how to install a deck?

smallboatlover · Jan 28, 2011

I'm working on my boat and i was wondering how do i attach the deck to the beam? how do i get the water like rain water to the bilge part were the pump is? the bilge is filled with foam. so what should i do?

rickryder · Jan 28, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

Post pics of your bilge area....

smallboatlover · Jan 28, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

this is were the bilge pump it at the left side of the boat if your looking at it from the pic or if your sitting foward on the boat its your starboard side.

rickryder · Jan 29, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

There should be no foam in the center rear section of your hull. I have the same boat 14' Chrysler Trihull. Your 2 center stringers should have a bulkhead between them about even with the stern cap (20") . When you lay your deck in that area should be an open cut out in the deck and fiberglassed from the deck down into the bilge. You will then have a 2'x20'' opening where your bilge pump and float switch is mounted and a hose to a thru hull fitting to pump water out. No foam goes in the bilge it an open box to collect water.

smallboatlover · Jan 29, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

ok so if i do that the box i cant do it in the center becasue of were the beam is but how do i get what every water gets into the bilge out then
?

jcupo6 · Jan 29, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

smallboatlover said:
ok so if i do that the box i cant do it in the center becasue of were the beam is but how do i get what every water gets into the bilge out then
?

Huh?

jonesg · Jan 30, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

Those 2x4 planks on the beam are not chrysler . They don't belong there.

rickryder · Jan 30, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

You need to pull all that junk out of the hull and take a fresh look at what your working with. You have a major rebuild on your hands.

Those 2x4s have to go.... You should have stringers and bulkheads made out of 1x or plywood that are tabbed into the hull.... The stern should have a bilge area....do you have a plug on the transum?

I want to help you out and put you on the right path but it will be a good size project. You want to repair the boat correctly because its the lives of you and your passangers that will be at risk if you don't.

smallboatlover · Jan 30, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

i just cut that foam for the boat i got it for free so i was going to use that. I'm open for advise i want to do this right. So what should i do? should i leave the wood thats in there there? what should i take out? should i take the foam out and use 2x4 instead of foam for support? please help want to do this right so the boat has many years more of life.

rickryder · Jan 30, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

You will have to do a lot of reading.... I would start with Oops's hull extention thread. It has so much information on the construction of a boat. Look up repairing or replacing stringers and decks using the search feature and read them. Then you can go to the begining of the Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair section and read the info on fiberglass posted in the sticky : How To's and Other Great Information. All this info is here at your fingertips and if you have anything you don't quite understand someone here will be glad to explain the whys and how to's . Hope this helps you with your rebuild.

jonesg · Jan 30, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

I have a chrysler, 20' center console, they don't use 2x4's under the deck.
More likely it had 3/4" plywood set vertical, not on the keel. Keels are usually left open for drainage.
The problem is the 2x4's are not glassed, they're already wet with standing water, they probably need to come out.
You likely have 3 feet of snow on it by now so time to do a bit of research on the original construction.

Its only a 14' hull so I wouldn't bother copying designs from bigger hulls, it probably had two stringers and a couple of cross braces or ribs.
Leave the foam out of the space between the stringers for drainage.
Get it all cleaned out and look for the tell tale signs for the original construction on the hull glass.

Where in rhode Island are you ?

smallboatlover · Jan 30, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

i'm from tiverton if cold out but i'm still working on it. i was going to leave the beam like. Al the wood that you see in the pics is all fiberglassed and no rot. i was planning on leaving the foam in there but not attach it for dranege reasons so the foam can float a little and have water under it to drain. the foam is meant for dock so it can't water log. i'm trying to save money so i don;t wanna pull that beam out. would what i want to do work. leave the foam but not attach it to any thing the floor should hole it down it there for support too.

rickryder · Jan 30, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

I would cut out some of that 2x4 out and add a bulkhead between the 2 stringers to make a bilge area....make sure you have drainage holes into the bilge from the stringers. Your deck(floor) will be open around the bilge so rain or sea water can flow into the bilge and be pumped out by your pump set up.

smallboatlover · Jan 30, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

so should i cut out a square or circle to let the water go there or what i don't want to just leave a huge open spot for any thing to get in .

produceguy · Jan 30, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

sbl, can you remove the foam from the boat and take some more pics of the bilge area? It would really help.

smallboatlover · Jan 30, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

sure ill get those tomaro.

rickryder · Jan 31, 2011

Re: how to install a deck?

smallboatlover said:
so should i cut out a square or circle to let the water go there or what i don't want to just leave a huge open spot for any thing to get in .

You want the opening to be big enough to install your pump and be able to service the pump and switch....If your worried about stuff getting in the bilge,you can make a hatch out of some plywood to put over it as long as water can get under the hatch.

how to install a deck?

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