Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

[capt-pete]

SIGH.

I am completely bummed. Went to just put a new deck on top of the soft one, pulled the seats out, and noticed a 10 inch crack in the deck between the seats under the carpet. Pushed on it, and CRUNCH, the fiberglass over what used to be the plywood decking pushed through. Big hole in the deck now. So, I decided to drill a hole in the stringer and see how bad it was, no need.. I was able to push my thumb through the fiberglass around the stringer, and pull a large chunk of mulch (what used to be the stringer out) - so much for going boating any time soon.

Guess I will be cutting out the deck, putting in new stringers, and putting in a new deck. I am completely bummed out. All because I wanted to put in new seats. Pics of mulched plywood and stringers to come.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

Sorry to hear..But didnt deep down you knew it was needing to be done..
You hear horror stories of some poor sap getting a boat home only to discover there's fresh ply on top of nasty rotten decking, and everything below turns into what you have...

 

[capt-pete]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

I knew it was going to have to be done, but I had hoped it would make it through the summer. I just had a real uneasy feeling about the boat everytime I took her out on the water. Once I am done with this project, I will know she is sound and ready to play.

Any idea on how much the materials on a project like this costs? I figure I am looking at 20 feet of mat, a couple gallons of resin, and some stringer materials. Throw in a 1/2" piece of plywood and some carpet.

Still have no seats either.

Break Out Another Thousand indeed. Perhaps I would have been better off buying something else. Sure do like this one though. <shrug>

 

[lowkee]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

Sorry to hear your season is over, Pete.

You are looking at roughly $700-$1000 to do a deck and stringers. You can pretty much quadruple everything you listed to do a proper job of it (assuming a 17-20ft boat). If things are that rotten, you may be looking at a transom as well.

What boat are we talking about?

 

[capt-pete]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

1978 Thundercraft 15' Tri-hull.

The only section covered by a deck is the middle 2 feet in width or so, there's a middle stringer, and 2 smaller stringers one on each side, about 6 inches apart. The foam in there was not blown foam, but more like bricks of foam, and I found a fishing bobber in there. The rest of the deck surface is actually the hull. I figure it should take me a couple of weekends, might have her back on the water late August (famous last words).


I am pretty sure I can get to everything without splitting the cap from the hull. (Keeping my fingers crossed)

I would go out and take pics, but was too dejected to after looking at it, so I just put the cover back on and limped inside. I will post some tomorrow night, I might as well document this for the next poor soul who thinks he just bought a cheap boat, and finds out he bought a cheap soon to be expensive hobby.

**Edit** Oh no... Just looked at your ten steps. I am on step 5. Moved from step one to step 4 in one day. The rest still apply (some are reallyscreaming at me, yet I REFUSE to believe i need a new transom, that 1000 is enough, (i dont have that much right now anyway), and a few weeks is all i need. LOL. For the engine, being power trim and all that to avoid removal at this point, I was actually thinking of jacking up the trailer, taking off the axle, and setting the boat and trailer down together on the ground, with the engine still supported on the back by the trailer stand there, and the hull still supported by the runners on the trailer. Think it would work?

 

[lowkee]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

Hehe, I often paste those steps into threads, but you sounded so distraught I didn't want you any worse off . It's amazing how universal those have become (which is probably a bad thing).

I'm not really sure what you are looking to accomplish with the trailer thing. I simply left my hull on the trailer as-is and it has been working okay. I just step over the side of the hull using the fenders to climb in and out. The engine may be okay where it is as long as the transom is dry. I own an I/O so I don't know how much an outboard would get in the way of a deck/stringer job. Be sure to test that transom, though. Drill a hole in it using a 3/8" drill bit (just into it, not through it!) near a bolt-through spot or near the cap. Yes, this sounds scary, but it must be done. You can fill the hole with 3M 5200, which any boating store carries (lowes may carry it, too). It is costly ($9 for a tube), but lasts a while.

