help! my floor is rotted out |
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newoldboat
Senior Member Joined: March-28-2009 Location: Ft. Myers Fl Status: Offline Points: 115 |
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Posted: March-30-2009 at 1:19am |
I am starting to think that I have the uncanty ability to get screwed on every vehicle I buy, including boats. I am 24 and this is my first boat. I have friends with nautiques and I knew I hade to have one. I bought this boat and knew it needed alot of work but i didn't expect this. The floor in front of the engine had some soft spots so I pulled the carpet and cut a small hole to find out how bad it was. The hole got bigger as I tried to find where the rot stopped. I am now going to have to pull the motor and install new stringers. Has anyone tried using composite plastics like they use to build new decks with or is it better to use wood?
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bkhallpass
Grand Poobah Joined: March-29-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4723 |
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Joe,
Welcome to the site. Lots of threads here, with lots of photos of floor and stringer replacements. A couple have used composites, a couple have used coosa board. However, it's been highly recommended to stay away from trex or other synthetic deck materials. The wood last a good 25 years from the factory, and should last even longer after a replacement because most people do a better job on the replacement than from the factory. BKH |
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Livin' the Dream
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SNobsessed
Grand Poobah Joined: October-21-2007 Location: IA Status: Offline Points: 7102 |
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Don't think your the first to feel this way! My 1st boat (30 yrs ago) had bad stringers & had been retitled (by the seller) to show 4 years newer to boot. |
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“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Ben Franklin |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Joe,
Keep digging and be aware that you aren't the first person in this same scenario so I hope that makes you feel a little better! Sit down when you have some time, do a search on stringers and start reding. There are several real good threads on the subject but also keep in mind we are always around to help out. Post some pictures so we can get a better idea of the rot you are encountering. There are a couple problems with using the composite decking materials. First is it's structual modulus doesn't add up and second plus more important is epoy won't bond to it!! The "tried and true" is using Douglas Fir, CPES and epoxy. This along with careful installation will get you better than 40 more years of boating! Welcome to a great site and don't forget about the pictures! |
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newoldboat
Senior Member Joined: March-28-2009 Location: Ft. Myers Fl Status: Offline Points: 115 |
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Thanks for the moral support guys. The main stringers are rotted all the way to the motor so I am removing it tonight to see how far back I need to go. I am a diesel mechanic/welder so I don't know much about fiberglass and foam. I am going to need alot of help on picking the correct materials to use.(read: i have no idea what CPES is). I live in sw florida so I am going to have to look around and see if I can even get douglas fir here. I have alredy taken a ton of pictures and plan on posting the whole build but I am going to have to get with keith and figure out how to get them on the site. I tried last night but couldn't figure it out.
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BuffaloBFN
Grand Poobah Joined: June-24-2007 Location: Gainesville,GA Status: Offline Points: 6094 |
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This should help with pictures...
Photobucket This may take an afternoon, but there's tons of info in here! The patch... |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Joe,
Here's your CPES It's a very thin epoxy used as the first primer/sealer coat on the wood. Because it's so thin it penetrates real deep into the wood. |
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WakeSlayer
Grand Poobah Joined: March-15-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2138 |
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Welcome to CCFan Joe !
You will find tons of the right help with all of us here. I just got done with an old Mustang and there is no way I could have done it without everyone's help here. Mike |
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Mike N
1968 Mustang |
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kapla
Grand Poobah Joined: March-27-2008 Location: BA, Argentina Status: Offline Points: 6148 |
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Welcome on board.. Im through the same scenario on my 1992... so after the season ends here I will go to the job...
What year model Is your boat? pictures use photobucket to upload them as greg suggested and then just paste here the code for forum use that is the last showed on each picture... |
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<a href="">1992 ski nautique
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JDiggs
Groupie Joined: November-06-2008 Status: Offline Points: 51 |
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Welcome to the "Oh ***************" club. I had the same revelation after I bought my boat this year. All the info you need to do the job is on this website.
Im not thru with mine, but it hasn't been so bad. I have very little extra time and Im broke and I should be able to complete it over the course of winter and spring. Depending on the condition and how much you've already removed you might can wait till the end of the season to do it. Good Luck |
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