[IAB1965]

This is my first boat and I really want to keep it at all cost… I am in the process of replacing my floor. Today, as I started cutting the fiberglass out to remove the wood, I discovered that someone had put plywood over the original floor and coated over it. After removing the fiberglass coating, the plywood was mushy and wet to include the original floor. (Was this model of Bayliner originally built with the foam on both sides of the floor? The reason why I ask this question, is once I got down to the original floor, it looked like holes were drilled into it and the foam was blown into it.) I continued to remove both sets of wood and found the foam to be completely soaked. It took me a good while to get the seating area removed. The stringer that goes horizontally at the rear of the storage area was completely rotten and the floor was holding up by the fuel tank.
Do I need to remove the foam since it is holding water? Also, do you think I need to replace my vertical stringers? They seem to be ok to me….. Since I removed the original floor is my structural part compromised?
What type of wood do I need to replace the floor with? If I need to replace the foam, what kind and where can I get it?
So far, I have enjoyed doing it myself. I look forward to completing the work and getting my boat back on the water.
Your help is greatly appreciated….

Thanks

[gcboat]

First off welcome to the zoo!!!!!!

There is no way that your floor installation can be explained in one setting. Everyone has their own specific ways of doing things, type of wood to use, etc. However I'll give you some basic starting points.

Remove the foam ? Absolutely

Vertical stringers - might as well do them, you're going to be right there.

No structural integrity compromised.

Type of wood to use on the floor. Here comes the fun part. Lots and lots of different ideas on this little deal. Any boat that I touch gets Okume lumber for the decking. It is resin coated on both sides and the edges. If you use poly resin you will need mat. If you use epoxy then it won't be needed.

Do a Google search for marine grade foam. Again, a thousand different brands but they all serve the same purpose. Personally, I'd leave the foam out BUT someone who has better knowledge on it will hopefully reply.

Be prepared for a slew of different ideas on the deck lumber but whatever you use it must be completely dry. Resins won't bond well to anything damp.

I would suggest that you also consider posting your future questions on the boat restoration site. You'll get a lot more looker's there.

Good luck, have fun and remember not to get discouraged. It WILL come together one of these days.

Jerry