18' Starcraft New Floor Questions!!!

[us03mc]

Hey all,

i just bought a 18' starcraft aluminum boat, the floor has rotted out it was just plain plywood and foam underneath thats it, i want to put a new floor in but im not exactly sure what kind to put in and how to do it please let me know any suggestions THANKS!

 

[xxMyFirstBoatxx]

Re: Help with putting in a new deck

Re: Help with putting in a new deck

hey bro im in the same boat so to speak with my mach 1....u tube has some good videos.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Help with putting in a new deck

Re: Help with putting in a new deck

Welcome to iboats.

First it's called a DECK!!!

We have a great selection (probably the largest available on the internet) of Starcraft junkies here and rebuilding is our thing.

You can replace the wood deck with 1/2 or 3/4 exterior plywood but please stay away from pressure treated. The newer PT does not get along with aluminum. Read through the restorations. Take a look at this one http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=325768 and look at all the completed aluminum restores here http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=407

Those are just a fraction of what has been done here.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Help with putting in a new deck

Re: Help with putting in a new deck

Hey us03mc, welcome to iboats! As Bob mentioned above you're in really good Starcraft company here. 1/2" ply will work fine but I went with 3/4" on my last restore and like it a lot. It was extremely solid with no flex at all. The foam you have underneath is often waterlogged. Check it carefully and replace it if it is. It will NOT dry out no matter what you do. A lot of us have use the pink or blue construction sheet foam you find at Lowes/HD cut and pieced in. This foam will not absorb water. Good luck with your project and make sure you find you way down to the Starcraft manufacturers forum http://forums.iboats.com/Starcraft_Boats We like pictures

 

[North Beach]

Re: 18' Starcraft New Floor Questions!!!

US,
Welcome to iboats. please post some pics of your boat.

A couple of things to think about on your decking replacement. 1/2 is what's there now. If you go 3/4 you'll have to cut down your side panels so they will fit back in. I used 1/2 with one ply of glass mat and several coats of poly resin. check out my restore thread in my signature for a play by play. It is a little work but it's not really complicated.

Good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions. There's more than a few folks here who've already been thru what you're about to do.

 

[sprintst]

Re: 18' Starcraft New Floor Questions!!!

Feel free to take a look as most of us have been in the same boat...so to speak.

 

[Captmills]

Re: 18' Starcraft New Floor Questions!!!

I used 5/8 in. ext. grade plywood on mine, biscuit joined the seams with gorrilla glue and sealed top and bottom with fiberglass resin and it works fine! I reused my foam as it was in good shape (figured I could spend that money on something else) SHMBO said I couldn't use "our money" on my boat But she will be in it everywhere we go. Go figure!? Lots of good info on the Starcraft site farther down from all the helpful tin canners. Good Luck on your project. Steven P.S. save the old floor as a template if you can