I feel North TX humidity help weaken my 1968 15? Raycraft Boat's floor

[wickware]

I feel North TX humidity help weaken my floor due to adding a window to monitor for water. With the window open for weeks knowing the floor was soft the wood never dried. When I siliconed a clear Lexan window inside the seat?s pedestal floor area, it fogged initially and later cleared some. My objective is to monitor for water under the floor that I have known of since 1985 before it weakened the floor. I could never find any signs of how the water was getting under the floor (using pressure and soap and observation for cracks). It appeared I got more water under the floor while out of the water tarped with the bilge plug pulled (vs. the floor?s plug that I feel was a mistake years later). I have built up above the soft floor with lexan plastic (expecting to get 2-3 more years from the 1968 15? Raycraft Boat).

The hull appears solid and tuff. I can only wonder if stringers were used in this design. At the window I cut I expected to find a stringer from what I could feel close but only found a good rigid pink foam sheet. I should have pushed a small rod through the foam searching for stringers but at that point I was an inch off the hull and felt the foam was all I would find. Last, I added 2 gallons of water (before siliconing and reinforcing the plastic). There was no signs of it in the window, due to the deep V in the center (with the boat level or tilted upwards as I store it tarped.

Please share some feedback! JOW

 

[Bondo]

Re: I feel North TX humidity help weaken my 1968 15? Raycraft Boat's floor

I feel North TX humidity help weaken my floor

Ayuh,... I agree with that statement...
Unfortunately, I doubt what you're doing is gonna help much...
I'd go ahead, 'n Rip the old plywood out, 'n Replace it....

 

[wickware]

Re: I feel North TX humidity help weaken my 1968 15? Raycraft Boat's floor

Thanks for the reply! I know what you are saying about ripping the floor out to do it right. BUT! It is pure luck and work that I still have the boat. I purchased it as a starter in 1985 to see if I would stay with boating. It was all I needed for my 5-8 fishing trips per summers only due to work. Now I am as tired and worn as the boat. We?ll take a rest together unless I find some ?New Energy?. LOL.

Safety is a concern but the hull looks tuff as can be. Forward of that soft spot is not as bad due to storage angle. I took out a 2? dia sample plug from under the center pedestal. There is wood in the back but too soft to cut out. Plus, there is some support from the rigid foam under the fiberglass. JOW

 

[oops!]

Re: I feel North TX humidity help weaken my 1968 15? Raycraft Boat's floor

one of the tricks if you dont intend to use the boat much and dont want to do a deck....is to just lay some more wood over the rotten floor. then thro a rug over it.

obviously your floor is rot and so is the foam under it....including the stringers (yes your boat has them....all boats have them to some degree) and possibly the transom.

however...when and if you decide to sell the boat....part it out or call it a project boat......adding another piece of wood over the exixting deck will comdem the boat in 2 years

 

[wickware]

Re: I feel North TX humidity help weaken my 1968 15? Raycraft Boat's floor

Oops!, Thanks for the reply.

1. Why do you feel more ply and carpet would be better than Lexan plastic I have added?

2. I saw no signs of the foam being water soaked or rotted, I had to use some effort to break the piece shown.

3. I definitely will give the boat or scrap it for peace of mind when I finish using it. I?ll consider small fees for the trailer and motor if they continue the good service as now. OR! Purchase a large John Boat to replace the RayCraft and use the 1970 35 HP Chrysler and trailer (Crappy, Brim and Cat Fish Fishing in small lakes and not far from ramps). JOW