hull repair question

[ricardo.benin]

Hi I have a 95 maxum it is a bow rider and it has a 120hp force outboard any ways on the port side rear quarter underneath the rear side seat were the little door is that the battery is behind there is a rotten section of the hull that needs to be repaired anyways just tore up carpet and found this, basically I tore out every thing that is missing in pics any suggestions on how to fi the deck. The foam is retaining water so should I put a space heater in the boat for a while to make sure everything is dried out. The rot came from the battery door hinge that had 4 screws going into deck to hold hinge in place as well as a hole that maxum put in the floor to fill hull with foam. BTW the pics look a lot worse then it actually is and the rot is not on any major supports beside the one in pic that goes to front and back of hull, the support that goes to front and back of hull is unharmed by rot and should be ok.
Thanks

 

[greenbush future]

Re: hull repair question

That foam looks rather nasty, and it will not dry out, remove it. Is the actual boat hull rotted or the battery tray and flooring inside the hull? Maybe a picture that shows the surrounding area will give a better idea of what you're working with. If you are removing the floor, ya might check everything else, stringers, transom too. Any other soft spots on the floor? If yes you would be better off replacing all of it at once.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: hull repair question

Hi and Welcome to the Iboats.com dry dock, Ricardo...
I have to agree with "greeenbush"...that looks like you should check things very carefully throughout the rest of the boat as best you can...any hardware that has been installed into the deck without properly sealing it will allow water to penetrate and eventually cause rot...also, if the boat has sat for a season or more, uncovered from the elements, and has retained rain water at any time...that too, will cause rot in the underlying structure...
It will take a bit of detective work and careful poking and prodding, but if you want the boat to last many more seasons and be safe, you should be diligent about finding out what is going on under your feet...
All that being said, IF the damage is wholly contained in this specific area, then the repair is fairly straight forward, but please, take some more pictures from further away to give us a better idea of the location in the boat...
Best of luck and have fun!
GT1M

 

[ricardo.benin]

Re: hull repair question

Here is the extra pics please let me know asap as I need to fix the rot soon I have a space heater pointing at the rot to dry every thing out.
Thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: hull repair question

She's 20 yrs old. Don't want to Rain on Your parade but...(Doncha just hate those buts!!!) You really need to do a lot more inspection of the boat. Wet Foam will never dry out. Once it's waterlogged it's done! It must be removed and replaced. You will need to remove the section of decking that has been compromised and replace it entirely. Since the foam is wet there's a high probability that the stringers and bulkhead substructure of the boat have been compromised as well. You should also do a thorough inspection of the transom. I'd raise the outboard to it's highest setting and then agressively bounce on the lower leg and look for any flex in the transom. I'd also drill some exploratory 1/4" holes into the interior lower extremities of the transom and check the shavings to ensure they were light colored and dry. You could have issues far beyond what you are seeing. Hopefully not, but you should Expect the worst and Hope for the Best!

 

[ricardo.benin]

Re: hull repair question

I did check transom and it looks to be fine but my stringers are all glasses in but I don't know if you can see by pics but when I tore the piece of floor out there was a layer or two of good wood below the rot but I know that all the rot starter from a hole in floor that maxum put in to spray the foam in as well as the 4 screw holes for battery access door that has a hinge screwed into floor but if I end up replacing foam what foam do I use so that it is gasoline proof so it does not dissolve.
Thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: hull repair question

2 Part urethane foam.

Doesn't matter if your stringers are glassed in or not. This forum is full of boats being restored with Glassed in stringers that are totally rotten that started just like yours. What specifically did you do to check your transom If I might ask?

 

[briangcc]

Re: hull repair question

I think, and I may be totally wrong here so if I am I apologize ahead of time, that WOG is trying to tell you that its a very rare occurrence for a boat to rot from the floor down. It's almost guaranteed that they rot from the hull UP so the floor is the last thing to rot, not the first.

Based off that assumption, and that your Maxum is just a rebadged Bayliner, its a safe bet that the stringers are wood cored and may be in about the same condition, if not worse than your floor. Same would go for the transom.

Based off the photos of the one section with the mold growing on the poured in foam, I'd be very suspicious of the condition of the stringers and transom. If'n it were me, I'd be taking some core samples of the transom and the stringers to determine just how far the rot goes. Especially if I had family aboard the boat.

But that's just me.

 

[ricardo.benin]

Re: hull repair question

I will take some core samples but I know that the rot started from top of floor to bottom because the wood layers at bottom of floor were still good and the top layers of floor were rotted which makes me believe it started top to bottom.
Thanks

 

[chaparral2300]

Re: hull repair question

Look, I get it as do all of the fellow's that are responding to your question. But the thing is, these guys responding, some are very qualified in what there discussing with you, some do it for a living, and other's for a hobby. It blow's believe me I know. I started last SPRING in what I thought was going to be a routine sureing up of my floor and im still not done. Mostly becuase of finance's but non the less still not done. Not to discourage you though, anything someone else has built before can be rebuilt now, so not all is lost.

If it were me, which it has been, moving forward just expect the absolute worst and anything shy of a complete restoration you will feel blessed. And I truly hope I don't come off sounding like a pompas *** but what your experiencing is a seemingly normal occurance on boats as old as your's and mine.

Speaking of which, anyone have any left over materials from there restoration's just sitting around collecting dust. looking for some glass, and resin, cabosil etc. I have everything removed from the boat and im in the build back stage.

Working on chaparral 2300sx sport. thanks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: hull repair question

Take out a good size section of the decking since it is going to need replacement anyway. I would use a circular saw with the blade set very shallow only enough to penetrate the deck.

The construction of a Maxum was typical wood stringers with some fiberglass. You need to investigate the stringers and remove any wet foam........ here at iboats we have the supplies to get the repairs done properly and carry everything you will need. Take a look at the Paint and Maintenance section Boat Parts & Accessories For Your Boat and we even carry the 2 part foam Spectrum Color Polyurethane Pour Foam iboats has teamed up with Spectrum Color and now carry many more products.

I promise you if you do this the right way .........your boat will be better and stronger then new

 

[ricardo.benin]

Re: hull repair question

I have lots of time today to work on my boat so I am going to tear the floor up some more but I have had my boat covered with space heater and everything has dried out nicely my foam seemed to have dried out even when I step on it no water comes up at all.
Thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: hull repair question

How do you think the water got in there I'm curious? do you think the water came in from above because the boat was uncovered ? if so then you may be quite right that the water was just laying on top of the Foam and it can be dried out. How long have you owned this boat?

 

[ricardo.benin]

Re: hull repair question

Hi Woodonglass I bought the boat about 1 week ago for $1500 because of the engine that is in very good shape and it was not covered for about 6 months but I got boat knowing of the spongy floor piece in the corner but the carpet glue was not intact so the carpet was just laying there but the battery door has to be re made since bottom of door is rotten out from water running to bottom of door which also contributed to rot since it ran down the door to hinge and into 4 screws which are screwed into floor were the rot has started.
Thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: hull repair question

She's still 19 yrs old and I'd be checking her really well for additional issues. You can core sample the foam too!