Help with replacing deck for 70 Starcraft Holiday

[benjjordan]

I am a new boat owner and have never replaced anything on a boat. The deck is weak in a few spots and I am going to replace it with marine grade plywood. What is under the plywood? Should I just rivet the new plywood in exactly like the old wood? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: Help with replacing deck for 70 Starcraft Holiday

Welcome Aboard

If your floor is original , you should find some foam and pretty much thats it.

You can find many photos on Iboats of the florrs out of Starcrafts. Go to the restoration section and find North Beach and his 66 Starcraft resto. You wll see photos and what to do.

I would rivet the floor back in much easier and the rivets will not loosen up when the hull flexes. You can drill new holes you dont have to reuse the old holes.

Good time to tighten any loose rivets and I would Gluvit all the rivets and seams in the bottom.

 

[benjjordan]

Re: Help with replacing deck for 70 Starcraft Holiday

thanks appaloosa2, not really sure how to gluvit the rivets and seams or really what that means (ha) but I will check out North Beachs 66 Starcraft restoration. Thanks for your help man

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Help with replacing deck for 70 Starcraft Holiday

I assume you mean the floor when you say the deck. I replaced the floor in my boat 5 years ago. What I did was I riveted alum angle along the sides of the boat just like the floor was attached and bolted additional alum angle on the center factory brackets where the floor was riveted too. Then replaced the floor using 3/4 marine plywood, primed both sides, coated walking surface with a non skid deck coating (works great, no carpet in my boat) carpet hold moisture and fish stink. Also cut in a couple of floor drains in the back two corners with stainless steel cover grates. I love the floor it is stiff with the extra thickness and not slippery when wet with fish slime. I attached the floor to the alum angle with I think #10 stainless steel machine screws. I predrilled the holes, counter sink, then use some grease on the screw threads to install. With the right size drill the machine screws will thread them selves through the alum angle. So far the floor is good, no screws have backed out. the only thing is it will be difficult if I ever have to pull the floor up again since I recoated the floor with the anti skid deck coating and filled in the philips heads.
The orginal floor looked like it was 1/2" exterior grade plywood. Since I use my boat in salt water I wish I would have painted the boat hull before putting the floor back in.