It's finally started!

[SuzukiChopper]

So today (since it wasn't snowing and actually somewhat nice) I decided to cut a chunk of floor out to see what I was going to be dealing with come the beginning of spring. Well needless to say, I don't think I needed the saw *laugh*. All I had to do was cut through the fiberglass layer, tear up the section of fiberglass and literally scoop the black totally rotted wood out. I don't know how we never fell through the floor!!! <br /><br />There also isn't any foam under the floor at all, and thanks to the freezing temps I can see how much water was actually under the floor and never drained, yikes.<br /><br />There is also a single stringer running from front to back, looks like a 4" x 10", right down the middle of the boat. I'm going to replace this with 2 2" x 10"'s laminated together, but I was thinking about adding stringers width wise (I know these have a different name) so that I could secure the new deck to those and add a little more structure. What's a good size for these? I was thinking 1" x 4" as this will raise the floor up an inch, but because I'm only going to lay down a 1/2" floor, overall only 1/4". Or should I just add two more stringers that run from front to back?<br /><br />I really wished I had a picture of this because I have never seen wood so black and just crumble in my hands before. I guess I found out why the boat would shake and thud hard when driving into waves.

 

[prockvoan]

Re: It's finally started!

In some boats,(ribs)are made of plywood.You can add 3/4" ribs,down at the bottom of the bielge,cut a notch out so as water will drain out.What you need to find out is why water was sitting in the hole first place,or you will be back doing it again in a couple years!

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: It's finally started!

That's what I was kind of wondering, have to remove my temporary bench at the back to cut that far back. I hope there's a path to the bilge, I would think there is. Maybe most of the water was from parking the boat on the driveway and not having it tilted back far enough.<br /><br />What's the best way for drainage before I pour foam? I saw the disolving rope trick but I think I like the PVC idea better, just not sure of the best way to cover all my bases. Hopefully I never have to worry about drainage that far forward in the boat but I guess you can never be tooooo safe <br /><br />thanks for the idea of using plywood for the cross-ways stringers, makes sense. What's the best way to notch the main stringer to accept them? Or do I even need to notch the main stringer? Can I just lay the supports accross it and cut some cap pieces to fill the void ontop of the main stringer?

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: It's finally started!

Hello SuzukiChopper,<br />I've been working away on my boat for the same reasons. Three holes through the hull lets lots of water in, especially when you're motoring around. Without proper drainage the water stayed in the boat and rotted the wood to something near compost. I'm installing 8 ribs made of 2 layers of 3/4" plywood on a 3/4" center stringer. The original had lumber ribs on a plywood stringer. Both are notched 2" and I've cut out mouse holes for drainage. My Photobucket site has all the photos. My Photo Site <br />

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: It's finally started!

Looks like you've got a pretty good start on your project! Do you have a place to work on it during winter? Are you going to be pouring foam?<br /><br />I like your idea with the ribs and the 'mouse' holes you have cut for drainage, very cool. I've got your pictures page bookmarked and will be keeping an eye on it for new stuff *hint* *hint* *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge* LOL just kidding Keep up the good work! And if you don't mind me asking, are you using epoxy resin and if so how much have you used and where did you purchase yours from?

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: It's finally started!

