Roting floor

[imported_Edgar]

Hi, I have a 1987 Performance Marine center console fish and ski boat with a little problem. I discovered that at the rear of my boat where they brought the wiring chase through the floor is rotting. It feels like an area of about 12 inch by 12 inch, but it might be worse. I was thinking about cutting out the rotted area and installing a hatch. The main concern that I have is does the floor add much to the strength of the transom? My hull is only about 3 inches below the floor at that point.
Thanks, Edgar

 

[Solittle]

Re: Roting floor

Don't plan the repair until you know the extent of the rot. Often when you start looking you will find bad stringers and transom - also saturated foam under the floor.

If you get lucky and the damage is limited to the 12X12" area you can do a repair or put in a hatch with no impact on the structural integrity. Having said that the floor is part of the structure and is important to all parts of the hull including the transom.

 

[crunch]

Re: Roting floor

What Solittle said.... but on a cheerier note, I have a 1976 Larson Shark that had a soft spot near the splash well... Doom and Gloom.

I pulled the carpet up, started pulling floor up expecting rotten stringers, soaked foam, etc.

http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,276,00.html

Click on the link, it won't take you anywhere but you can then cut and paste the whole link (not just what is underlined) in the new window. I'm going to document the whole restore of this old boat and the floor is it's biggest problem.