unbelievably crappy floor

[brine]

I couldnt believe it when i peeled back the carpet on my bayliner's floor. <br /><br />How did they expect it NOT to rot?<br /><br />There was a skin of resin withe the finest scattering of glass possible stuck to the back of the carpet. the plywood was far gone in this area but when i cut it back to the good wood i was surprised to find it un-resined on the bottom!<br /><br />floor was stapled down with steel staples. foam expansion holes had no extra glass to strengthen them from floor traffic. stringers had no drainage to the rest of the bilge. I was pleased but surprised they weren't mushy.<br /><br />I guess what i am trying to say is this. This boat was built in 1991 not 1591. People have been building boats for about 20000 years. How tough would it have been to make boat floors that last and still make a profit?

 

[JasonJ]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

Its called Designed Obsolescense. If the boat lasts, you don't need to buy a new boat as often. Factor that with the fact that most boat companies were just crankin' 'em out, the workers were inexperienced laborers, not true craftsmen. Its all about the bottom line.<br /><br />Just look at cars now. They can last for many many years, so the only way they get you to buy a new car is to redesign it every three years and tell you that you do not want to be seen in that "old outdated" three year old car.

 

[brine]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

you know you are absolutely right about the planned obsolescence. but it still buggs me to see it

 

[fishingdan]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

That is very common in old boats regardless of the brand. You can find examples of what you describe from the high end brands to the value brands. It really is amazing. <br /><br />The better modern boats today are "wood free". Because of poor processes of the past, wood has become a very negative thing. The sad thing is that it was all easily preventable. I think calling it designed obsolescence gives them too much credit. I think it was simply the cheapest route to a finished boat. Properly encapsulated wood has great advantages (good plywood is incredibly strong for its weight) and will last a very long time.

 

[Mark42]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

I'm surprised we haven't see Realgun pop into this thread. He has a Bayliner that he completely rebuilt from inside out. He has it looking really great. His take on it is that Bayliners have a good solid hull, and the crappy floors & stringers make them great candidates for restoration at bargan basement prices.<br /><br />BTW, what do you think of the rest of the quality of the boat? Solid fiberglass work? Good lay up? None or little chopper gun work?<br /><br />Do you agree with Realgun?

 

[Billnicole]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

I had a Wellcraft I bought new in 87 and the floor was rotten by 1990

 

[brine]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

Well you guys can always make a guy feel better!!<br /><br />The rest of my boat is in mint shape and it was just dissapointing to see what the floor was made of. I tore the second section up this morning and was thrilled to find the rot was isolated as well. I took the old out untill it was very solid and perfectly dry. I truly expected to see stringer mush but they were good and coated properly. <br /><br />Coated everything with resin. Stainless screwed in my new ENCAPSULATED wood. Glassed and double coated with resin.<br /><br />Even the old carpet (good shape) will lay back over top. All said and done, the procrastination and whining took longer than the 8 hours for the job!! <br /><br />My other boat (regal) has liner etc. so I hope this is the last floor I do!

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

Just out of curiosity-did you make sure to get some resin over those screws? I'd hate to see the same rot happen all over again. <br />As for the way "they used to do things", I'll say 2 things. Ondarvr lives close to me. I think he'll forgive me for stealing his line, and I'll try to get it right. "Manufacturers are building to the length of the warranty. Period. When offered a better, but more expensive gelcoat, the manufacturer says one thing...'We are already putting good enough paint on it to get through the warranty period". That's just the way it is, I guess.<br />Second, I just laid into someone this morning, on another forum...he said that he wanted an aluminum boat. Call me partial(since I have a 1958 aluminum), but I wrote to ask him why it was so important to have a new one....long story short, I simply explained my feelings on "they don't make 'em like they used to." There's a lot of junk out there. Motors are no different, either. Half of the parts look like they're made out of plastic. I wonder how many of them will still run in 50 or 60 years.

 

[brine]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

oh yah got the screws too

 

[Realgun]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

stringers had no drainage to the rest of the bilge. I was pleased but surprised they weren't mushy.

Have you seen how they are installed? They are Alaskan yellow cedar, strong and rot resistant. Also they were sealed pretty darn good in my boat at least. Floor was bad and plywood seperated in mine to. Bayliner has gone to a presure treated ply floor so that is an improvement on their part.<br />Plus they can use even less glass/resin on floor -If that even possible-.

 

[Realgun]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

and the crappy floors & stringers make them great candidates for restoration at bargan basement prices.

No, no, no, crappy floor and an undeserver reputaion IMHO due to said floor not hull but if you put you foot through floor then you can't get passed the rest. <br /> Stringers are pretty darn solid due to the build quality. I think the stringers were layed into the boat before the top and all the stuff was put in as they appear to be part of the bottom hull.<br /><br />Another part of the percieved problems is the old Force motors hung on almost all older Bayliners. If taken care of they work fine if not well they are garbage!

 

[record hunter]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

that second coat of resin is not always the best thing to put on . The weakest part of fiberglassing is to much resin.

 

[Realgun]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

Recordhunter your correct however the resin is put on to protect the wood from water which is the problem we are seeing not strength.

 

[brine]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

yeah the extra coat was just to level out the final product. Not much added and applied before the first layer hardened.<br />Realgun,,,almost everyone i talk to says No No No to PT plywood in a boat floor. Something about the glass not sticking well. I thought it would be an excellent idea cuz I can't imagine that gooey crap not sticking to anything! Is it a different type??

 

[record hunter]

Re: unbelievably crappy floor

Resin is not put on to protect the wood Resin alone will not work alone The glass is the protectent.not the resin. Resin alone will eventually crack and become brittle and flake off. Also Brine resin is not the best thing to level out the flaw in the glass work. I personally like microballons 2 parts and 1 part q cell mixed with west system apoxy depending on what I,m spraying over that product,Some say certain products do not stick well to epoxys like regular resin but if it is roughened up properly ity does work