1978 Chrysler floor help?

[Tapphouse]

Hey guys, been reading tons of posts here and hoping someone can give me some hope.
My old Chrysler boat had a soft spot, I removed the carpet and removed a section of floor. This boat for last couple years has been outside in winter with a mound of snow on the boat cover, melting and soaking into the floor at this spot. The floor was brittle and the exposed stringer and foam was wet. I plan to drill a few holes on the sides where the foam is to see if wet/dry it out. But for the rear section I was planning of cutting it out, inspecting stringers and putting in new floor section, rubber coat the floor and send it. Transom does have some moisture in it, but standing on outboard it doesn’t seem to flex at all. The pics under the floor are taken facing forward and backwards. Stringers don’t look too bad?
Reading the costs and manpower to remove the floor, stringers and transom I don’t believe it would be worth it in the long run, unless I kept it forever. Haha.
Is there any options to patch or fix it to last a few seasons? I have nothing into this boat/motor/trailer. Just want to get out on the water. Thanks!

 

[huggyb1972]

We've got a 72' Chrysler bass runner we just laid some 1/2" over top of the original floor. It has held up okay for about 7 years, but the boat was nothing terribly special just a fishing boat for dad and I. We aid the plywood down screwed in to the old stringers glassed the edges in and then primed and painted it. It's time for a do over now for that old boat or a new boat not sure which at this point.

 

[Tapphouse]

This is great news! What condition was the floor in before you laid new stuff over top?
Mine is nothing special!! Just something to get out and fish and enjoy the water. Nice looking boat, really like that style.

 

[huggyb1972]

About the same. The Bassrunner had a textured fiberglass floor a couple soft spots and a cracking we didn't notice when we bought it, but then again it was literally the coldest day of the year when we went to pick it up like -15 that day. The floor was solid a as a brick then. Lol

This is not like perfect boat building type stuff more get it on the water and have fun without spending the entire summer rebuilding a boat interior.

Your boat will be heavier doing it this way which will affect loading and top speed. In our boat it only holds 3 max so there wasn't much worry there. Just so you know.

 

[Tapphouse]

I plan to drill a few 2” holes along the floor where the foam is, to see if wet and to dry it out if it is. The foam was wet in this spot but dried out very fast with air getting to it. Or should I bother?
How much extra weight would a sheet of 1/2” or 3/4” plywood add to the boat?
I’ll only have 2 people in it anyways. Only 2 seats for more fishing space. Lol

 

[huggyb1972]

I just wanted to bring it up the added weight. A 1/2 sheet of plywood is 40lbs. Everything weighs something and it adds up.

 

[Scott Danforth]

foam never dries out

the floor is always the last to rot.

time to replace the stringers, transom and floor

 

[Tapphouse]

I see what your saying about the foam, I need to investigate further. The foam is not like the foam I see on here, it’s not dense or blocky. It’s more light weight? If that makes sense. The section exposed did dry out.
I’ll do some more digging once I get time to get a better feel.
Also…… I keep hearing if the boat is really bad shape/rotten its “unsafe”. What do they mean by this exactly? Thanks

 

[Scott Danforth]

I see what your saying about the foam, I need to investigate further. The foam is not like the foam I see on here, it’s not dense or blocky. It’s more light weight? If that makes sense. The section exposed did dry out.
I’ll do some more digging once I get time to get a better feel.
Also…… I keep hearing if the boat is really bad shape/rotten its “unsafe”. What do they mean by this exactly? Thanks

if foam "dries" easy, then it will also soak up water easy.

the foam starts life as many little bubbles. the bubbles break due to freezing and thaw cycles when exposed to water.

if you want to get rid of foam easy, use a 3" cup brush on the end of a 2 foot drill extension and chuck it up in your cordless drill. the cup brush will grind the foam to dust. then you just need to vacuum.

however you will find that once you remove the foam, and perform a test drill or two, your transom and stringers are also wet

 

[Tapphouse]

Your probably right. The transom seems ok, but I do know there is some amount of water in it. No major flexing but I’m sure damage has been done to a degree.
The boat is 43 years old with original floor and transom. Not bad id say, but to spend $3500 to make it “new” is not what I want to do right now. For lack of better wording I’d like to fix/patch it to work and be safe to run for a few more seasons, if possible.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The boat is 43 years old with original floor and transom. Not bad id say,

not bad for a boat designed to only last 15 years

but to spend $3500 to make it “new” is not what I want to do right now. For lack of better wording I’d like to fix/patch it to work and be safe to run for a few more seasons, if possible.

Good luck. once you start digging you will find out quickly. Been on Iboats for a few years, have seen hundreds of restorations. the odds are not in your favor for a "patch-n-go"

 

[Tapphouse]

Thanks for the info, I’m sure I’ll be another statistic, that’s why I’m asking ahead of time if I have any options other than scrap it or rob a bank to fix it proper. Talk soon.

 

[kcassells]

Thanks for the info, I’m sure I’ll be another statistic, that’s why I’m asking ahead of time if I have any options other than scrap it or rob a bank to fix it proper. Talk soon.

Dime a Dozen.
Total rehab brother.

 

[Tapphouse]

A couple questions before I get too crazy.
1) if I were to cut the whole floor out 3”-4” from the sides, leaving a lip , will the boat lose shape or structure?
2) when I put new floor down, do I lay over existing lip and glass to the sides? Or butt up to it and fibreglass over the seam? Will it be strong enough since it’s only glasses on top surface?

My concern is structural strength when on the water. I read these old boats don’t have much for side support. Appreciate any insight. Thanks.

 

[kcassells]

Depends and probably the wood will be rotted also. Possible but the point is you are so close at this point it would be replaced also. You would need to build a cradle or structure to keep the boat frame aligned whereas it could develop a hook.
Cradles are easypeasy.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

You must remember that the possible rotted wood is the spine (structure) of your boat, if compromised your boat and yourself may get very wet.
The PO owner of mine did a re-deck and I found many stress cracks I had to repair so if he kept running it it probably would have turned ugly.

 

[Tapphouse]

That’s kinda why I don’t want to cut too much of the floor away, as I’m scared it will take away from structural support of the boat, And won’t be able to match what it was.
I believe there is only 2 stringers running front to back under my floor. 3 sections, middle is open to direct water to drain hole and 2 outsides are foam filled.
Thinking about it I would like to cut the floor out, remove foam, dry it out, new foam, lay new floor to match existing. What’s holding me back is how do I make it strong/ supported?

 

[Scott Danforth]

That’s kinda why I don’t want to cut too much of the floor away, as I’m scared it will take away from structural support of the boat, And won’t be able to match what it was.
I believe there is only 2 stringers running front to back under my floor. 3 sections, middle is open to direct water to drain hole and 2 outsides are foam filled.
Thinking about it I would like to cut the floor out, remove foam, dry it out, new foam, lay new floor to match existing. What’s holding me back is how do I make it strong/ supported?

build a cradle

 

[Tapphouse]

It’s on trailer now, so if I cut floor out I’ll need a cradle. Got it.
My second question was will the floor be strong enough only glassing from the top over the seams or to the sides of boat? How do I glass it properly?

 

[Scott Danforth]

It’s on trailer now, so if I cut floor out I’ll need a cradle. Got it.
My second question was will the floor be strong enough only glassing from the top over the seams or to the sides of boat? How do I glass it properly?

Go to the top of the forum and look at the 4th sticky down

Read links 14, 15, 18, 2, 3, 4a. 4b in that order