flooring

[tgpfloat]

I have a 16' starcraft that a friend game me and I am trying to rebuild.

he boat has a plywood floor that needs to be replaced. i think i would use marine plywood but should I paint it, sea with epoxy resin? apply a vinyl material over the wood? I don't think carpet would work well for this boat, planning on lots of fishing.

any ideas

 

[JB]

Re: flooring

You must be confused, tgpfloat. Boats do not have floors, they have decks.

Rhino-liner type materials are good for covering fishing boat decks.

 

[oops!]

Re: flooring

jb nows a lot more about that type of boat than i do....


when the topic of wood comes up......pressure treated wood is uasually better...cheeper....than marine grade..

anything that says marine....costs more .....$$$$$$

cheers
oops

 

[raekmike]

Re: flooring

Replaced the floor in my bayliner capri and converted to a fishing/skiing boat with pedestals 3 years ago. Cut out the old floor with a hand held grinder and used 3/4 inch plywood which I encapsulated (is that a word?) in resin. I liquid nailed to the stringers which were good and fiberglassed into the sides. For the top coat I wanted something durable and easy to clean and wash out that wouldn't hold water so I went with a glidden product which was oil based for decks and porches in a light grey color from home dept. I simply added a packed of non skid additive and mixed in. I first used oil based kilz primer and then simply rolled on the paint with the non skid additive. Wow It's awesome. Been using it 2 years for fishing and skiing. It doesn't hurt the bare-feet and blood and scales come right off with water and a brush for the hard stuff. Haven't had to recoat yet and when I do, ooo there goes another 20 bucks...lol

 

[Chris1956]

Re: flooring

TGP - Is the boat fiberglass or aluminum? Normally you want a waterproof floor in a F/G boat. I use 1/2" Pressure treated plywood that is good and dry. It should be screwed to the stringers and the top completely covered in polyester resin and 2 layers of ight fiberglass cloth.

If it is an aluminum boat and the floor is semi-permanent, you may go the plywood/paint route. Sealing the plywood with polyester resin on all sides will help it last a lot longer.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: flooring

pressure treated is a no, no. the chemicals eat the metal fasteners, better of using marine or sealed exterior ply.

 

[tgpfloat]

Re: flooring

The boat is Aluminum 1972.

I like the marine plywood with resin and paint idea.
I have one other question. i have not had the boat in the water yet and before i go and re-DECK I want to make sure it doesn't leak (too much). I don't think it does because when picked it up it had a fair amount of water below the existing DECK, but the water wasn't leaking out so i figure if it holds water then not too much can get in from the outside???? anyway if I do have some minor leaks and i am sure there are some, what can i seal them up with?

Thanks

 

[1970 Chieftain V]

Re: flooring

I think it is alot easier on an aluminum boat than a fiberglass boat. I did mine it is a 1970 Starcraft. Took me all of a weekend to tear everything out and replace the floor.

Jason

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: flooring

pressure treated is a no, no. the chemicals eat the metal fasteners, better of using marine or sealed exterior ply.

I agree. Another good plywood is M D O (med. density overlay) Same board they use on hwy signs. No voids in it so it is strong. Uses the same glue as Marine ply. and has a tough paper glued to outside surface. makes a good surface for epoxy or paint.

 

[tylerr83]

Re: flooring

Chieftan, I'm in the process of restoring a '71 starcraft sprint, and i'm getting ready to install a new floor....looks just like your project... aside from screwing the plywood into the stringers, how did you fasten it on the outside edges into the ribs (where there are no stringers). It looks like mine used to be fastened w/ some kind of rivet, but i'm not sure....

 

[GregE]

Re: flooring

The boat is Aluminum 1972.

I like the marine plywood with resin and paint idea.
I have one other question. i have not had the boat in the water yet and before i go and re-DECK I want to make sure it doesn't leak (too much). I don't think it does because when picked it up it had a fair amount of water below the existing DECK, but the water wasn't leaking out so i figure if it holds water then not too much can get in from the outside???? anyway if I do have some minor leaks and i am sure there are some, what can i seal them up with?

Thanks

MarineTex Gluvit.

 

[John_S]

Re: flooring

Leaks: when I did mine, I had the boat secured to the trailer and added water up to just above the water line. Checked each rivit for leaks. Only found a few that had slow leaks. All but one were able to be resealed by tightening up the rivit. The one that was still troublesome, was in the cenet bow as it turned up. Epoxy did the job. Putting patches over rivits on the outside of the hull will ruin the appearance of a good restoration job.