question about floor restoration with pics

[bwright0380]

Hi I just recently got a 1971 fiberform boat. I do not know what model, but it is an open bow and about 17 ft long. It originally had and inboard but has been converted to an outboard. Today I decided to rip out the carpet in the boat because it was moldy and practically growing grass. After removing the carpet I found brown fiberglass and you can see the threads. However, there are some places where I cut to deep with the knife I was using to remove the carpet and it looks white. I was wondering if I can just sand the surface off and that would be enough. If I can what grain sand paper would you recommend using and what type of sander? After sanding would I just lay down more carpet. Or is there more to this process.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b135/bwright0380/DSCN1750.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b135/bwright0380/DSCN1748.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b135/bwright0380/DSCN1747.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b135/bwright0380/DSCN1746.jpg

 

[i386]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

Assuming your deck is solid and all you need to do is replace the carpet...

I think you can use whatever grit of sand paper it takes to remove the old carpet adhesive. The rougher the better to help the new adhesive grip. Just don't grind away the old glass.

You won't find too many fans of carpet in boats here btw.

 

[oops!]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

hi bwright

WELCOME TO I BOATS

uh....there is a little more to it than that.......

but before we get into it.....do you want to restore/repair the boat for long time usage?.....or do you just want a boat to go boating in right away?

 

[bwright0380]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

hi bwright

WELCOME TO I BOATS

uh....there is a little more to it than that.......

but before we get into it.....do you want to restore/repair the boat for long time usage?.....or do you just want a boat to go boating in right away?

thanks, glad to be here.

I would like to do things the right way. However, I do not have any experience or a lot of tools. Also, besides the floor looking bad I think it may be in okay condition because it is very sturdy. I do not feel like it will be falling through anytime soon. but then again, I am no expert.

 

[bwright0380]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

accidental post

 

[redfury]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

Looks better than my boat when I got it

I'd say, since it seems that the boat is usable in a short time, put minimal effort into the flooring and use the boat before you decide to sink cash, time, cash, cash and more cash into the boat.

Something I realized after getting up to my knees and elbows into my project is...I really don't even know if I'm going to like using this boat!

 

[bwright0380]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

how do you delete post?

 

[oops!]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

uh...ok fair enough.....


i suspect because the boat was stored outside and uncovered...(mould groing out of it and allmost grass)...there might be some rot issues.....

on the other hand, because of the conversion, someone might have allready done it...(re-fitted the craft)

i would check the transom for weakness, thats the big peice of wood under the splashwell that the motors bolted on to.

if thats strong.....then just rip up the old carpet and replace using an exterior grade carpet glue and a notched trowel......

people here hate carpets in boats because it trapps water next to the deck...(sole...floor)...and rots the boat....a boat with out carpet will last a lot longer than one with it, unless great care is taken.

the wite spots you see are where the glass has delaminated from the wood....

if you want to fix it right.....grind the white fiberglass off with a 4 1/2 inch grinder and a flapper disc with 24 or 30 grit discs......totally sweep, then vaccume the dust all away...get the nozzel of the vaccume right on to the roughed up glass. then clean with acetone.

re glass the area with an 8 oz chopped strand matt....wait till cure then add the glue and carpet.

this is not tough to do and can be done in a day 2 at the most.

if you find more rot and want to fix it post back here

cheers
oops

 

[bwright0380]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

uh...ok fair enough.....


i suspect because the boat was stored outside and uncovered...(mould groing out of it and allmost grass)...there might be some rot issues.....

on the other hand, because of the conversion, someone might have allready done it...(re-fitted the craft)

i would check the transom for weakness, thats the big peice of wood under the splashwell that the motors bolted on to.

if thats strong.....then just rip up the old carpet and replace using an exterior grade carpet glue and a notched trowel......

people here hate carpets in boats because it trapps water next to the deck...(sole...floor)...and rots the boat....a boat with out carpet will last a lot longer than one with it, unless great care is taken.

the wite spots you see are where the glass has delaminated from the wood....

if you want to fix it right.....grind the white fiberglass off with a 4 1/2 inch grinder and a flapper disc with 24 or 30 grit discs......totally sweep, then vaccume the dust all away...get the nozzel of the vaccume right on to the roughed up glass. then clean with acetone.

re glass the area with an 8 oz chopped strand matt....wait till cure then add the glue and carpet.

this is not tough to do and can be done in a day 2 at the most.

if you find more rot and want to fix it post back here

cheers
oops

thanks for the advice.
what options are there besides carpet?

 

[oops!]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

numerous.....

gell coat,.... paint,..... a type of rhino lining....some guys and the newer boats are goin with snap in carpet.

i just like the feel of carpet beneath my feet

 

[bwright0380]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

hey I was looking for some fiberglass mat on jamestown distrubutors. they have .09oz up to 2oz fiberglass mat. According to oops i need 8oz mat. does that mean i need put down 4 sheets of 2oz mat or did oops mean .08oz?

 

[oops!]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

they carry unuasually light peices of csm.......

you can go multliple layers......but its more work....check around...7 or 9 oz should not be too hard to find.....look in the phone book under fiberglass.

if you go the home depot or wallmart route....you will spend your kids college money

 

[bwright0380]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

I am still researching the fiberglass mat to lay down. while i was trying to explain the project to some of my friends. they asked me what is the need for laying the fiberglass mat after sanding. I was not sure. is it to keep water out, is to add strength, is to just make it look good? it seems like you could just sand and then lay down the adhesive and then the carpet. what is the benifit of re glassing the area with an 8 oz chopped strand matt?

 

[all yeah boy]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

I am also at the decking stage of my restore, (new transom, stringers and foam are done!!!). I was going to lay carpet as well, but my mind is always going back to a wood finish for the deck. I have already fitted the plywood for the deck (there are numerous cross braces in the stringers) so I guess I will go with the carpet.

1) Where is good place to buy carpet for the deck, the Home Des-pot? or should I goto a speciality store?

2) Also seat mounting. The manufacture (orginal from '73) just screwed the seats into the deck causeing all kinds of leak problems (the floor was so rotted around the screws all I had to do to remove the seats was lift them up). Any other way to mount them to postone the leakage...

 

[erikgreen]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

I am still researching the fiberglass mat to lay down. while i was trying to explain the project to some of my friends. they asked me what is the need for laying the fiberglass mat after sanding. I was not sure. is it to keep water out, is to add strength, is to just make it look good? it seems like you could just sand and then lay down the adhesive and then the carpet. what is the benifit of re glassing the area with an 8 oz chopped strand matt?

Basically, to add back in the surface that's going to be removed by sanding, and to give you a nice, solid, crack free adhesion surface for the carpet or whatever.

Technically you could skip it, but your deck will be thinner than it was, and frankly it's not very hard to do... you'll like the results.

Erik

 

[mike64]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

1) Where is good place to buy carpet for the deck, the Home Des-pot? or should I goto a speciality store?

I was looking to restore my boat inexpensively, and almost went with Lowe's outdoor carpet-- the carpet at Home Depot and Lowes was the cheapest I found. But the non-looped carpet at both places only came in 6' widths, and I didn't want any seams in the middle. The 12' outdoor carpet they had was looped, which is no good if you're doing any fishing-- looped carpet + fish hooks is like velcro x 1000 (I tested with a sample and a hook just to see for myself). I lucked out and found someone on craigslist who was selling inexpensive marine carpet in 12' widths. Cabela's boat carpet is pretty cheap, and comes in 8' widths. You could order online and have it shipped to a Cabela's to pick up and save on shipping.

 

[beauff]

Re: question about floor restoration with pics

Deleted because I can