Composite stringer/floor questions
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49958
Printed Date: November-14-2024 at 12:46pm
Topic: Composite stringer/floor questions
Posted By: AlfaDon
Subject: Composite stringer/floor questions
Date Posted: June-29-2021 at 5:31pm
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Getting a late start to the season I decided to put in new carpet in my 96-176. I've noticed in the past that there are some floor spots that are soft under foot (6"-8" in diameter). I always figured they were spots where people had jumped in the boat and the foam had compressed. I planned to fill those spots with epoxy to make the floor flatter. I start pulling the carpet and notice that approximately where the stringer is, between the cradle and the outside of the boat is high by 3/8". There's a crown between the outside of the hull and the stringer that holds the engine cradle. I had previously drilled a 1-1/2" hole in the floor about where the back of the engine is. It was damp against the hull but not soaking wet. I can imagine a wood string swelling to lift the glass floor but not composite. Is the foam spongy from being wet? Any ideas or suggestions? Should I drill another hole towards the front and look for more evidence of water? Thanks |
Replies:
Posted By: Travis Eacret
Date Posted: July-13-2021 at 8:16am
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While I don't have any advice I thought I remember reading a thread where someone had soft spots in the floor and they opened a big enough hole in the floor to clean any wet foam out then somehow repaired the floor and refilled it with new foam. The thread even might have been on planetnautique. Anyway also have noticed soft spots the floor of my '95 Sport Nautique on either side next to the engine (probably the most common step point as people move around the boat) and I'm curious to learn the best way to go about this repair. ------------- 1995 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: AlfaDon
Date Posted: July-13-2021 at 1:41pm
| Thanks. I've read those most of those posts as well. I think those soft spots you mention are where people jump into the boat from the dock. I was surprised to see that the fiberglass was barely 1/8" think at that point. I drilled a could of holes and only found traces of water. I'm going to fill the holes with foam and epoxy over the top. |
Posted By: MourningWood
Date Posted: July-13-2021 at 3:18pm
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From what I've experienced, coupled with what I've gleaned from this website, the foam 'expands' as it absorbs water, which can and does happen even in composite-stringer hulls. ------------- 1964 Dunphy X-55 "One 'N Dun" 'I measured twice, cut three times, and it's still too short!" |
Posted By: AlfaDon
Date Posted: July-14-2021 at 2:30am
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Thanks, I went exploring and the foam's not wet other than the one spot I found. I think the floor has just collapsed from people jumping in the boat.
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MourningWood wrote: