Re-Decking a 14' glass, my 1st partial-resto

PlayD0h

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
326
Hi everyone.
I have a 196X-198X fiberglass boat that was my 1st boat, and I just got a Starcraft 16 SS, so I figured I'd sell ole "Sput-Nick" :D

The floor was rotten, and I cant sell a boat with a rotten/unsafe deck. Although the guy who sold me the boat didn't share that opinion. Bastich! lol I finally got the nerve to cut the deck up and have a look at what "Wood-Hell" looks like. As fully-expected the wood was pulp in the rear half, and the rest is frozen sponge-wood. Its all gone, save a lil patch at the bow area bulk-head.

This is when I first got started

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The stringer is completely junk, and all rounded off on top. To my chagrin it looks like its tapered the entire length, yet I haven't pulled out a level, or taken a good look at the parts of it I pulled up. I had to lay the boots to the stringer after I made some cross-cuts, as the ice had a good grip. It warmed up to 50 F, 10 C this week but a couple weeks ago it was -25 F, -32 C, so the ice was strong. Just enough 'melt' on it to give me a chance.

I had thought about doing only 3/4 of the deck and leaving the bow section, yet it not worth it to do a 1/2 *****ed job. Or as I was joking to myself today, "1/2 Aft Job". lol. I didn't know my Aft from my Elbow when I bought this boat 4ish years ago, yet thanks to this site and its many members, I know enough now to fix it right.

Even when I was buying my resin and glass supplies the salesmen said,
"You've either done this before, or had very good instruction"
I was too in a hurry to tell him how, but I should have just said "Iboats" and let him find this gem if he didn't know about it.

So this is the end of Day 2

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Now I've opened the "Can of worms" of 'What wood do I use?'. Yet I'm selling this boat, so I don't want to put too much in to it, cause I probably wont get it back. When I bought it, it was Orange/Red, had a windshield and cover. The cover is heavy, but it got torn to hell in the back 1/4 - 1/2. The same storm while traveling incident broke the windshield.

However its a fairly small area, 2 sheets should do, so I think it might be worth the $50 or less to get best or high Quality, Marine ply-wood, yet I haven't even seen local prices of wood available, so that will determine what I use for wood. Arauco sounds like a winner for what I'm looking at, yet I'm not sure I can get it locally.

Question. It looks like the deck needs to be beveled on the sides on the bow angled section to sit nicely directly on the hull. The hull isn't the strongest and I was amazed by how thin it feels, and I can only stand on the chines and keel or I'm sure I'd crack/damage the glass.

I (think) I read that DozerII (Glen) suggested using a belt sander while fitting the deck, in the context of making adjustments to get a perfect fit. Am I right about that technique? Just not sure if I got what he said/suggested, although it sounds right. I can do a fairly good job with a table-saw, but I don't know how 'straight' the angles are.
 

PlayD0h

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
326
Re: Re-Decking a 14' glass, my 1st partial-resto

Here are some pics of her 'Pre-Op'

IMG_7219.jpgIMG_7224.jpgIMG_7228.jpgIMG_7232.jpg
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,929
Re: Re-Decking a 14' glass, my 1st partial-resto

In the States, we have a good Ext. Grade plywood sold at Lowe's called Arauco. Not sure if you have it in Alberta. Any good quality ext. grade ply wood or floor underlayment will work. They have 100% waterproof glue so will work well.
 

PlayD0h

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
326
Re: Re-Decking a 14' glass, my 1st partial-resto

Thanks WOG. I'm gonna try and hunt some Arauco down, and see what my local windsor plywood wants for their Marine plywood tomorrow. The Canadian Lowe's website sux bad, and doesn't show products at all really.

I'm in no rush really, since its too cold to glass, and I don't want to stink up the house by doing it in the attached garage. I have a 1.5 year old and Pregnant wife, so no toxic fumes allowed.
Thanks again.
 

dozerII

Admiral
Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
6,527
Re: Re-Decking a 14' glass, my 1st partial-resto

Hey Paul, you all ready have MBS, OH NO. Good luck with the Arucca I tried everywhere in Lethbridge and none of the big ones HD,Totem, Rona have ever heard of it. Marine grade will set you back about $100 a sheet at Windser plywood and they have to order it. So I have been using G1S fir in all my restores.
Glen
 
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