Deck question - not soft, but creaking

[Gearhead62]

22' Bowrider I/O with orignal carpet (1987). No soft spots but a creaking noise in small area on firm deck, just in front of the "pry up" flush access cap, located over fuel tank sender.

I know what a soft deck feels like - I'm guessing there has to be a very small gap over center, maybe delam / early separation from stringers, for the noise to be occurring.

Before I dig in...........No big deal? Early stages of something major? Treatable issue? Pull that access cap and explore? Tell the 215 lb owner to lose some weight?

 

[superbenk]

Re: Deck question - not soft, but creaking

Could be the plywood delaminating around the area. Might not be rotten & pinky per say, but the glue in the wood might be letting go & moisture has caused it to warp.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Deck question - not soft, but creaking

If it is still "safe" I would worry about it at the end of the season......... enjoy the season!!

 

[Gearhead62]

Re: Deck question - not soft, but creaking

Thanks - Gonna run it out this season......Didn't know if there is something I could inject in there to stave off the inevitable, or if this is the beginning signs of a potentially larger deck issue

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Deck question - not soft, but creaking

If you had a way to inject some epoxy in there, I'd do that.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Deck question - not soft, but creaking

If you take a small drill bit, drill down slowly and carefully, you "might" feel when the bit drops into a void caused by delaminating. If you did, stop there and inject epoxy. Then again, you might not feel anything and now have another hole to fix. Not sure what is better.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Deck question - not soft, but creaking

IMO, if it's creaking, it's soft.

 

[Gearhead62]

Re: Deck question - not soft, but creaking

I'll research the injection - I remember seeing a product out there to stiffen wood, fill a void, that has been compromised.....it creaks slightly like wooden stairs in a house, not soft at all, still very solid, but concerned as there should be no sound at all

Thaks again

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Deck question - not soft, but creaking

May be a stripped out deck screw.