floor rot

lso254

Seaman
Joined
Feb 19, 2002
Messages
54
Re: floor rot

My project boat here is a 1977 Chrysler Tri-Hull.<br />The stringers are 3/4 plywood, glassed in with<br />the surface decking laid over them. There are two<br />which form the fiberglass channel leading to the<br />bilge.
 

lso254

Seaman
Joined
Feb 19, 2002
Messages
54
Re: floor rot

i just found two support stringers I have to put in also. does this need to be treated also? resin-is epoxey and fiberglass resin the same? Got my stuff at NAPA. The hardener seems to go much faster than the resin.?
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: floor rot

Dale T,<br /><br />I am restoring a 16' Sea Nymph now. The stingers are aluminum, at least in 1983. I've never seen an aluminum boat with wood stringers.<br /><br />Repalcing the floor in an aluminum boat is relatively easy. Just use the old boards as patterns.
 

crab bait

Captain
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Messages
3,831
Re: floor rot

there are two basic kinds of resin .. polyester resin & epoxy resin.. to very very different animals... epoxy which is a glue an can glue pritnear everything an is fairly flexable & is WATERPROOF & is " goodstuff ".... polyester resin is NONE of the above.....
 

DaleT

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2002
Messages
469
Re: floor rot

djohns19, thank you so much. I didn't want to tear into it without being somewhat prepared. All of my expierences with boats have never brought me to this area, mostly Alum. boats with no decks, and 1 glass boat that I'm helping a friend with, sort of. Mostly keeping the cooler company. But in any event I appreciate your help.
 

Hawkeye1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 15, 2002
Messages
142
Re: floor rot

Boatbeginer, sounds like you have polyester resin cause it fumes bad. Epoxy does not fume like polyester, you can easly put up with it. Polyester is what they made the boats out of. Not the best stuff to do repairs with. Epoxy is what you want and that is why I left you with those 2 links above. Polyester resin does not soak in and glue the glass to the wood like epoxy does. Polyester does not waterproff wood like epoxy does. Epoxy is slightly more flexable so it less pron to stress cracking but still dryies hard as rock. Will stick like nothin else. If boat builders used epoxy on the wood parts there would be 90% less repairing of rot later on. You should try epoxy sometime and you wont go back to polyester. How much was that resin a gal?
 

ray21

Seaman
Joined
Apr 4, 2002
Messages
52
Re: floor rot

maybe a dumb question here, but when replacing the old glassed wood which has rotted...if the new epoxies completely waterproof the wood, and are much better at gluing the deck to the stringers, and all the other benefits...is there a need to add new glass to the replacement wood? everyone keeps talking about re-glassing, but why would you need to do that if you epoxy it all?
 

Hawkeye1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 15, 2002
Messages
142
Re: floor rot

The fg cloth is for abrasion resistance. Epoxy in resin form will just soak in and seal the pours of the wood severial coat will build up some coating but much like a tough paint. I guess no you dont have to add the cloth but you will have to tab it in around the edges anyway.
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: floor rot

Boat beginner,<br /><br />The f/glass mat also adds a GREAT deal of strength.
 

Hooty

Rear Admiral
Joined
Oct 2, 2001
Messages
4,496
Re: floor rot

Fiberglass is to resin what re-bar is to concrete, o-k?<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty
 

lso254

Seaman
Joined
Feb 19, 2002
Messages
54
Re: floor rot

still don't know what kind of resin I have but it made me sick all day yesterday. Floor is laid, sanded and solid as a new groom on his honey moon. Need another coat of glass and I will hit the water. Walleye are biting now, neighbor just brought home a ten pounder. :cool:
 

Hawkeye1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 15, 2002
Messages
142
Re: floor rot

Boatbeginer, is the hardner like a solvent in a little tube that you use like a ounce to say a Qt and or is the hardner like the resin but used in a 3 to 1 or so ratio? Polyester is the 1st one epoxy is the 2nd one. Most of the time epoxy will not make you sick and it won't run you away. Polyester will run you away for sure.
 

crab bait

Captain
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Messages
3,831
Re: floor rot

does it say on the can epoxy or does it say on the can polyester resin ?
 

lso254

Seaman
Joined
Feb 19, 2002
Messages
54
Re: floor rot

It does not say on the can, the resin is like molassis and the hardener is a clear fluid. From what I heard described above it sounds like polyester? Hope the repairs still hold together, it seems to be solid when I walk on it.
 

lso254

Seaman
Joined
Feb 19, 2002
Messages
54
Re: floor rot

UPDATE-Got her all glassed and taped with the second coat. Carpet and seats go back in tomorrow, and I plan on fishing Saturday. Thanks to everyone who has helped in this project. PS I got a fiberglass mask to finish. :cool:
 

lso254

Seaman
Joined
Feb 19, 2002
Messages
54
Re: floor rot

It's Done, carpet laid , seats installed. I drank a six pack and just looked at it. Going fishing tomorrow. Will let you all know how she plows. Thanks for all the help!1!!! :cool:
 

Hawkeye1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 15, 2002
Messages
142
Re: floor rot

Good job. Dont worry about the resin as I did a boat floor a long time ago with the polyester and it turned fine. They build 99% of the boats with the stuff. It was that experience that turned me on to epoxy. The epoxy is just so easy to work with compaired to polyester especialy in repair work. Mix ratio is like 2 to 1, easy to measure out and forgiving. The fumes wont run you away, the stuff cures slower in a lot of cases givin you a chance to fix any air pockets that develope. Durring the cure process the epoxy turns to about a pine sap b4 it cures and sticks like nothin else.
 
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