Rotted floor

[brian.white66]

I've read quite a few threads on iboats and decided to pick some brains, I just purchased a 1980 bayliner mutiny with a i/o mercruiser 140, I've purchased the manual for the outdrive and motor, although they work great, the only issue at this point is the floor right over the in floor tank is rotted away, last night I started tearing up the old carpet to see what lies beneath and to my surprise most of the floor is in good shape, meaning still glassed over, I fully intend to replace the middle section and maybe more once I have a better look at everything under there, I ran out of day light, so I'll get to my question, it seems to me that the boat is heavy in the rear and I suspect saturated foam, what I dont fully understand is where is the foam located in a boat I ask because where I've taken up the old carpet and can see beneath the floor I don't see any foam, I just simply don't want to cut away and accidently cut through the hull, just some input from anyone will give me the confidence I need to move forward, Thanks.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Rotted floor

did you go thru the skany beast thread?

 

[brian.white66]

Re: Rotted floor

I did read it and feel pretty good about going forward, I'm sure I will find additional wood saturation and definitely foam saturation, the boat is under powered I think for its original weight to begin with but the wet foam isn't helping. I'm looking forward to correcting this issue over the winter and having her ready for next season.

I took her out a few weeks ago with 4 kids and two adults and could tell right away something wasn't right, set heavy in the rear, did'nt handle the waves well at all, 23 or 24 mph is the best she would do at about 4800 rpms, I could open her up more but the rpms would climb to around 5200-5400 rpms and I now this is to much, not sure of the diameter of the prop but I know it aluminum 21 pitch, a few days after that I took her out by myself on a local river and she ran great, 4600-4800 rpms at about 33-35 mph about one week later I took her oout again with a friend weighing about 140lbs and she performed poorly again, with the extra weight in her the swim ladder drags to much I think but again I'm sure mostly due to foam saturation in the rear of the boat and she does list to the left a bit with all the extra weight.

 

[OV1961]

Re: Rotted floor

did you go thru the skany beast thread?

I did asearch for that thread and didn't find it, could you piont me to it?

I have the problem of floor rot in my restoration project too. Fortunately most of the floor is good This picture shows rot under the starboard battery box and there is some more forward of that in the passenger area.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Rotted floor

OV1961, ugly, here you go. http://70silverline.250free.com/silverline.html

 

[OV1961]

Re: Rotted floor

Thanks That's a great website. I'm glad I won't have to go to that level of repairs. My boat has what the manufacturer called "air chambers" beneath the floor instead of foam, so no saturated old foam here. The air chambers are separated by fiberglass box beams running fore to aft. At the aft end there are hols that allow any water to drain through the chambers and into the sump. It's a good design IMO. Here's the pics of the rotten wood removed.

 

[brian.white66]

Re: Rotted floor

Well I finally started to dive into this project, I began by cutting away at the softest spot in the floor and work my way out and really I'm pleased so far, all the way back to the about 8 inches from the rear seats and from center on both sides I've cut away all the old floor, probbaly cut more out than need to but wanted to check as much foam as possible and see the stringers also and everything is in really good shape, the foam is dry/brittle all the way to the hull, the only place I haven't checked yet is the very rear of the boat under the battery compartment which I think I'll just cut a plug in and check that way as I don't think at this point there will be a problem.

I'll start to replace the portion of the floor that I cut out so far and move forward with this project as I have other small issues to tackle over the winter.