Replacing the deck on 1987 Rinker V190

[100percentcotton]

After many weeks of researching and looking through other builds on iBoats I have started with replacing the deck on my 1987 Rinker Cuddy cabin. I wanted to post this up to document the project as well as hopefully get some much needed advice from the wealth of knowledge here on iboats.

Back story:

I've had the boat for 8 years and about two years ago I noticed the deck bowing up a bit. The previous owner had taken out the old metal gas tank and replaced with a plastic tank, so the center section of the deck was essentially an access panel for the tank. I'm thinking this is the root of the problem...

I didn't use the boat at all last season because of the deck and was unfortunately too busy to start a project this big until now.

I never had any soft spots, but it was bowing up away from the stringers on either side of the gas tank significantly by a good inch to 1.5 inches at its worst. As seen below:




I removed the tank and cut out most of the old deck, which was unsealed plywood on the bottom side and was fairly wet. I removed a ton of foam and as I got towards the stern I found the foam to be wet and a portion of the rear stringer and the woodwork surrounding the engine that steps up to the deck to be rotten ( motor mounts in front - 165hp Mercruiser 470).

Luckily the motor mount is fine, main sections of the stringers are ok, and surprisingly the transom is bone dry as well.

I'm now at the planning stage for replacing the deck and all necessary stringers and woodwork. I will be purchasing poly resin, csm and 1708, exterior plywood, floatation foam, and all other necessary supplies next week. I've read through enough builds and watched enough videos to feel fairly comfortable with the build.

My main question right now lies with whether or not I should add in any support braces from the stringer to side of the hull?


When I ripped up the old deck and foam I was surprised to find that there are only two 2x2s on each side that span from the stringer to the sides of the hull. 1 at the bulkhead in front of the engine (seen in last pic) and one just before the cabin (seen in 2nd to last pic). The deck was basically resting on the stringers, the 2x2s, and tabbed into the deck. I was also expecting to find a bulkhead underneath the cabin wall, but I’ve dug out the foam and there is nothing there either.

Port side stringer and 2x2s


Front 2x2


Rear 2x2


I was thinking I would add pieces at least at each 2x2, but I'm not sure.

Anyone have any advice on this?

 

[Rickmerrill]

Hi Cotton, welcome to the dry dock. Sounds like an interesting rebuild. Unfortunately, your pictures are not showing up. Are you directly posting the IMG link into your text using Photobucket or similar. Since the upgrade that seems like it is the most reliable way, uploading url's not so much.

 

[100percentcotton]

Thanks for the welcome Rick and thanks for the heads up on the pics. I inserted the photos to the post as attachments, they seem to be showing up for me but here is a link to a photobucket slideshow:


http://s1382.photobucket.com/user/ioopercentcotton/slideshow/Rinker deck replacement

 

[100percentcotton]

Thanks for the welcome Rick and thanks for the heads up on the pics. I inserted the photos to the post as attachments, they seem to be showing up for me but here is a link to a photobucket slideshow:


http://s1382.photobucket.com/user/ioopercentcotton/slideshow/Rinker deck replacement

 

[Woodonglass]

The preferred method for posting in the forum is to use the IMG Code like this...

 

[100percentcotton]

Sorry for the confusion guys, I'm new lol. I believe I've got it right this time.

Here is the deck rising up:


Center section with both the front and rear 2x2 cross pieces visable


Rear 2x2 cross


Front 2x2 cross

 

[Rickmerrill]

Deleted.

 

[Rickmerrill]

Going out on a limb here but I'm starting to think some work has been done down below besides replacing the tank. In the first pic there is a distinct line about midway. In the second pic same on the stringer. On the fwd bulkhead it looks like someone pieced the 2x2 on top, maybe on the rear bulkhead too. Finally, I would have expected the mfg would have continued the bulkheads to the hull sides if more deck support was needed. Maybe that's the way Rinker built them or maybe someone was trying a misguided fix. I don't think you need the deck support between the outer stringer and the hull. I don't think they were there originally but I've been wrong before.

 

[100percentcotton]

Good eye, initially I thought the same but I've drilled into it to test and it's dry. I believe that when the previous owner installed to new tank he sistered those plywood stringers in as either side of the tank are the only two places where the stringers are two pieces of plywood thick. I believe he just glued them to the original stringers and I think the dark line was an attempt at waterproofing with resin, but could be wrong. The outer side of the stinger has 3-4" fiberglass tabbing, but the inner piece is completely free floating.

My plan is to fillet the inner piece of the stringers in, coat both sides with resin, and then wrap both pieces in fiberglass. I would feel a bit safer if they weren't just exposed plywood under the new deck.

I guess I may forget about extending the bulkheads as it definitely would save me some work, but it just seems weird to me that there is not much under the deck.

 

[Rickmerrill]

My boat has 15" from the outside edge of the stringer to the outside edge of the deck with 5/8" ply for the deck. Maybe that will give you a feel for the span.

 

[Torqueboxer]

I've got the same boat.........with the same crappy floor, tapping my toe waiting for your build so I can copy it. BTW I put a 5.7 merc in mine.....