Floor reseal questions

[homelessduck]

Hey guys!

I'm working on a 1967 Horizon 15' speedboat. Whatever was used to seal the floor is starting to crack. I'm completely new to this and I have no idea where to begin. I have found some good epoxy sealers but I'm not sure if anything will stick to the old floor or if I have to strip it to bare wood. Here is a picture of the floor :
View image: 130716 0005

It looks like a liquid sealant but when I started to peal some away it looked like a fabric type material.

If anyone can identify what it is that I'm looking at and give me some advice as to what would stick to it and work the best, or if I have to strip it ... I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

-Dallas

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Floor reseal questions

If the fiberglass covering is easily peeled away from the plywood deck, it may be more involved then re-covering the deck w/ additional material (paint, epoxy, sealer, poly resin & fiberglass, etc)

Here's your pix posted IN your thread instead of as an attachment that must be opened:

Looks like 'normal' 45+/- yr old decking that's been exposed to the elements. The checking/cracks may have been letting water penetrate the wooden structure below the 'glass.

What ever happened w/ the transom repair:
Rotten transom or other damage?

But it's a different boat? They both got the gray deck w/ the same splatter paint treatment.

 

[homelessduck]

Re: Floor reseal questions

It definitely isn't easy to pull away. There were two small spots that needed attention but I repaired them. The floor is very solid. It is the same boat. I originally thought it was a 16' but the title actually says 15' . I ended up taking it around town to marine shops and they all told me the same thing ; The transom is solid and it appears someone over tightened something in the corner, as you also suggested in my other thread. I've decided that I won't be restoring this boat, I just want to make it last the summer. It is just too small for us.

Off topic but not worth starting a new thread for ... The garboard (?) plug on the transom needs attention. I haven't decided what route to take yet, but when I stuck a screw driver in the hole it only went in a few inches. I thought this hole lead to under the deck ...?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Floor reseal questions

Based on the info posted in your other thread, and if I remember correctly, it was suggested there too:

It looks like someone has done work to this boat previously. A garboard drain in the transom 'might' have an elbow if it extends below the boat, rather then thru the hull. At the bottom of the transom directly behind the motor, that's the drain correct:

And this looks like the interior of the transom:

No access to a bilge in that ^^^ pix.

That tells me that the garboard drain SHOULD be a straight thru hull fitting, and something (what? IDK, could be anything) is clogging or blocking it just as it goes thru the interior side of the transom.


Without additional strong evidence, I don't think I'd try to use the boat for the summer. But that's just IMHO. Too many things that make ya go Hmmm

In just the 2 pix I copied from your other thread & the info you've posted here:
1) Non-factory splatter paint covering wood or gelcoat that isn't smooth (bottom pix, particularly area between motor's thru bolts.)
2) Some sort of repair (what was actually done?) done to the splashwell, clearly thick white material over blue that matches the exterior
3) Damage to the transom area of the boat, esp @ the rectangular indention & 2 holes discussed in the other thread
4) Cracked & peel-able fiberglass cloth @ the deck

If there was low caliber work done previously, it may be less sound now then before whatever 'repairs' were done.

A 100hp transfers a lot of energy to the boat thru the transom. 3 of the 4 items above concern the transom.

 

[homelessduck]

Re: Floor reseal questions

Is there something I can do to provide more information and possibly sway your opinion? My brother has an inspection camera .. Maybe drill a small hole through the floor and use it to see what it looks like underneath? I've had it out twice this summer, haven't noticed anything serious but again I'm a newb .. The only leak I have found is from one of the engine mount bolts through the transom which should be easy to seal. You are correct about the hole location and that there is no access from in the boat. If it is a straight through hole whatever is blocking it is very solid and has no give.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Floor reseal questions

Remote via limited pix over the 'net, it's difficult to 100% accurately assess someone else's boat.

It really isn't 1 thing, it's the multiple unknowns that give me an impression that there might have been questionable work done before, or that below decks things might be less then ideal.

Its only my opinion. You can put your hands on the boat. You've had other people look at the boat. If you aren't getting a bad impression of the boat, I could be entirely wrong.

The reasons I've listed tell me I'm not entirely wrong, possibly only partially wrong. And, yes, there is quite a margin of error doing this via the 'net. But, there's always a but: The conditions at the splashwell on the transom & the covered over material on the inside of the transom don't look good & don't appear to be 100% sound IMHO.

Unfortunately, a large majority of these kinds of problems are only 100% assessable after some degree of destructive testing.

If you have an inspection camera, it could certainly help figure out what's blocking the bilge drain. That in & of itself is of concern. But scope everything you can.

I also know that no matter how bad it's condition, if you decide to rehab it entirely, the guys hanging out around the dry dock @iboats will help you get it done. And done well, to ultimately help you put a safe & sound boat back in service.

 

[homelessduck]

Re: Floor reseal questions

I will borrow his inspection camera tomorrow and see if I can figure out what is going on in there. For what it's worth, I pulled one of the through - transom engine bracket bolts and the wood in that area is solid.

The last thing I want to do is put anyone's life at risk by putting an unsafe boat in the water. However, if it will hang in there for us this summer I will be finding another one for next year. Aside from it being small, I do like the boat. Though I don't think it would be worth the money it would take to restore it.

Thanks for taking the time to discuss it with me, I appreciate it.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Floor reseal questions

They are never 'worth' what it takes to restore them.

You're welcome.

It sort of reminds me of the James Bond levee jumping Glastron........

I'd poke around the rectangular indention & those bolt holes too. And take some core samples of the transom. Make a marking gauge @ 1.25" deep:

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Floor reseal questions

I agree with jbc, if the fiberglass is delaminating from your deck you've probably got bigger problems than you think. Delamination is a sure sign of water intrusion and more than likely rot.... and the rot won't be confined to a small area either.

Boats, especially fiberglass boats rot from the inside out and the bottom up. By the time the rot starts showing up in the decking the damage below deck is extensive.

Just because your deck 'feels" solid doesn't mean that it is. The floatation below deck on an f'glass boat can/will give a false feeling of solidity.

Trying to just get another season or another season or 2 out of a rotten boat is flirting with disaster, and sometimes disaster strikes before the owner thinks it will... we've seen this happen on here and it always brings panic and fear, fear for the operators life and their passengers.

If you don't intend to keep the boat and fix it right, sell it now and look for another boat this winter when prices are cheaper... but beware, the vast majority of aged f'glass boats are rotten and will need a lot of work to make them seaworthy unless you can find one that's been garage kept it's whole life... and those are very rare.