For supplies, uscomposites.com carries pretty much everything, and at very good prices. Most here use them.

 

[capt-pete]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

What kind of resin do I want? Poly or epoxy?

 

[lowkee]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

The type of resin is totally up to you. If you want to gel-coat anything, use poly. Otherwise it is normally a matter of cost, but even that has evened out for the most part. I use poly, just because it seems generally cheaper to me, whether real or imagined. There is probably a 70/30 split on poly/epoxy users in here. Maybe even 60/40.

 

[Robert D]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

Unless you have unlimited time available.....and if married, if your spouse doesn't mind the long hours....better plan on being seaworthy by next summer. It's just the way it seems to always go. Just dig in and get the hull cleaned out in a hurry. After that, take your time putting it together. (That's the fun part, anyway!) I started my 1972 Reinell tri-hull 18 footer last winter, and I'll be done around late September/early October. But, every inch will have been gone through. It's worth it. Sitting in the garage, all new transom, stringers, deck...painted. Still have the winshield to put back on, the seats & upholstery, rails up front, mount the new outboard motor and do all the wiring plus steering. But it sure looks good.....and taking your tim eis important.

 

[capt-pete]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

Here's some pics. Yikes.

Keep in mind, I pulled all of this out BY HAND.

The hole in the top of the stringer glass, I poked in with my thumb.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

Sorry about the boat in the middle of the season. Step 5??? I read the ten steps and this thread and I think by the time you pop the cap on the next wobbly you will have covered them all. The weight of the engine can buckle the hull once the stringers and glass are removed. I'm not sure how much of a risk it is with a tri hull but there are a few guys out there asking how to straighten things out because of this shortcut. Not sure the time you'll save is worth the risk of a twisted hull. Good luck

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

I hate to say it... but you may be looking at more than just a deck and stringers...

9 times out of 10, if the deck/stringers are that bad, then the transom isnt far behind... (it may just be the lower portion of the transom down near the deck), but I can almost bet that by looking at what you have, the transom isnt much better off...

I went through the denial on my tri-hull as well... (soft deck), did the same thing you did, and found out my stringer(s) were bad as well... I decided to be safe and pulled the entire inner shell, and my transom was mush as well...

I would definitely pull the motor, you do not want that weight on the back when you are working on it...

But in all honesty, you are probably looking at a complete rebuild...

Mine set me back over 2k (but I replaced the steering, wiring, lights, added in gauges, and did the gelcoat over)... aside from just replacing the deck/transom/stringers

Just trying to prepare you for what may be ahead...

Sorry to hear about your boat.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

Oh man...Pics tell the story..One of despair and heartbreak...

But dont let the boat whip you, you can whip that boat!!

Best of luck..

 

[capt-pete]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

To be honest, I have let this ruin my mood all day. I have been going through asking myself whether I should have bought this boat in the first place.

I paid 1500 for it, the trailer is pretty good (now that I have replaced the wood runners that caused the hole that rotted all of this in the first place), the Mariner 80 has good working power trim, the motor runs good, it came with a nice bimini top and bow cover (the top needs new zippers in the middle, but I work at a shoe repair shop, and can do that easily myself).. So maybe I broke even.

I am scared to drill the test hole in the transom, I jumped up and down on the motor and there wasn't any noticeable play in the transom... and I am a big guy. Which of those 10 steps is the transom again?

If the transom is bad, I don't know what I will do, maybe look for another hull? at this point, I need seats, a stator, wiring harness, replace the deck, and stringers.... the patient looks kind of critical to me. On the other hand, if I fix it, I know I could be able to enjoy this boat for a long long time without worrying about it... another 500 dollar hull won't give me that peace of mind.

I also have no garage. I have been bouncing the idea around of buying a car port to put her under if I pull the cap.. which would allow me to work in the rain. Also, with the weather in Alabama, most of the year is plenty nice to do work outside.

 

[Lightnig]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

I would suggest you test that transom before you go any further.If the transom is bad pull the motor and start looking for a cheap hull in good shape that has no motor.

