not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

[pontosquantos]

Not sure if I screwed up, I have an 86 Edson bow rider 17'. I want to make a deck in the front for both fishing and storage of gear while traveling. the lockers are to small so I cut them out. they don't seem to be structural. now I'm not sure if I should have done that. can anyone tell me this is ok or have I cause weakness to the structure..

 

[jigngrub]

Re: not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

By the debris left behind it looks like they were kinda rotten anyway eh?

A deck fab will be pretty easy and I really like the fact you cut out those bow rider seats.

Just tab some plywood bulkheads to the hull to support your deck and you'll be fine. You can compartmentize (izzat a word?) that area with the bulkheads if you want to have seperate storage hatches.

I can draw you something up later if you don't understand.

 

[pontosquantos]

Re: not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

what a relief. Yea it was defiantly rotten. I still have to rip out the old deck and replace it. this is my first boat. I plan on putting teak on for the entire deck of the boat. hope I'm. not in over my head. thanks

 

[jigngrub]

Re: not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

How do you plan to install the teak? Lay it over a plywood deck or attach it directly to the stringers?

Fiberglass boats like the one you have need to have the decking tabbed/fiberglassed to the hull for structural support, the decking is a diaphragm that helps hold the boat together.

This is a good diagram that shows how a deck is properly installed:

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

Yep ^^^^ and that much teak will be HEAVY as well........

 

[pontosquantos]

Re: not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

the plan is to use marine plywood 1/2" resin coat both sides, then fiberglass 1 layer of mat and finish with 1/4" thick teak strips. I am hoping to fasten them using a screw less system. not sure if I should raise the bow deck a few inches for a little more floor space, or leave it the same level as the rest of the boat deck.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

the plan is to use marine plywood 1/2" resin coat both sides, then fiberglass 1 layer of mat and finish with 1/4" thick teak strips. I am hoping to fasten them using a screw less system. not sure if I should raise the bow deck a few inches for a little more floor space, or leave it the same level as the rest of the boat deck.

Resin on the down side of the deck, w/out glass is of little value

Is the 1 layer of fiberglass mat you mention on the top side of the deck? And is it CSM? Chopped Strand Mat?

The deck is integral to the support system of your boat and needs to be tabbed to the hull, IMHO.

Use the layout Jig posted, it's got all the details clearly labeled and will yield a strong, long lasting deck.

I still think the 1/2" ply plus 1/4" teak will make the deck much heavier then it was.

Not sure how raising the bow deck a few inches gives you more floor space?

 

[pontosquantos]

Re: not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

I'm guessing that I could use 1 layer CSM on both bottom and top of plywood leaving 3" extra around the edges to include in the tabbing to the hull? would I be better of using 1/4" plywood?by raising the bow deck 3" I gain 3" on each side of the deck, a little more foot room.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

I understand about getting more square footage of deck space in the boat by raising the deck, but I don't think it would be worth it for a couple of reasons.

1. It will raise the center of gravity in the boat and your handling and stability may suffer, how much I'm not sure... but I'm sure it will have some effect.

2. Since you console(s)/walk-thru are built into the cap this is going to affect your leg room and comfort while sitting/operating at the helm. You'll also have to cut the bottom of the consoles off to adapt them to the new deck height.

For glassing the decking, a layer of CSM on the bottom of the decking and edges will be fine... but the decking should be tabbed in with 1708 biax on the top per the diagram I posted earlier. If the decking is plywood and glassed in as per the diagram, I don't see any problems with the 1/4" teak finish if it's going to be glued in. I suggest an epoxy adhesive for this, but I'm unsure of how long it or any other adhesives would last for this application.

Are you just trying to get away from carpet with the teak deck finish?

 

[pontosquantos]

Re: not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

thanks for the info on the fiberglassing. i was hoping to raise just the bow area not the whole boat, would this still cause handling problems? i wanted to use teak for the nice look of a wood finished deck, plus i got a bunch for real cheap . the carpet had to go it was water logged and stinks real bad. i was going to use black vynal for the side walls.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: not sure if i should have cut out my bow seats to make a deck

Raising the front deck won't be a problem at all, I thought you were refering to the main deck.

Carpeting is for girlie boats and has no place in a mans boat... especially if fishing is going to be involved!

The teak should look nice, but will probably be slick when it gets wet... wear gum rubber deck shoes.