass to seal it all back in, again carried well beyond the splice ought to do it.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Floor Rot ??????'S

I used a grinding wheel on my angle grinder to rough up the surfaces to be glassed to. I rinsed all the dust out with a hose, let thoroughly dry, then whiped down with acetone.<br /><br />Yes, you can "scab" it in. I had to scab all my stringers, as I was using 3/4 ply and I needed longer than the 8 foot sheets would allow. I used additional ply, screwed it all together, and glassed the whole mess in as single units. You could do something similar by placing in your new material, using additional material on one or both sides of stringer where new meets old, having the material go at least a foot away in each direction from joint. Glass the whole mess in, it won't be pretty but it will work. Look at the stringers on my rig, you'll see where I had to marry the sections together to get the length I needed. Good luck...

 

[Sean Riddle]

Re: Floor Rot ??????'S

Thanks for all your help guys!!! Here is a pic to show you guys what I am up against:

.To remove old decking would I be ok to carefully cut through it with a cut-off wheel rather than a reciprocating or skil-saw? Also, Could anyone recommend somewhere to get my fiberglass supplies from,( woven roving, resin , cloth etc......)? I am certainly glad I found this forum, you guys are really helping me out of a huge rut. Local fiberglass shop wanted between $800 and $1000 dollars to do this. Again thanks for all of the help, Sean

 

[CTD]

Re: Floor Rot ??????'S

US Composites http://www.uscomposites.com/ They have the best prices I have found except on polyester resin (because of the shipping).

 

[Sean Riddle]

Re: Floor Rot ??????'S

Thanks CTD , I checked US Composites out and found some of the best prices yet, Thanks again!!!

 

[Sean Riddle]

Re: Floor Rot ??????'S

For glassing in my stringers should I use E or S type glass fabrics? I know S type is stronger but if E type is sufficient I can't see spending the extra money for s type cloth ,lol. Thanks for all the help!!!