Boats with motors seem to be going cheap these days, and ones without are almost being given away...

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

I paid 1500 for it, the trailer is pretty good (now that I have replaced the wood runners that caused the hole that rotted all of this in the first place)

Are you saying that the bunk on the trailer wore a hole through the bottom of the boat???

I am scared to drill the test hole in the transom, I jumped up and down on the motor and there wasn't any noticeable play in the transom... and I am a big guy. Which of those 10 steps is the transom again?

I believe its #6, but the bottom line is, it needs to be checked...

If the transom is bad, I don't know what I will do, maybe look for another hull? at this point, I need seats, a stator, wiring harness, replace the deck, and stringers.... the patient looks kind of critical to me. On the other hand, if I fix it, I know I could be able to enjoy this boat for a long long time without worrying about it... another 500 dollar hull won't give me that peace of mind.

Thats the thing... if you do it all, you know you will have a solid boat that will last you for many years, and can correct the mistakes the builders make at the factory by sealing all of the exposed wood during the build process... if you get another hull, you may have that additional expense, and be in the same place you are now... the only thing that concerns me is if yours has an actual hole to the outside, that will need to be repaired properly as well.

I also have no garage. I have been bouncing the idea around of buying a car port to put her under if I pull the cap.. which would allow me to work in the rain. Also, with the weather in Alabama, most of the year is plenty nice to do work outside.

if you can afford it, it would be best, especially for long term storage (keep the weather off the boat)

Good luck with it and let us know what you decide!

 

[capt-pete]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

The bunks on the trailer were also rotten, and covered with carpet, so you couldn't see the damage. The metal brace was sticking above what was left of the wood, unseen, and the PO had trailered it that way for who knows how long, and it punched a slot through the hull that looked like the slot on a video game. I fixed it already though, four coats of cloth and resin.. got my first lessons in fiberglass repair there, and on a stress crack in the gelcoat on the bow (impact I believe).

I'm leaning toward just keeping her and fixing, no matter if the transom is good or not, for the above mentioned reasons... at least I know she will be done right, and those nagging "am I going to sink today" concerns will be mitigated somewhat.

Have since put new wood on the trailer, and its good to go.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

If you are doing this boat, with all you will be replacing it would be nuts not to do the transom as it's one of the easier jobs that will be on your list. oops! removed one yesterday with the cap on the boat in 2 hours. Hard to believe the PO kept using the boat with a hole in it.

 

[capt-pete]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

Been weighing some options..

What If i bought 2 sheets of 1/2" StarBoard. My actual flooring is only about 2 feet wide, and runs maybe 12 feet. Couldn't I use this as flooring material and not worry about the deck going soft ever again? **edit** Or maybe G10 fiberglass board. or some other composite material? **

Couldn't I also do the same for stringers? Just epoxy cut pieces together and shape? This would eliminate a bunch of glassing, wouldn't it - saving time, and lots of headaches with doing all the glass work?

 

[dmbfan7810]

Re: Like a broken record in here - rotten deck, stringers.

Sorry to hear about your situation.

I ran into a similiar plight when picking up 15' fiberglass Starcraft last week. I actually knew a little about what I was up against but I've been reading these boards for about 3 months so the challenges weren't so awful when faced with it.

I resigned myself to the notion that it wasn't about how it looked now, but rather, what it was going to turn into. A little over a week after bringing her home, it has new stringers, new beam supports, new deck, and installing carpet tonite. We have pretty mild winters until February here so I was aiming for November 1st as a maiden voyage date. Thanks to the endless amount of substantive information in this forum, I will be in the water by September 1st. My only regret is not having an operational digital camera to post many pics.

Hang in there. It can become quite intimidating if you allow it to. I had so many questions going into the job but really didn't have to post many because most every question is already asked and answered here. Just do a search and you'll see what I mean. This place rocks.

Best of luck to you!