Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

[Bubba1235]

I had an interesting discussion in another thread about "soft floors" and I said I had never taken up a soft deck and found everything else to be ok, there is always other rot.

So a poll it is...

Just my experiance, I've never pulled up a rotted deck and found everything else to be ok.

 

[FAC]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

i think it depends on the design and how much of the deck is glassed and how much the other stuff is glassed but usually there will be other rot in other places

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

Raw glass, which will most always be found on the underside, wicks water like a sponge. Gel coat is not impervious to water either. Any time water permeates fiberglass composites the moisture attracts more. If you live an area that can experience freeze, water expands and can create all sorts of damage to a boat. I have seen stringer systems separated from hull and sole and all manner of delamination. So, the best bet is to keep the interior reasonably dry, because when one generally finds water in a hull, the damage has already occurred.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

I have a soft spot in a 17' that I think was caused when a guy jumped from a pier into the boat at low tide. Been like that for years; I'm just living with it. But I know it would spook a buyer if I went to sell it.
I had never thought about soft spots and rotten stringers/transoms until I got involved here but most of the boats I use don't have floors and stringers. But I think about my old Starcrafts in this regard, and know what to watch for if I head that way. I bought a boat this summer with a spongey floor but I got it for the motor and flipped the hull to a used dealer cheap rather than try to sell it myself for a little more.

 

[BLU LUNCH]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

My 74 Wellcraft has 2 softball sized spots were the previous owner installed hardware for the T top and did not seal them well. That was 3 years ago and they have not got any bigger.......

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

Just curious my ski locker doors ( on the deck 2-2' long) are a little weak so to say but! my entire deck floor is fiberglass under the carpet. One door toward the walk thru is srewwed down and the back one aft is removable the entire ski locker is part of the deck floor gelcoated fiberglass is this a to pc, cap system sea ray uses? Cap, deck floor and hull.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

Usually more damage than the soft spot.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

My 1990 chaparral soft deck syndrome originated around the hatch access for the fuel tank fittings, the entire plywood deck was encapsulated in glass even underneath but they didn't seal the 8" diameter cut out edges, I cut out the section between the stringers out to where it was dry and encapsulated a new piece sealed the edges of a access hatch this time. So my experience has been you can have rot in isolated areas and fix it if you catch it soon enough. kinda like rust, if you don't cut it out completely it will keep comming back

 

[roscoe]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

My current project had a totally rotted floor (with holes),
no rot or damage anywhere else, as the hull, stringers, and floor supports are all aluminum.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

Never seen just The deck, rot usually starts low and progresses upward.

 

[rentprop1]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

I'm pushin a little over 350 lbs, so every boat has soft spots to me

I have a 1970's skiff boat and every place on that floor is soft, don't have to worry about fixin it till my foot goes through, been like that for years now

 

[NYBo]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

I lucked out with my boat. The most obvious problem was a soft spot that started at the edge of the ski locker opening. Of course, the actual rot was a lot more extensive than it first appeared to be (isn't it almost always?), but it was confined to the sole. The stringers and transom were solid.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: Poll on "Soft Decks" (floors)

Most of my (dozen) project junk boats have 100% rotted wood. all of it.

However, I did restore a salt water boat that had been sitting 20ft from LI Sound for 10 years in the open weather; the rain had softened the floor, of course, but apparently the salt air or magic preserved the stringers - under that floor everything was rock solid. wierd. One reason I kindof like buying my junkers near the ocean - I take everything mechanical and electrical to the dump anyways

Funny thing - that same boat had a 45 chrysler so rusted it would not tilt up, and I had to cut it off the transom. I also had to cut of the skeg to tow it home :0