Floor replacement opinion?

[fmf]

I would like an opinion on this situation. I have searched and read most of the posts related to replacing or repair of a floor (now I know how to do it when the time comes) but I hadn't read anything about partial or temporary fixes. I am not trying to be half-a$$ed about this, just practical being that the boat is finally running good and spring is here. I have an 85 bayliner 19.5 bowrider, and I noticed a soft spot in the floor last summer, then the boat motor died and I offended the boat spirits by placing the boat in exile whilst i debated on the purchase of a new boat. I just had the motor repaired and chose to look at the soft spot in the floor...of course it was rotten so I cut it out along with digging out any soft or rotten wood I could reach without tearing up any more floor. The rest of the floor seems to be solid as far as stomping around on it from above goes, and the transom has slight flex with alot of effort, but i have read that a little is OK. But I found water under the foam that is around the "stringer?" and some of the foam in the offending area is soaked but dry about 1/2 inch into it. CAN I dry this out, and or fill the cavity with foam and then replace the section I cut out as a fix for the summer or is this a really bad idea? The boat only cost me a couple grand and is 20+ years old. Thank you in advance.

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: Floor replacement opinion?

You could patch it up and use it but it won't last all that long and one soft spot on a 20+ year old boat is a pretty good indication that the rest isn't far behind it. The stringer would be a bigger concern as a solid floor is next to worthless on top of rotten stringers. <br /><br />If you plan to keep the boat and the rest of it is decent you might just do the whole thing but if it's junk and you only need another season or two out of it I'd look at patching it up - so long as it's still safe to operate. <br /><br />You're the one with eyes on it so you'd know better than the rest of us.

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: Floor replacement opinion?

How is the rest of the boat? Is it worth restoring the whole boat besides the floor? How is the hull's gel coat, bright work, and upholstery? If you really "love" this boat, it really doesn't matter if it is 20 Y.O. or 60 Y.O. I would take a screw driver or ice pick to the stringers, and see if they are rotted too. The stringers are most likely covered in fiberglass, and will give the appearence of seeming in good shape. It will seem they are strong But thats only the fiberglass around the stringer thats making it seem to be solid. I'll bet that if you pick through the fiberglass on the stringers, you'll see they are rotted. Especially if there if water around them. I would also take a pick to the transom too. The stringers in my boat were so wet and rotted under the fiberglass, I was able pick and remove the 9'stringers with a screw driver. Did,t even have to pry them up.

 

[fmf]

Re: Floor replacement opinion?

Thank you both for the replies. I am going to pull some foam from around the closest stringer and check it out, if it looks good I am going to repair the hole and gear up for the spring and summer. The boat is in excellent condition interior and exterior aside from my new hole and some nicks in the hull i need to fix. I was planning on taking out the back to back seating configuration at the end of the summer and replacing with bench seats down the sides and rear, I figured i would do the floor then. If the floor is too bad now I guess I will be getting my bench seats sooner.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Floor replacement opinion?

IF its just 1 spot repiar it. First though use a drill and drill into the stringer where the water is.<br /><br />Water<br />--------------<br /> X<br /><br /><br />--------------<br /><br />The drill goes through the fiberglass then into wood. Drill about 2 inces with a 1/4" or less bit. Try very hard not to hit the hull. If the wood comes out wet your hurtin. If its yellow and dry like shavings then the stringer is fine. <br /><br />Those stringers are Alaskan Yellow Fir a very rot resistant wood. And usually last longer than the other parts.<br /><br />The reason your floor is rotting where it did is that Bayliner put no sealer on any of the floor wood. The water can get trapped under the tank and then the moisture causes the floor to fail or rot. <br /><br />This usually take out the cross member too in front and behind the tank. Those are easily replaced. <br /><br />The stringer near the front were not all the way to the hull but were covered in fiberglass.<br /><br />Water can a does get to the front under the floor and in behind the stringer this way. This is why the foam gets wet.<br /><br />The string is like a wall but the wall right near the front does not get to the hull there is a gap of an inch or two so water goes around it especially since we store bow high. And when running the water can splash around the wall to get to the foam behind the stringer.<br /><br />I would repiar the hole but be prepared to replace the floor at the end of the season.

 

[fmf]

Re: Floor replacement opinion?

Thanks all, good news! I have isolated the rot to the area from the rear facing seat to the forward facing rear seat from the stringer out. Small area about 3'x10"I checked the stringer it's good so I repaired the hole by cutting a 3/4 inch piece of plywood to fit the entire back half of the boat. I have put one layer of heavy glass down over all this today, but ran out of time to do more. Anyone know how many layers I need to put down? Thanks again everyone!

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: Floor replacement opinion?

I think you're safe with 2 layers

 

[Solittle]

Re: Floor replacement opinion?

YOu asked in your original post if you could dry it out. You can not dry saturated foam or rotten stringers. Ain't gonna happen!