1997 SN Soft Floor |
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Jones
Senior Member Joined: September-07-2010 Location: Boise Status: Offline Points: 249 |
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Posted: October-26-2010 at 2:53pm |
I'm in the process of refurbishing the 1997 Ski Nautique I purchased a few months ago and have noticed some soft spots in the floor. Considering this is all-fiberglass, I thought this was a little odd. Upon removing the carpet I revealed a couple small spots that look like the floor was punctured but none larger than a quarter.
Any ideas and is it easily repairable? |
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1979 Ski Nautique (sold)
1997 Ski Nautique 1998 Super Sport Nautique |
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storm34
Grand Poobah Joined: November-03-2008 Location: Dexter Iowa Status: Offline Points: 4492 |
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I've heard this was possibly due to dropping ski fins and other items on the floor. I've always wondered how a repair would go...I may have seen one on here a LONG time ago.
Snap some pics and show is the extent of the damage. I'd be curious to see how big of a job it would be. |
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kapla
Grand Poobah Joined: March-27-2008 Location: BA, Argentina Status: Offline Points: 6148 |
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while thereĀ“s no wood as the stringers are composite..the foam is still used to fill the voids and as flotation aid..As its has foam anyway I think it over the time take water and cause the soft floor?
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<a href="">1992 ski nautique
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Brad,
Yes, as Seb mentioned, the foam does support the glass floor. I'd hole saw (maybe 1") the holes out and see what's going on below. If the foam is damaged, you'll need to iject some more before you do a glass repair. Poly foams in the 2 lb. density range have a PSI rating of about 35. This is true for even the "Great Stuff" out of the can. Open it up, dig around and post some pictures. Sounds like some babe has been in that boat with high heels!! |
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storm34
Grand Poobah Joined: November-03-2008 Location: Dexter Iowa Status: Offline Points: 4492 |
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Too funny Pete! Does anyone else remember seeing a 93+ floor repair? I'm sure Tim can tell us!
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Jones
Senior Member Joined: September-07-2010 Location: Boise Status: Offline Points: 249 |
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"Great Stuff" I couldn't remember the name so thanks for refreshing my memory. I'm sure from the water infiltration and age, the original foam deteriorated somewhat. I really hate to cut a hole of any size in the floor but was thinking of drilling 3/8" and injecting foam from a can. I'll have to mull this one over.
I need to get it fixed before summer and the next round of strippers boards. |
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1979 Ski Nautique (sold)
1997 Ski Nautique 1998 Super Sport Nautique |
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srbranum
Senior Member Joined: March-06-2010 Location: Huntsville, Al Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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Wow, a girl in the boat with high heels on.............sounds like my single days 20 years ago...yeah, I want to to see pictures too but forget the silly soft spots, let's see some party pictures!! |
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I have to keep her running 'cause I can't afford a new one
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Keeganino
Grand Poobah Joined: October-27-2009 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 2063 |
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I would go ahead with what Pete suggested and go bigger with a hole saw. The fiberglass repair is pretty simple and since you will be carpeting over the patch you don't have to worry about the aesthetics. It will give you piece of mind to see the damage and see that it is fixed right. |
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"working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger
1973 Skier |
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gun-driver
Grand Poobah Joined: July-18-2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4127 |
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I say be the first one to tear the floor up in a '93 or newer (no wood) and report back with whats underneath.
You could be the father of > year'93 stringer repair. "All hail the great one" |
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Keeganino
Grand Poobah Joined: October-27-2009 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 2063 |
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Thats not nice but too true! I am surprised that there is a soft spot and would like to see pics. Maybe it was just thin glass in that spot and the foam did not fill the cavity? |
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"working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger
1973 Skier |
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fanofccfan
Platinum Member Joined: December-13-2009 Location: North Bend NE Status: Offline Points: 1774 |
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i have the same issue with my 96. one spot at base of passeneger seat. have not tackled it yet but am interested in what you find.
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gun-driver
Grand Poobah Joined: July-18-2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4127 |
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Come on guys tear'em out we're all dying to know how soon we'll have to do ours.
You can be the Lewis & Clark of the no wood Nautiques. |
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mdvalant
Grand Poobah Joined: May-06-2009 Location: Bellevue, IA Status: Offline Points: 2059 |
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So, what is the entire floor of a later gen ski nautique made out of? Is it glass? Composite stuff?
The ski locker door on our new to us sport is made of black stuff that looks like composite trailer/boat lift bunks. Is that what the whole floor is made of? Seems very flexible when the lid is open on that ski locker. Just curious! |
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TRBenj
Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21169 |
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According to the '93 brochure, the floor in the composite boats is made of the same material as all of the glass boats since the late 60's... a thin layer of fiberglass on top of the foam.
1993 brochure I would suspect that any soft spots in a composite's boat floor would be due to either an air pocket in the glass schedule, or delamination between the glass skin and the foam. The only way to find out is to cut it or grind it out. |
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BuffaloBFN
Grand Poobah Joined: June-24-2007 Location: Gainesville,GA Status: Offline Points: 6094 |
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So the stringers should be fine...the rest may be business as usual?
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storm34
Grand Poobah Joined: November-03-2008 Location: Dexter Iowa Status: Offline Points: 4492 |
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I've always wondered if the foam would be an issue. Hopefully not in regards to rot, but weight and flotation issues. I wonder if we'll be pulling the floor and foam out of the 93+ boats in the next 10 years.