SuzukiChopper,<br />I'm working in my garage but it's not heated. The weather has been co-operating with highs around 13-15 celcius. After finishing for the day I pull a tarp tightly over the top and throw some old blankets on top and run an electric heater in the boat to keep the temperature around 15 celcius. I'm using East System epoxy and it's curing overnight at that temperature. I keep it in the house until I need it, then it flows well while laminating. I bought the epoxy from Noah's in Toronto. You can place an order online at www.noahsmarine.com. and they will ship it to you. It's about $125/gallon. I bought 2 gallons of epoxy, pump kit and a 2 gallon foam kit for about $400 incl tax. Shipping will be extra. There's a dangerous goods shipping fee if you buy the 5 gallon size.<br />I've gone through a gallon and a half so far but I used 3 yards (9'x50"=37.5 sq. ft.) of matt (1 1/2 oz I think)($7/yd) for the hull repairs. The matt really soaks up the resin. I was using a thicker aviation resin (don't tell anyone) for the hull repairs to build it up. I used about a half gallon of marine epoxy for the five ribs. The front three have one layer of matt and one layer of cloth. The back two have only two layers of cloth. I've got three more ribs to glass-in and the center stringer.<br />I've done some work around the bilge too. As you can see from my photos I didn't cut out the bilge pit. I pulled all the wood out from under the fiberglass floor and I'm piecing it together as best as I can. I don't even want to post those photos, they might give someone the wrong idea.<br />As you can see from my photos, I picked up this gem May 2nd, launched it June 20th (Father's Day) and cut out the floor July 25th. A shorter season that I had hoped. I've been poking away at it since then in the garage. My goal is to finish the ribs and stringer and the underside of the bilge area this fall and then resume in April or May. I need to flip it over to fully scrape the bottom, do some patching and paint it. I'm not going to foam and put the floor in until the bottom work is done, in case something inside lets go while rolling it over etc. plus I need warmer weather for good foam expansion. As far as drainage channels in the foam, I though I would pour one section at a time and pull something through the mouse holes that doesn't stick to the foam, a oily rope or something. Gotta leave something to read and think about over the winter.<br />Post some pics of your project, we all like to see what fellow boaters are doing to keep out of trouble.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: It's finally started!

I was afraid that the epoxy would be that expensive. I thought of trying to find a type that's not deemed to be marine (as far as I know all epoxy other than maybe aviation epoxy is the same), figured it would be cheaper and save me some money. Guess I'm going to have to just bite the bullet on this one <br /><br />that's a pretty good idea with the tarp and heater, wished I could do that but here in Regina they don't let you keep anything but tent trailers parked in your driveway or on the street, so it has to go into storage unless I can find someone nice enough to lend me some shop space. <br /><br />Sounds like I might have to get a digital camera have nothing other than a regular camera to take pictures and I hate film

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: It's finally started!

I also found it very difficult to find any epoxy that wasn't deemed "marine" with the yacht club price tag. Even the aviation epoxy is expensive. Polyester resin can be found easily but I'm told it doesn't stick to wood quite as well as epoxy. I bought East System just to spite West System. They seem to have the market. Chances are if your boat is old, it is made with polyester resin.<br />You pretty much need a 2-car garage to work on it, one bay to park the boat and one bay to lay out the wood and cloth. Good luck with it and don't forget to ask Santa for a digicam.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: It's finally started!

hehehe the digicam is the last thing on my list unfortunately. I would really like a few more pedestal seats or a trolling motor instead Santa knows what I like and I've built my last bike for a few years so that narrows things down a bit.<br /><br />About the expoxy, once I read all the posts about not using polyester resin I had my mind made up right there to use epoxy. It seems to me it's cheaper then polyester resin but I could be looking the wrong places as well. As for the garage, yeah we have a two car garage but my sister gets one side and my parents the other so after having my bike take up one side for months I don't think I'll get away with this one Oh well.

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: It's finally started!

Most of the threads you'll read are from the States. I can't stand to read the prices they get to pay. You can get polyester resin at Crappy Tire or any other automotive supplier. I actually did a really poor patch on the top of the bow with an automotive fiberglass kit. Knowing what I know now, I'd like to scrape it off and do it right with the marine epoxy. I'll wait until it peels off. Let's see how long a crappy patch lasts. Got up to 19 today in SW Ontario, I'm lovin' it. Three more ribs to glass in tonight, well maybe just two. I gotta start raking leaves.<br />Classicboater

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: It's finally started!

I guess the big factor is the resins are manufactured in the states, so their aren't any import fees, whereas we pay customs/duty + exchange, which is actually really good right now so maybe I should buy up before it goes away. I've bought that stuff at crappy tire and it's still an arm and a leg especially when you can't buy in any large quantity.<br /><br />Really funny how it works though with the resin, gas prices sure don't work that way. With the Co-op refinery here in Regina we're still paying 88 cents a litre! They ship it into the states to the companies who turn around and ship it back up to us! Oh well Enjoy the warm weather you're getting, still only 1 above here... keep the pics coming!!

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: It's finally started!

SuzukiChopper, You can e-mail me directly if you want at semenuk1@hotmail.com. Saves you looking through old discussion threads.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: It's finally started!

alright sounds like a plan.