Replacing the floor

[scharif1]

We are new to boat owning. I really appreciate any input and suggestions. The boat has some soft spots in the floor. I got a quote for replacing the two soft soft spot areas and putting fiberglass on the entire floor over the wood. It was about $300 to $400.00. If the entire wood floor needs to be replaced the body shop said it would be $2600.00 with the fiberglass on top of the wood. Both of these estimates are with using the existing carpet. If the carpet can't be reused then we will have to have someone put down new.

My questions are:

1. Is it alright to replace and patch a soft spot?

2. Is is a good idea to fiberglass over the new area as well as the old? And, will the fiberglass keep soft spots from occuring again?

3. Is this a good fair price for repair/ replace the spots or the entire boat floor?

4. Is this something we could do ourselves? If so where should we look to purchase materials?

5. Where can I get carpet for boats? (local Marine stores are expensive)

There are so many web sites that have so many ways of repairing boats. I wanted to ask people who are experienced and can offer suggestions.

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: Replacing the floor

1. Yes - but I would be sure that the stringers below aren't wet/ruined - typically they go hand in hand

2. Absolutely, and yes if it is done right

3. Seems like a decent price. Does it include stringer replacement or just the deck?

4. Yes - Check here at iboats. Wood, fiberglass and resin will be the primary materials. A grinder, resperator, and body suit will be your best friend for weeks. The time/effort to do it will be more than most can handle - and it isn't easy to do it right.

5. www.boatcarpetbuys.com is where I bought mine - decent quality for about half the price of others. Also you can buy it here on iboats.

Go to the restoration forum here at iboats.....TONS of info. Don't get lulled into thinking it's easy - there are guys on here that make it look easy. It is a TON of work.

Good luck!

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Replacing the floor

Yep, the Resto Forum here has priceless information.

Welcome!

 

[rickryder]

Re: Replacing the floor

Wingmastr23 has it covered!
Replacing your deck (we don't call em floors ) can be done with some know how and time.... supplies are available via the Internet shipped to your door.
Feel free to jump over to the resto thread section for all the info. You can look at mine I am currently rebuilding.
Welcome to iboats!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Replacing the floor

Replacing the cockpit sole (we don't call'em floors OR decks) is a DIY job if you're handy and meticulous. Otherwise, you'll be doing it again in a few years. The first thing to do is to assess the extent of the damage. It may be a major headache: rotten stringers and transom to go with the rotten sole. My boat only needed about 2/3 of the sole replaced; the stringers and transom are fine. I was able to source the materials locally: fasteners and 1/2" birch plywood (stiffer than regular plywood) for a big box home center, and polyester resin and fiberglass cloth from from a big box auto parts store. The non-skid paint I will be using came from iboats.

 

[Tolyn]

Re: Replacing the floor

Greetings and welcome!

Echoing what others have said. Before you go getting buying stuff or paying somebody to do anything find out how bad it really is so you know what actually needs to be done.

In my case (see my project link below), my soft spots were an indication that the plywood structure below (stringers + transom) was rotten. It's a *lot* of work! I would never pay somebody to do it however. The folks here are very knowledgeable and can help you choose the right tools, materials and methods to do the job right!

Maybe start up a thread in the Restore forum. Take up some plywood and post some pictures so the pros can weigh in on what you are looking at and what your next steps might be.

Respectfully,
-T

 

[rickryder]

Re: Replacing the floor

Replacing the cockpit sole (we don't call'em floors OR decks) is a DIY job if you're handy and meticulous. Otherwise, you'll be doing it again in a few years. The first thing to do is to assess the extent of the damage. It may be a major headache: rotten stringers and transom to go with the rotten sole. My boat only needed about 2/3 of the sole replaced; the stringers and transom are fine. I was able to source the materials locally: fasteners and 1/2" birch plywood (stiffer than regular plywood) for a big box home center, and polyester resin and fiberglass cloth from from a big box auto parts store. The non-skid paint I will be using came from iboats.

A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull[1] of a ship. On a boat or ship, the primary deck is the horizontal structure which forms the 'roof' for the hull, which both strengthens the hull and serves as the primary working surface. Vessels often have more than one level both within the hull and in the superstructure above the primary deck which are similar to the floors of a multi-story building, and which are also referred to as decks, as are specific compartments and decks built over specific areas of the superstructure.

Just Sayin

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Replacing the floor

In my opinion that price actually seems way to low for it to possibly be a proper job. I'd try to do it myself if I was you. Then you would know the full extent of the damage and the quality of the repair. Rot is like cancer and if they don't get it all out, it will come back with a quickness and you'll be the same or worse off than you started. As mentioned, head down to the restore forum (where I'm moving this thread) and check any of the fiberglass boat repair threads. Good luck!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Replacing the floor

I'd also like to NOTE that using Interior Birch Plywod from a Box store for your "Sole, Deck, Floor, or WHATEVER" you want to call it is NOT what I call GOOD Boat building practice. You should at the very least use materials with 100% waterproof glue i.e. ext. grade plywood, marine grade plywood, MDO, or HDO plywood. Interior Grade Plywood, ERM NOT SO GOOD!!!!! IMHO!!!!!