Help understanding fiberglass boat construction

[law086]

Hi folks,

I'm pretty new to boats and bought my first boat as an adult about a year ago. We've been really enjoying it but it's 35 years old and has some issues I'm working though.

What would really help is if I understood the construction. If it matters I have an '86 Ebbtide Dynatrak fiberglass boat. The floor of the bilge is in rough shape, with cracking, splitting and some holes that I can push through to...... something. I gather the bilge floor is almost the bottom of the hull but it seems like maybe there's like plywood in there and maybe it's sandwiched between fiberglass that makes up the bottom hull and the floor of the bilge? Ignoring the "how" part of fixing this stuff, I'm just trying to understand the composition. Like I said, it almost seems like the floor of the bilge is fiberglass over maybe plywood and then I guess under that plywood is more fiberglass and gelcoat that makes up the bottom of the boat?

I would appreciate it if anyone can set me straight here.

Thanks!

 

[todhunter]

Post some pictures. My hull (1987 Power Play) did not have anything but fiberglass on the bottom of the bilge...other than a mahogany block that was glassed in for attaching the bilge pump to. Might be plywood or end-grain balsa core...or something else?

 

[jhande]

I think you answered your own question.
I would cut the top layer of fiberglass out a little at a time. I'd be pretty sure there's only a chuck of wood under the bilge area for attaching the pump.
Then you can remove the wood as it's probably shot.

 

[law086]

Here's a picture of the bilge with the gas tank removed. You can't tell much from the picture other than it's in pretty sad shape

 

[racerone]

They put these things together with the idea that no one will ever see the shoddy work / materials.-----Doing a boat right now.-----All the structural wood in the transom and floor has been removed.----Replaced with composites and glued in with West System epoxy.

 

[jhande]

If that's the actual floor of the boat and not the hull, I would definitely start peeling back the top layer of fiberglass. I can see cracks and what looks like a patch job. You're going to want to check the stringers and transom, a good possibility they are rotted.