1987 four winns 195 sundowner floor repair.

[step2jimi]

I recently started taking apart the floor of my boat because i simply wanted to replace the deck and carpet. Once i got the carpet out I realized i had a lot of rotted wood. I have continued ripping out learning as I go and now fear I may have more work then i though. I have looked through the site a little and have feeling someone here can help me. Most of the rot around the gas tank and the little storage compartment in front of it. I was hoping that i could simply rip out the old rotted wood and replace but after seeing that most of it is rapped in fiberglass here is my question. Can i do just that, gut out whats rotted and replace it with just wood or does it have to be rapped in fiberglass. I do construction so the carpentry isnt scary to me at all. Really none of it scares me im sure i can do it jsut need some pointers as to what i have to do and what i can get away with not doing. Any help will be greatly appreciated and the link below has some pictures of what I have taken out and how far along i am.

http://s933.photobucket.com/albums/ad175/step2jimi/

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1987 four winns 195 sundowner floor repair.

Unfortunately, the wood serves no real purpose except as a form to support the fiberglass until it cures, somewhat exaggerated, but basically true. The fiberglass is what carries most if not 100% of the loads. The bulkheads that makes separate areas into which the tank sits or that make up the ski locker are also necessary & need to be wrapped in fiberglass.

Read through this info thread

Or find oops' hull extension thread (it has a great index on page 1), his signature line has a link to it if you find any of his posts.

Can i do just that, gut out whats rotted and replace it with just wood or does it have to be rapped in fiberglass. I do construction so the carpentry isnt scary to me at all. Really none of it scares me im sure i can do it jsut need some pointers as to what i have to do and what i can get away with not doing.

There will be few suggestions for what you won't need to do w/ the exception of fully fiberglassing BOTH sides of the floor deck, which is recommended if you want the boat & floor to last a long time. Short term paint will last a few seasons w/ little maintenance, w/ judicious maintenance it will last longer. That will probably be the limit of the short cuts. W/ resin & glass the deck, esp w/ both sides done, will last a very very very long time w/ regular maintenance.

There are lots of good threads, you'll find tons of great info!


read read read & read some more

Just of the top of my head, check out these 2 iBoaters too:
WoodOnGlass (lots of great info, good pix of glass layup schedules, painting, & a great interior thread)
Friscoboater (TONS of info, vids & pix, plus a YouTube channel w/ just the vids)


Welcome to dry dock & best of luck w/ your project.

 

[step2jimi]

Re: 1987 four winns 195 sundowner floor repair.

thank you for the reply. iv got everything all cleaned up and ready for some framing and i have done a ton of research so im not too scared anymore. after talking with a few people and reading a lot on line i feel pretty confident i just need to replace the rotted stuff with plywood and then wrap it in fiberglass now i just have to get it all done before striper season.

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1987 four winns 195 sundowner floor repair.

I did an 87 Four Winns 210 last year. Check out my resto thread