replacing the deck

[drrtydog]

I have a 16' fiberglass that the floor was really soft in. I took out all the seat and sure enough the wood was soggy. I cut around the edge and pulled all of it up. The foam was like the stuff they package tv's in just cut to the shape and wrapped in plastic so all of them are in good shape. Now the center board all the way down is gone so il replace it. What i was thinking was getting some plywood coating a couple times with some varnish. I was gonna put some holes where the seat bolts come up but this time use a strip of metal between the 2 bolts to make them stronger when the seats are back in place. Now i saw someone say something about the fiberglass stuff you find on bathroom walls that sell in sheets, I would use that glue it down and just fiberglass the edges. Then i will glue some of that turf looking carpet ontop of that and put the seats back in. Is there any objections to this? Im trying to keep it cheap the boat only cost me 500 and it is 40 years old.

 

[i386]

Re: replacing the deck

Sorry, but you'll have to do it right if you expect it to last more than a season or two, not to mention safety. I don't think you'll find anyone here that will endorse what you're suggesting. There's lots of help here on how to do it right.

 

[drrtydog]

Re: replacing the deck

so a sheet of fiberglass isnt as good as making a sheet yourself? I dont think there was any cloth used in my floor now cause it was ripping up fairly easy.

 

[oops!]

Re: replacing the deck

hi dawwg.

the center board is called the stringer....it is a main part of your boat....it needs to be fiberglassed in....or it will fail...making your boat unsafe....

its ok...lots of us here are doing it.....its called a stringer replacement....

the boat has allready been redone....and poorly....the deck your ripping out is rotted because someone didnt fiberglass it in......

the foam in plastic bags is a neat trick that was discussed on this forum a month or two ago....but defenitly not stock....so someone has allready done half your job for you ......

youve got some reading to do if you dont want to do this again in 2 seasons....

try this...

http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,346,00.html.

and theres a book called runabout renovation by jim anderson you might want to buy...$12...its worth it.....

just spend some time reading the posts here and youll figgure it out...any questions you have...hit the search button...its fast....

cheers
oops

 

[jeeperman]

Re: replacing the deck

I think that bathroom fiberglass panel you mentioned is only a thin sheet.
You could glue that to each side of some plywood then glass the edges.
They make it with the pebblly surface that might even be okay to walk on.

If you really want to keep the cost down and you have the right supports, you could use treated 5/4 wood deck boards. Use the better grade that is also impregnated with water repellent. Screw em down with SS sq. drive deck screws, sealed so that the water does not seep in around the screws in the supports.
If one board goes bad you put in a new one instead of an entire sheet of plywood with all the fiberglassing BS that goes with it.
Plus you can remove a board or two when you installing seats to gets to the underside of the floor.
I bet you can do the entire floor in one weekend for under $100.

It's your boat.