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AussieNorts
Groupie Joined: March-10-2007 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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Hey guys, i was reading this old thread and i have the carpet up in my 97 sport right now and have some soft spots in the floor. I am not sdure what to do, obviously some water has found its way under there and the foam has rotted a little.When i push on the area a little drop of water comes up and i see some black areas under the glass. I have attached some photos to show the floor close up and a little further away. I hope some of the experts here have some suggestions. I read in the 1993 brochure that they just drilled a hole in the floor in the factory and randomly sprayed foam. so maybe i can just inject some foam and repair the floor. What exactly to i need to use to repair the floor if i have to cut it?
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Correct craft.....is there any other boat?
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Steven,
It's worth a try but you know if it doesn't work, you'll have to open it up. |
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AussieNorts
Groupie Joined: March-10-2007 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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Pete, Hi again and thanks for the reply, I know about not opening it up, but do you think it is ok to cut the floor in that position? Do I just use the same matting and resin i used on the muffler to reapair the floor if i cut it?
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Correct craft.....is there any other boat?
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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I'd just drill a couple of small holes and inject the foam. Then, yes a small glass patch.
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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One more thing - the foam can create quite a lot of pressure. Inject the foam, lay a piece of plastic over the holes, cover with a piece of wood and weigh it down until it cures.
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Morfoot
Grand Poobah Joined: February-06-2004 Location: South Lanier Status: Offline Points: 5320 |
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Steven, if you do decide to remove the damaged glass DON'T do it in a rectangular fashion but circular (i'm thinking maybe the size of a saucer). Once the damage is removed taper sand the edges (or bevel)and when you finished with foaming then go back with the cloth resin repair.
Using circles instead of rectangles not only makes the job easier it's a stronger repair as there aren't any corners to create a concentrated stress point and a corner is where it's going to crack first. Slightly increase the size of each ply going from smallest first to largest last with the last ply being about an 2 inches larger than the prior one. You 'll have better repair as the final layer has more parent surface to adhere to. Also with circular repairs, you won't have the corners lift up, snag on something and rip the repair off. |
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"Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman"
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AussieNorts
Groupie Joined: March-10-2007 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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Guys,
I have succumbed to curiosity and cut into the floor, after i did i was glad i chose to. Upon cutting the hole in the glass floor there was a considerable amount of water under the floor, i used a wet vac and sucked all the water i could , then i removed all foam i thought to be a little rotted or wet. I have left open the the area the help dry out for a few days, any advise from here on in? I bought a can of expandable foam from bunnings in Australia(lilke your Lowes) but i think this expandale foam may not be the best for what i want, not dense enough and not really for marine application, i think i should use the pour in foam but i have a very small are to fill like maybe two fist sizes. I have attached some pice for viewing. Please anyone with an idea as to where to go from here would be great, awaiting your replies. The hole in floor when pushed on the water coming up through the foam after i removed the foam from under the floor some foam i removed |
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Correct craft.....is there any other boat?
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AussieNorts
Groupie Joined: March-10-2007 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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Sorry to hassle guys, as I know there is a reunion going on, but does anyone have any thoughts on my next step here?
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Correct craft.....is there any other boat?
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storm34
Grand Poobah Joined: November-03-2008 Location: Dexter Iowa Status: Offline Points: 4492 |
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If it were me, I would open up the hole to a circle as mentioned above by Tim Morfoot. Yes, this will make a bigger opening, but it will be easier to patch once you start putting everything back together.
The I'd dig down and see if there is standing water down by the hull. If there isn't, then go ahead and fill the void with two part foam (I'd get it from Jamestown Dist.) and cover it back up. ...If there's a bunch of water then you're in uncharted territory! I'd hate to hear you say there's a bunch of water because I've got a small soft spot from ski fins in our 96! |
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lewy2001
Grand Poobah Joined: March-19-2008 Location: NSW Australia Status: Offline Points: 2234 |
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Steve I would make it a much larger round hole and go right down to the floor as Chris suggested.
This should give you more of an idea on the condition of the foam around the soft spot and the amount of water you have under the floor. Do those cans at Bunnings have any specs on them? |
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If you're going through hell, keep going
89 Ski <a href="http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=5685" ta |
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AussieNorts
Groupie Joined: March-10-2007 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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Hey Mark,
I looked on the cans but they didn`t have any specs on desity or water resistance, it actually said moisture needed to cure, so i suspect that the foam will absorb water, I am going to get pour in foam from a chandlery on Saturday. So dig all the way down to the hull hey? The foam i have dug down too seems firm and not wet but if yous think to keep digging i will, wow i hope this doesn`t turn into something huge!!! |
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Correct craft.....is there any other boat?
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AussieNorts
Groupie Joined: March-10-2007 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 82 |
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Also i can not make it a larger hole as there seems to be stringers either side of the current hole i have cut, if i cut wider i will cut into those, any thoughts?
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Correct craft.....is there any other boat?
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lewy2001
Grand Poobah Joined: March-19-2008 Location: NSW Australia Status: Offline Points: 2234 |
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They are fibreglass stringers so definitely do not cut into them. I would remove the foam up against them on both sides leaving the hole in the foam between them. This picture from the 93 brochure should give you an idea what is below the floor. The more I look at your previous pictures I think what happened is that something was dropped onto the floor that punctured the fiberglass skin over the foam allowing water to enter from the top. It still may be worth delving deeper but that is up to you.
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If you're going through hell, keep going
89 Ski <a href="http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=5685" ta |
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storm34
Grand Poobah Joined: November-03-2008 Location: Dexter Iowa Status: Offline Points: 4492 |
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What does everyone think of running some biaxle on the floor for additional support?
I'm planning to do carpet in the 96 at some point in the next year or two and thought it would provide some additional support to what seems like a pretty thin floor. |
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