Opinions on temporary repairs, please

[jtexas]

This is a 24-yr old 15-foot flat-bottom fiberglass bass boat, 60" beam, 70hp outboard, I've had since last fall. There was a floor about 2 inches above the hull that extended 27 inches forward from the motorwell. There wasn't a single piece of solid wood in the floor when I took it out last weekend - it wasn't draining properly for who knows how long. But the hull under the floor is solid & I'm confident there's no problems with the stringers or transom. The fuel tank (portable) & cranking battery sit on the floor.<br /><br />From that point forward to the front deck (about 6 feet) there's no floor - used to be carpeted but the glue distingrated a while back. Storage locker on the port side, console/driver's seat/live well on the other, about a two-foot-wide floor space in between. Near as I can tell, the hull is maybe 4 or 5 inches thick, foam & fiberglass (I really don't know about the construction - it's a Kingfisher if that helps). The front deck is solid so I'm not changing that.<br /><br />There's plenty of advice here about floors & decks, but I want to take my time considering long-term interior configuration questions - rather do it right than fast. On the other hand I don't want to sit out the '04 season. I'm anxious to get her back in the water now for fishing & tubing w/the family.<br /><br />So, here's the question:<br />Can I just set a couple chairs in there directly on the inside of the hull without risking damage? If not, what about laying in a cheap grade of plywood to get me through the summer? and I mean cheap - 6 or 8 months would be satisfactory.<br /><br />Also, how important is it to replace the carpet right away, & are there any cheaper alternatives?<br /><br />I would really appreciate any comments.<br /><br />thanks,<br />jw

 

[DJ]

Re: Opinions on temporary repairs, please

Don't put the chairs directly on the hull.<br /><br />The cheap plywood will be fine.<br /><br />The carpet is for aesthetics only.

 

[ob15]

Re: Opinions on temporary repairs, please

That temp fix should be ok. That'll give you the summer. Come winter time, tear it all out & do it right just like you said.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Opinions on temporary repairs, please

Better safe than sorry, better check the transom real close, if the floor is gone I bet the stringers and crossmembers are to, the transom wood can completly disolve inside the transom, real embarising to gas on it to show off and all that goes anywhere is the motor(to the bottom of the lake)good luck with it. A guy gave me a kingfisher the other day that has the same problem i'm going to try to rebuild it after i get through with my Chrysler.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Opinions on temporary repairs, please

thanks for the input.<br /><br />Bass Runner, the floor doesn't go all the way back to the transom, there are two foam blocks that extend 1 foot out from the transom, with the bilge in between. The foam was glassed inside a frame of what looked like 3/8" plywood that also rotted, but there's no joints between any of the wood and either the transom or the inside hull layer of glass - solid as a rock! <br /><br />I also had occasion to take out one of the motor mount bolts to inspect some cracks in the splashwell fiberglass - inside the bolt hole was also solid as the day it was made.<br /><br />There's also 8" of foam on both sides extending about 30" forward from the splashwell, with the wood rotted out about 1/3 the way up from the floor, but luckily the foam doesn't seem to have taken on any water yet.<br /><br />the splashwell drain flange thingy was loose and I got some water penetration there - dug out a cavity of soft wood about six inches in diameter & about 1/4" deep in the transom. West Marine in Dallas recommended a 3M heavy duty filler. I put that in & now I'm about to glass it in. I'm pretty satisfied with that.<br /><br />I got a piece of construction grade (BC) plywood cut to size - primed & painted ready to go in once I re-glass around the foam. Didn't treat it with anything since it's coming back out in the fall.<br /><br />I'd be interested to hear about your Kingfisher - I intend to put in a deck for the rear seat fisherman; it was a poor design to begin with, what with the fuel & battery underfoot and the outboard staring you in the face if you try to face that way. Interesting, I also acquired mine by gift, and I don't mind saying that considering the price, I've been real satisfied!<br /><br />thanks,<br />jw

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Opinions on temporary repairs, please

How much room do you have between the drivers seat and the rear? If you have enough heres how im' going to do mine, take out the drivers seat, build a storage box about 24" long and the width of the boat, with a hinged lid, mount it where you can sit behind the wheel on the box and have room, glass it down, then build four legs i'm using 2x4 the height of the back of the box then find you some angle iron, go across the back of the box down the sides of the boat and across the back, then cut 1/2 plywood and put over it, make sure you build it high enough to clear your tanks batt. ect. throw a little cheap carpet on it and walla a fishing deck and no more tripping thru the tanks and batt. You can either pad the top of the box or mount a couple of seats on it what ever cush you want for your tush and you can stash stuff in it. Plus you can mount another seat on the deck without a tall pedistal putting stress on the floor. Nice thing about it is you can take it out this winter for the rebuild if you want then put it back in.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Opinions on temporary repairs, please

I like the idea of putting the deck up on legs. My driver's seat has storage underneath for the trolling battery then directly behind that is the livewell. there's 35" from the splashwell to the livewell. On the port side there's 30" from the splashwell to a 5' storage locker 14" wide. <br /><br />I been thinking about just building a frame out of 2x4's and attaching sections of decking with hinges, to give maximum access & storage underneath.<br /><br />Without a deck in the back, the rear seat fisherman currently rides in the fishing chair. And since the locker isn't long enough for a one-piece rod anyway, I'd rather have the side-to-side storage box like you described, then the cruising seat for the passenger on the port side like a "normal" bass boat. Ripping out that built-in locker is more than I wanted to tackle, but otherwise I'll have to decide where to put the passenger seat after the deck is in. There's only 23" of side-to-side floor space between the storage locker and the livewell/driver's seat - guess I could put a chair in there, but wouldn't it look kind of cozy, kind of like when you used to take your girlfriend out in your pickup & she sat over in the middle? People will talk.<br /><br />Probably can work in a seat on the leading edge of the back deck. Anyway, thanks for sharing your ideas.<br /><br />jtw