Islander floor replacement q?

[captainkttyhwk]

Sooo...how much of a challange is it to replace some or all of the decking in a circa '94 Islander? Anyone done so?

Soft on the starboard side where everyone gets i @.

 

[North Beach]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

Capt, for an idea of what's involved in a floor replacement check out my restore thread in my signature below. Of course my boat is a 22' closed bow so you'll have additional issues to deal with in the cabin area but you'll get the general gist.

Welcome to iboats and post up some ppics of that tub

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

It is a good sized project, I replaced most of the floor and cabin wall in my cheiftain. If you are good a wood working and other repairs it is a reasonable job. There are some do and don't to floor replacement and some options.
There are some things I wish I would have done different when the floor was up, but too late now.
Things I did that I liked, used marine plywood, primered both sides of the floor, painted the walking surface with anti-skid deck coating, added some more alum. angle under the floor to screw the floor down to. added two drains in the back corners, used 3/4 flooring.
I wish I would have sealed the hull with gluv-it or similar product, painted all exposed alum., installed a belly tank, installed conduit to run my fuel hose in so I could quickly replace the fuel line from the tank to engine.
I am not sure the foam under the floor is a good idea, would a starcraft really float.
I think the new starcrafts are filled with foam under the floor, poured in. I would consider that if I had to do it over again, but not 100% sure. Add strenght, add safety if you poke a hole in the hull.
I have heard of the foam soaking up bilge water, probably not good to have moisture trapped under the floor, especially those of use fish salt water.
cost wise I think I was into it for $800 ish, plus lots of hours, I also rebuilt my seat supports, side panels and replaced the cabin wall all with marine plywood.

 

[Kainon]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

Elk.. what did you do at the cabin wall, when you put the 3/4" down, did you go under the wall like it was ? (or was it ?) did you cut a little off the bottom of the wall ?

And did you notice any difference with the 3/4" over the 1/2" as far as solidness of the floor ?

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

I installed the cabin wall full height just like the old wall, I think a spread the channel apart alittle. It has been 5 years ago now. The floor is good and stiff with the 3/4 floor. I would use 3/4 again, but I had to remake all the side panels so the extra floor height was not a problem. Then in the cabin at the seats where I left the orginal floor I screwed a piece of 1/4 exterior grad ply wood to the existing 1/2 floor to match the height. The cheiftain has one big flat floor, I think the islanders have a step (not sure) only looked at 2 19' islanders in the past few years from the outside and glanced inside.
The floor seems to be holding up good. I love not having carpet on the floor and the floor drains in the back. I hose the inside out after a day of fishing and the bilge pump pump the water out. At times when the fish slim is on the floor I take a bucket and brush and was the floor while out fishing.
Then for a good cleaning use some bleach water to really clean the floor.

 

[Kainon]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

Hm.. well since I just made new side panels, I guess I should stay with the 1/2" then, I'm definately using CPES on it, still dont know what I'm doing for flotation though. I wonder if I could get away with 3/4" and kicking up the gunnels a bit.. I think I can. I have some 3/4" from the transom, I can test fit with that. Can't wait for it to get a little warmer again here, I need to remove and replace the cabin wall with some nice Cabinet Birch. Think I'll just Stain & Poly it.

 

[North Beach]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

Kainon, I went back with 1/2" Marine grade and used my old side panels as templates and they were not fun to get back in. If you go 3/4" on the deck (and I've yet to understand the reasoning behind it) you will have to trim those side panels down.

With the layer of reinforced glass my deck is bullet proof!

 

[Fastwin548]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

I'm in the middle of the same project (86 Islander). I was thinking 1/2 marine with Marideck covering. I'm tempted to reconsider non-skid paint after looking at NorthBeach resto. Floor looks great. What paint did you use?

THanks,

Fastwin

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

My opinion......5/8" minimum. Especially if you don't glass it.

 

[Kainon]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

Thank you for the info of the floor. on a side note, my floor was in 3 peices (i'm sure someone replaced it) but I had a HECK of a time getting the middle peice out, just couldn't get it ( till I cut it.. ) anyone else have the same problem?

Thanks
Brian

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

I used american tradition valspar skid not about 5 years ago on my floor. Product worked great, has never chiped or pealed away. I have recoated the floor every couple years because of wear. I primered and put 2 coats on the first time. I used the skid not primer also.
My boat does not sit out in the weather but I use it 2-4 week ayear fishing. So it does get alot of use, several times a day I wash the floor down with water to get ride of the fish slim. I put drain in the floor to let the bilge pump out the water.
If I ever had another boat with a wood floor I would use the product again.
I can post a pic. of what my floor looks like after about 5 yrs and hundreds of hours of fishing. I plan to recoat the floor this year with another coat of skid not.

 

[captainkttyhwk]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

stop! you guys have got to checkout Lonseal Marine Vinyl flooring, I sell it at work (not in here). Also lonseal has some awsome other patterns like diamond plate that are marine enviroment approved. Ill get a link....

 

[Fastwin548]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

Saw a vinyl product at the boat show (teak imitation?) anyhow $22+ per square foot.....a little high for my project.

 

[Kainon]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

Yea I've checked out the Teak Vinyl Floor.. I'd Love to.. but yea.. 22$ foot is steep for my current budget.

I had a customer that used Nautilex and it was painful on the knees.

 

[captainkttyhwk]

Re: Islander floor replacement q?

lon-seal is about 5 to 7 bucks a foot.