Help with Replacing Floor

[tkincaid86]

I am getting prepared to replace my first rotted floor and have a few questions. I know there is more than enough info on this web site to figure it out but that's the whole problem. There is too much! I've been reading for a few days and there is so much on this topic that it is hard to sort out and come up with a good plan of attack. So here goes:<br /><br />I have 1984 Mark twain 19' I/O that needs a new floor from the back to back seating to the transom, front half is good. I'm expecting to get at least three or four years of watersports/fishing in freshwater and be able to sell with a solid floor.<br /><br />The stringers have a little rot but I think they are serviceable.<br /><br />What is the best to stop the stringers from rotting further?<br /><br />How much epoxy would it take to cover all the sides, edges, and floor joints of 1 4x8 sheet of marine grade? <br /><br />My plan is to cut and fit the plywood and before I fasten it, I will epoxy both sides and edges. I then will screw it down with SS screws.<br /><br />When I fasten the ply to the stringers, is it necessary to use epoxy to "glue" it on?<br /><br />Once everthing is fastened, I will put another coat on to seal up joints.<br /><br />Final question: Am I crazy?<br /><br />Any hard learned lessons for the first time do it yourselfer?<br /><br />Thanks in advance for any tips or tricks, they are greatly appriciated!<br /><br />Floor rot pic Floor rot pic 2

 

[ecblanks]

Re: Help with Replacing Floor

Wow dude, looks like you got almost the same exact project that I'm doing. I picked up this book from West Systems while i was buying my epoxy called Repair For Fiberglass Boats (or something like that), $3. It is pretty good and address these issues, so I'm just jumping in. It even covers what you should do with those stringers(drill some holes and inject w/thickened epoxy).

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Help with Replacing Floor

Almost always the stringers are worse than they first appear. I would recommend you replace them if there is rot present, but, if you find you could salvage them to get a few good years out of them, There are two ways you could prolong their life:<br /><br />1.dry them thoroughly and treat them with antifreeze.<br /><br />2.dry them thoroughly and treat them with CPES available thru Rotdoctor.com.<br /><br />note that both 1 & 2 begin with "dry them thoroughly", which is nearly impossible to do if they are encapsulated.