Hi everyone. So I purchased this boat last year and rode it all summer. Cut up a small section of rotten floor, patched it and kept on riding.
Fast forward to around two months or so ago. I cut up the entire floor. Found rotten stringers (partially). So, I dug out / shop vacced the rot, and let the boat sit open for a few weeks with a fan on it.
I then sanded the old glass (what was left anyways) around the old stringers off with a grinder and a flap disc (36 grit I think). I then proceeded to raise the stringers 1/2" with ripped plywood and coated in West Systems Expoxy Resin. I then layered up 3 layers of 1708 biax and west systems epoxy on the outer two stringers, and two layers on the center stringer. I made the glass so wide it covered the entire stringers and on each side of the hull around 6 inches or so. Probably a little excessive, but I wanted to do the best I could.
This is my first attempt at a project like this, although I have repaired large holes in glass boats in the past (also attached some photos of that just for giggles)
I replaced all foam w/ 2LBS two part foam.
I then cut new floor (1/2 outdoor plywood) and coated it once with thinned epoxy. And then coated it again a few hours later.
I mixed up some West Systems Epoxy and thickened it with 403 Powder. I "glued" down the new floor on the now raised stringers. I then screwed into the middle stringers (I know I probably shouldn't have, but I wasn't sure how well my glue would hold down. I removed the screws after making holes and shot in 3M 5200. I then added screws back.
In the photos attached, you will see a photo that says "Foam". This is where my gas tank goes. I replaced the floor on top of that, but couldn't get the tank to fit. So I had to cut up a section of my new floor, luckily a bit of the old floor remained in this section (it wasn't rotten much here). After cutting up the new floor, and exposing the old, I filled the little square area you see with a new piece of 1/2" plywood (coated w/ epoxy like above) and sit it down into the original area where the tank support was. Should I be concerned that this will be a weak spot? The transom is solid, took core samples last year.
I also strengthened up the bulk head where the motor sits w/ two layers of 1708, even though it wasn't really rotten.
I know it would have probably been best to completely replace the stringers, but money, the amount of what the boat is worth, etc. steered me in the direction I went. I also glassed together all of the seams where the new floor boards met.
I am considering selling the boat since I already purchased a Supra, but would also like to consider keeping it if I cant get much for it, so I will likely have it awhile.
The boat is a 1981 19" Stingray closed bow. The foam from what I can see up front wasn't wet. The engine is a 4clinder mercruiser.
Do you think that the boat is going to fall apart or give me much trouble? Should I have glassed the new floor up the side where the blue carpet / wood area meets?
Fast forward to around two months or so ago. I cut up the entire floor. Found rotten stringers (partially). So, I dug out / shop vacced the rot, and let the boat sit open for a few weeks with a fan on it.
I then sanded the old glass (what was left anyways) around the old stringers off with a grinder and a flap disc (36 grit I think). I then proceeded to raise the stringers 1/2" with ripped plywood and coated in West Systems Expoxy Resin. I then layered up 3 layers of 1708 biax and west systems epoxy on the outer two stringers, and two layers on the center stringer. I made the glass so wide it covered the entire stringers and on each side of the hull around 6 inches or so. Probably a little excessive, but I wanted to do the best I could.
This is my first attempt at a project like this, although I have repaired large holes in glass boats in the past (also attached some photos of that just for giggles)
I replaced all foam w/ 2LBS two part foam.
I then cut new floor (1/2 outdoor plywood) and coated it once with thinned epoxy. And then coated it again a few hours later.
I mixed up some West Systems Epoxy and thickened it with 403 Powder. I "glued" down the new floor on the now raised stringers. I then screwed into the middle stringers (I know I probably shouldn't have, but I wasn't sure how well my glue would hold down. I removed the screws after making holes and shot in 3M 5200. I then added screws back.
In the photos attached, you will see a photo that says "Foam". This is where my gas tank goes. I replaced the floor on top of that, but couldn't get the tank to fit. So I had to cut up a section of my new floor, luckily a bit of the old floor remained in this section (it wasn't rotten much here). After cutting up the new floor, and exposing the old, I filled the little square area you see with a new piece of 1/2" plywood (coated w/ epoxy like above) and sit it down into the original area where the tank support was. Should I be concerned that this will be a weak spot? The transom is solid, took core samples last year.
I also strengthened up the bulk head where the motor sits w/ two layers of 1708, even though it wasn't really rotten.
I know it would have probably been best to completely replace the stringers, but money, the amount of what the boat is worth, etc. steered me in the direction I went. I also glassed together all of the seams where the new floor boards met.
I am considering selling the boat since I already purchased a Supra, but would also like to consider keeping it if I cant get much for it, so I will likely have it awhile.
The boat is a 1981 19" Stingray closed bow. The foam from what I can see up front wasn't wet. The engine is a 4clinder mercruiser.
Do you think that the boat is going to fall apart or give me much trouble? Should I have glassed the new floor up the side where the blue carpet / wood area meets?
