whats under the carpet in my searay

[aroncornell]

I have my 1973 searay srv200. The outsides of the the deck are very solid, only gets squishy torwards the middle, by the storage hole. In the very back of the boat, i can see under the carpet and it looks like the sides are solid fiber glass. I want to pull up the carpet and replace the soft spot, but dont want to get into a huge project right now. My question is what does the floor look like under the carpet, i'm assuming theres a sheet of wood, but is it just in the middle and then the outsides are fiberglass?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

The outsides of the the deck are very solid, only gets squishy torwards the middle, by the storage hole. In the very back of the boat, i can see under the carpet and it looks like the sides are solid fiber glass. I want to pull up the carpet and replace the soft spot, but dont want to get into a huge project right now.

This ^^^ may prove challenging on a 40yr old boat. Read thru some resto threads, most have pix that document what is likely under your carpet. Most of it not good..............

Carpet----Fiberglass & polyester resin (maybe)----Plywood deck

Are you referring to the HULL when you ask if the outside is fiberglass?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

If you have a soft or squishy spot in your deck, consider the carpet to be the "lid to Pandora's box"... go ahead and lift it, I dare you.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

↑ Yep. All it took was pulling up my carpet to see I had a big job on my hands.

 

[aroncornell]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

no jbcurt00, not the hull, its the deck that is solid fiberglass. I'm afraid of what I am going to find, as i dont have any budget for a project like this.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

Welcome to the Iboats dry dock, aroncornell
My 2?...
40 year old boat, probably has spent a great deal of time out in the elements, unprotected...
Just a W.A.G. here, but I would suspect you are not ready for this if you... "don't want to get into a huge project right now"
But hey, I have been wrong before...Best of luck and if you decide you want to get into a full blown restoration, this is the best place on the web to get all the info you'll need to do it right...GT1M

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

Carpet----Fiberglass & polyester resin (maybe)----Plywood deck

Under the carpet is fiberglass & resin

Below that f/g & resin is a plywood deck......................

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

If you have a soft spot, what's under your carpet is trouble. If not now, it won't be long. Sorry.

 

[aroncornell]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

ok, so the deck in the middle of the boat, around the ski locker, is the same decking as whats on the starboard and port side of the decking then?

 

[DeepBlue2010]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

Yes, the wood is all conected one way or another. For 40 years old boat, expect a big project ahead of you. The stringers and the transom are most likely shot. The good news (or the bad one depends on how you want to see it) is that the demolition by itself will take some time. During which you can get ready – both financially and technically – for the rebuild. How good is the engine?

 

[aroncornell]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

I actually just purchased the boat, needing a distributor, but have recipts from winterization from last year, so i'm guessing it is running good. I have the new distributor, just need to put it in. After I get the engine running and assure myself that its worth working on, I will start tearing into the projects. I am interested in just supporting the center deck, just for the summer, get a little use out of it, and then rip into it next winter.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

Boat safely...... That includes a thorough & diligent inspection to ensure your craft is safe. Remotely via the internet & w/ no photographic evidence, it's impossible to know or predict it's actual condition.

I know yours is an I/O, but similar would ruin your day:

 

[DeepBlue2010]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

If you insist on this plan, at the very least make sure you inspect the transom. Take core samples (Just google “iBoats transom core sample” if you don’t know how). Also, Try to give the outdrive a good shake and see how much play it will give. It should be as very solid and the transom should not flex during the test

 

[aroncornell]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

Ok, guys. Ill do your core samples, and check the outdrive. Thanks for the heads up. THis is a family boat, so i need to make sure it is safe for my wife and kids. I appreciate all yalls helps and advice

 

[GT1000000]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

I actually just purchased the boat, needing a distributor, but have recipts from winterization from last year, so i'm guessing it is running good. I have the new distributor, just need to put it in. After I get the engine running and assure myself that its worth working on, I will start tearing into the projects. I am interested in just supporting the center deck, just for the summer, get a little use out of it, and then rip into it next winter.

ok, so the deck in the middle of the boat, around the ski locker, is the same decking as whats on the starboard and port side of the decking then?

Mostly yes, but the biggest concern is that soft, mushy decks, usually indicate rot has been going on for some time and it [rot] starts from the lowest, rearmost portions of the wooden sub-structure of the boat...which is why "jigngrub" referred to it as "Pandora's Box" or in other words..."opening up a can of worms"...
Once you begin the process of replacing what's bad, you will usually end up doing a complete restoration...
Unfortunately, there is no easy, "band-aid" fix that can be performed...although some might argue the point...the end result is that most of the members here believe like I do that boating is fun, but it has to be SAFE!
Some might suggest, throw a piece of wood on top of the soft stuff and go boating...I wouldn't risk my life or those that go boating with me in that way...
But hey, it's your life and those that ride with you, if you want to take that chance...me personally, I feel that a boat is like an airplane, you can't just pull over if you run into trouble...

 

[third times the charm]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

Hey, just ditch the glasser,( know a guy who guts them for fun) and get a tinny.....just kidding. Good luck with the project, number one keep family safe. Don't do what I did, found out the hard way, my boat had a slight water take on issue??!!!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: whats under the carpet in my searay

I'm afraid of what I am going to find, as i dont have any budget for a project like this.

This part is real easy to figure out.

You don't have a budget for major repairs, but you do have a fuel budget... but since you won't be able to use your boat while repairing it you can take your fuel budget and turn it into your repair budget.

If you have enough money to buy and fuel a boat, you have enough money to repair your boat.