How serious are soft spots in floor?

[harpjames35]

Hi everyone. I posted this in another forum, but thought that this forum might give me more answers. I recently bought an old 15' fiberglass fishing boat. Its nothing pretty. But it runs great with an 88 hp motor. My question is that in the very back, near the bilge pump, there are two soft spots in the floor that flex a very small amount when I step on them. They are out of the way, and I can definately avoid walking on them because they are in the very back. The transom is VERY strong. No problems with that at all. But my question is that I want to know how serious are these spots. Its an old boat, and I dont want to repair it myself (although i have read some great posts on this subject). and i am definately not going to spend the money on it. I just want to know if this is dangerous or as long as I dont walk on the spots (which will be easy to avoid) if it will be ok. I just want a boat that floats and runs, nothing pretty. I am however worried about the safety of this. Thanks in advance from everyone.

 

[Uncle Dave]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

If it is just the floor then it is not extremely un-safe. However if the floor is soft due to rot then there is water involved and most likely the stringers are also rotten. Cutting out the bad floor section and have a look see. IF it is just the floor then do a repair patch and go back fishing.

 

[JB]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

"Dry rot" is neither dry nor rot, James.<br /><br />It is a fungus infection and it will eat the wood in your boat up like a cancer given enough time.<br /><br />You can fix it now, fix a bigger problem later or just keep using the boat until it is no longer usable and replace it, assuming that you survive the final collapse.<br /><br />I don't agree that it is safe as is. Those soft spots could be the tip of an iceberg. . . a disintegrating frame.<br /><br />I think you should investigate the extent of the damage now.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[harpjames35]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

I dont want to go through all that trouble. BUT lets assume that there was a little rot under there. Then how unsafe would it be?

 

[jim phillips]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

Let me take a shot at this with out comming across like a a..h...<br />You have found a problem with your boat and asked about it...But dont want to fix it. A number of people have told you what the possibilities are.<br />It appears that you want a guarantee that it will be safe if you do nothing. None of us can inspect your boat frist hand to determine the true damage nor would we want to take you or your family's life in to our hands. That call is up to you to make. If you are worried enough to want a guarantee then fix or replace the boat.<br />No disrespect intended... just telling it like I see it

 

[harpjames35]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

dude, I am just asking if from people's experience, is this a major problem. I know nothing about this stuff. I am not looking for any kind of guarentee, nor do I expect anyone to inspect the boat. I just don't know if a soft spot is common, or if this boat should be parked until it is fixed or sold. If you don't feel like offering any kind of information for me, why even reply to the post? is it just to bust my balls?

 

[jim phillips]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

My intent is not to bust any thing. but to point out that the question has been answered.It could be a major problem you need to check in to it more. If it is just the floor it might last for awhile but if the rot is in to the stringers or transom you have a bigger problem that needs fixed. My self as well as others will be more that happy to help walk you through what ever repairs need to be made. Good luck with what ever you decide to do just be safe.

 

[harpjames35]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

Thanks for the good wishes. I guess I have come to relize that the qestion is simpler than any possible answer. I am still debating on whether to rip up the floor and take a look or not. I only spent $800 on the boat /trailer, and $1400 on the motor. So I guess the real qestion that I have to ask myself is whether its worth it to try to repair it (I really have no idea on how to do any of this myself, so I am scared to do so), or whether to start looking for another hull. Just out of curiosity, lets say a stringer and the deck needs to be replaced, would a repair shop be a reasonable (cost wise) out for me? <br /><br />Thanks for the response jim. Please excuse me if I seem naive about the subject (I kind of am and have no clue about any of this stuff)

 

[jim phillips]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

It might not be worth having a shop do the repair $$$ but if you are handy with tools and have a little know how you could do it your self. do a search on project skanky beast he rebuilt his and did a great job with a lot of pics and step by step reports<br />good luck

 

[harpjames35]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

Jim- the pics for project skanky beast dont show up in my browser. Do you know if theyve been removed? or is it a problem with my computer? Thanks again. If I can get the pics to show up, I will sort of know what kind of project I am getting myself into.

 

[jim phillips]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

E_MAIL me at lcky7frmsj@aol.com

 

[jim phillips]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

^

 

[catfish1]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

james, before you start worrying about it. go get one of those pvc inserts that have a screw in plug, (i dont know the proper name for them) should be around 4" diameter with a flange to screw down to the deck. cut a hole to size, right at the center back portion of the floor. you can then inspect the floor, stringers, & foam, and you will be able to see the extent of the damage, then just screw the plug back in. you will then know whether you want to tackle it or not. good luck & keep us posted!

 

[harpjames35]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

OK. I got to a point where I was putting bad thoughts into my head and I couldn't cope with it anymore. So I took it to a boat repair shop near my house to see if they could give me some advice. After tapping, knocking, and stepping around, they told me that the two spots were in a place where there weren't any stringers. So they said that the wood floor, as well as the fiberglass floor cover was just soft and a little rotted. In conclusion, they said if I didn't have the money to fix it right now, not to worry about it, it will last for a little while. They did however tell me that its not bad at all, and in the mean time, I should get some ply wood and cut a piece to go across the back over the spots. Any advice about doing this? <br /><br />I think in the winter, I will go ahead and let them fix it. They said that they weren't guarenteeing me that the stringers weren't rotted, but they said they doubted it. Some feedback on this diagnosis would be great.<br /><br />Thanks everyone.

 

[jim phillips]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

I am glad you had some one that knows what to look for check it out for you. Now go have fun

 

[harpjames35]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

Thanks Jim. Sorry if I was being an a** hole earlier. I was just a new, worried boater that didn't know what to think. I appreciate yours, and everyone else's help and ideas. And if something happens and I go down, I'll be sure to post here how I made it back to shore . Thanks again.

 

[BillP]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

Jim, <br />If the wood is dry it will stop rotting...no ifs and or buts about it. If the spots are small you may be able to cut out sections and replace with good wood. The new pieces can rest on a bevel cut without stringers or wood "cleats" can be installed on the underside to make a lip by screwing from the top.<br /><br />You may also be able to arrest the problem by drilling 1/4" holes in the affected area and flooding with acetone or any evaporative fluid. Try to drill in a way that you have a cup to hold the acetone...not all the way through. The acetone will pull moisture out but how many times you need to flood is unknown because plywood is big time difficult to dry out. After dry you can fill the holes. <br /><br />Remember, rot spores only grow with fresh water. Salt inhibits their growth and so does antifreeze. You may want to put either in your bilge to help reduce future problems. A little sprinkle of salt in the holes will help too. This isn't myth stuff either.

 

[Lou C]

Re: How serious are soft spots in floor?

Check out www.rotdoctor.com I got a lot of good info there on fixing a soft spot in my floor with <br />CPES, new plywood, and laminating epoxy resin. If you can do some woodworking, it really isn't that hard, provided it is just the floor and not the stringers. Once I was done with it is now strong enough to jump on and it will not flex one bit!!