floor repair and exploration

I have a 1989 SN 2001. It has a bad soft spot just forward the ski pylon. When I took out the screws for the pitots to replace them, water came out the transom. When I took off the stabilizer fins to straighten them, water poured out. When I replaced the drive shaft, I noticed that oil residue was all the way up to the gas tank. It seems like the boat has been filled up with water at least to the floor level if not above prior to my ownership. I just picked this boat up this past Spring/early summer. I want to at least fix the portion of flooring in front of the pylon. I know I need to explore other areas of my floor but not sure exactly how to proceed without ripping everything out. I'm afraid I'm in for possible stringer replacement - maybe transom too?? But if so, I don't have the work space to work on this type of repair. The boat doesn't seem heavy in the water - the platform is about 1-2 inches above the water. But pretty sure there is at least some water trapped in there and will eventually lead to stringer replacement if not taken care of. If I just did the small floor repair where it is rotted, how long will it take for the rest of the floor/stringers to go? If you have time to provide me some direction, I would appreciate it.   

Looks like the floor is 1/4" fiberglass on top of wood. The wood looks like 1X6 boards and are not attached to the stringers. Is that factory or a botched floor job? The boards are pretty rotted. Also the top of the starboard stringer is rotted about 2 inches from the top. Couldn't really tell on the port side.

Not sure how to proceed. Should I go ahead and get the engine out and start taking up the whole floor? or test some other sections? Can anyone tell me how far to go up under the dash? Looks like the floor and setup (i.e. single exhaust) in my 89 is a little different than other 2001s. I'm assuming there are secondary stringers in there somewhere? Can anyone give me a layout under the floor if it is different than other 2001 so I know what to expect?

The 89 is different more like TimB's 90 due to the single exhaust. I have some pictures some where of a 89 with the floor ripped up will try and find them for you.

Thanks for the pic and info - very helpful. What is the advantage of fiberglass over foam? I like the idea of the floor made out of marine grade plywood - it seems stronger in my mind.

teelta wrote: gun-driver did you replace your stringers?

Yes I did a complete rebuild of my '85.

Do you have any more pics? How do you build up 1/4" of fiberglass? That's a lot of glass. Would it be better to use plywood over the whole floor and glass over that?

teelta wrote: Do you have any more pics? How do you build up 1/4" of fiberglass? That's a lot of glass. Would it be better to use plywood and glass over that?

Yes he did. Search the site.

Pete I do have to say when you try and search the site it is not easy to find what you want and even with keywords it is hard for me even after 5 yrs . maybe i am slow to learn but i have to blame the search for some of it . I have had a fairly simple question to ask that is probably somewhere on here but the search hasnt shown me . I have tried 5 or 6 times and am wary of asking here also so i will call a composites company for the answer

I looked up my old rebuild thread but the photos aren't there because I rearranged my photo bucket.
My build was a little different as I didn't put foam back in I used supports perpendicular to the stringers instead. I also wanted the boat light so I used 1x8 from the pylon forward and 1/4" luan (made for under tile) for the rest of the floor with 2 layers of mat and 1 layer of cloth and it's very solid.
Here’s the link to my photo bucket.
http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/hh176/gun-driver/85%20boat%20rebuild/

Got the gas tank out today. What is this bundle of wire at the transom? There are 2 on each side (one set is blue and gray and the other is red and gray).

Are these vent tubes right? One comes from the blower but the other supposed to just hang there?

Anyone able to answer my previous post(s)?

This is a messy, expensive, time consuming and hard job. However, it needs done. There are some "splicing" products out there, but anyone on this site will recommend a full strip and rebuild. Anything else is subject to failure. There is no really good shortcut, do it all or patch the floor up and move on.

The factory radio had a 4x10 speaker in the seat corner bases. I'm betting those are the wires. For the most part a complete wiring harness was installed on all boats.

When I replaced my stringers I used foam around the front air box and battery box to the bulkhead separating the engine compartment. I reused the fiberglass air box and went with plywood for the floor. It was cpes'ed and fiberglassed heavily. I am very pleased with the way it turned out. Read lots of stringer threads and decide which way will be the best for you. Hope this helps, Monty

teelta wrote:    I don't want a lighter boat because I mostly wakeboard behind it.

My theory on this was...if I want to make a wake I'll put bags in it, but when just cruising around, bare-footing or skiing I don't want the extra weight.
As for how much lighter it is I'm not sure until I get it over to the local supply yard and put it on the scale. Been meaning to do this just haven't got around to it.

Looks like it is coming along.
Was the foam waterlogged?
Nice engine hoist! I had to remove a wheel to barely get mine to clear.
Keep the pictures coming. Monty