Replacing My Floor

[Regal-89]

I have read a good bit of prior posts on how to replace floors, or what tools I will need. With all that being said. I might have missed some things(I know I have). So on my drive home from work I start thinking about other questions I need to look up or ask. Well my question for today is.... When I make my first cut into my floor should I be scared of things like ie. gas lines/tanks, or wires? The last thing I want to do is have my a$$ blown to my neighbors yard (5acres) away for not knowing where my tank/line was? I do know most my lines are on my sides. I have a good bit of tools already on the "to have" list and I am sure I will get more along the way along with materials I will need also, I just wanted to make sure I haven't over thought somethings. Thanks for all the future help, and future laughs! Peace! Any laugh or made fun of will be taken with a grain of salt! PS I have a 18.5 Runabout with a 3.7 mercruiser.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Replacing My Floor

When I did my floor, my first major cuts were with a circular saw set to depth. I removed most of the floor in sections that way, then used my angle grinder with metal cuttoff wheel for the detail cuts. Just cut a 1 foot square hole in the middle to start, look underneath for obstacles, then rip 'er on out! Good luck....

 

[Pst76]

Re: Replacing My Floor

There should be an access hatch to your tank connections. If so you should be able to approx where lines are comeing from. Also on mine for the first cut i set my saw blade depth as JasonJ says just enough to go through the flooring. If floor is bad enough from there you can start prying up.<br />Good luck

 

[richard99]

Re: Replacing My Floor

I used a battery powered "trim saw" set to about 5/8" which worked very well.

 

[Regal-89]

Re: Replacing My Floor

Thanks for the help, I was hoping to start this project in towards the winter but I just recently bought another boat so now we will still have something to use while I try and fix this one, or make my floor worse! PEACE!

 

[MercMark]

Re: Replacing My Floor

My boat is small and is unusual, in that 1/3 of the floor on each side is actually the inside of the hull. I had to be paranoid about cutting through the hull. I kept my cuts about 1" from the edge of the floor and set my depth to exactly the depth of the floor, a little less and counted on the wood being rotten enough to break through that last little bit. I gound the edges left with the angle grinder.