Saving the wood deck

[Quacker]

OK, I know I'm going to get slammed for this but here goes...

I've just started replacing the interior in my boat and have found moderate rot in the floor.

I have a 25yo 17' fiberglass Rinker and live on a small ski lake. I bought the boat 3 years ago with an excellent engine, outdrive, transom, etc. but needed a full interior. The boat has sat on the trailer for the 3 years (engine run) but I need to get a boat on the water soon so I can start spending time with my family (bad economy, no money, etc.) I work about 80 hrs a week and need to get the boat done within a couple of weeks in time for vacation.

I've bought all the wood, vinyl, seats etc. then found the rot. I would be happy to get about a years use out of the boat then deal with replacing the floor next year but I simply can't replace the floor now.

The only soft spot that I can feel is about 3/4 sqft where nobody can stand. Also there's a center storage well (6' x 6" x 6") that's lined with 2x6 stingers. They're still able to support the floor but I need to fasten supports to it so it can support a cover.

My thought is to dry everything as much as possible, saturate what I can reach with an anti-fungal/anti-mold chemical, let it dry again, then put a heavy coat of fiberglass over it.

I know the right thing to do is to replace the floor, but I simply can't do it this year.

I'm open to any suggestions, harsh criticism or good ideas.

Thanks much.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Saving the wood deck

Welcome to iboats.

Your very first post and what you are looking for is someone to endorse your method of repair or not. There is no donut spare tire to install if your repair fails...... that's why donuts are not recommended for long distance on a car..... they do not last.

You have had the boat for 3 years and now you are in a rush

My advice is to do your repair to bring the craft up to a safety standard and not a temporary one.

 

[Quacker]

Re: Saving the wood deck

I've had the boat for 3 years (actually 2 on the trailer then about 1 in the water) because I had to clear land to access the lake then when I put it in the lake, our water tables in the area dropped rapidly leaving the boat landlocked then a major storm brought the water level up 3 feet and the boat was stuck in muck in my backyard until I could get a someone that had equipment that could lift it and get it back on the trailer without them getting stuck.

I can justify my situation to no end, but the bottom line is that not everyone has the time and/or money to do what's best.

I'm aware that I'm looking for some unorthodox advice but options are spending another year that I can't do anything with my kids or getting the boat in the water. I'm looking for the safest way to do what's within my abilities.

I honestly appreciate the comment and I know nearly everyone would agree with you, but please understand that there's often more to tell than what most people care to read in a forum.

 

[Quacker]

Re: Saving the wood deck

Sorry - I missed what may have been your main point.

I'm not looking for someone to endorse my idea, but considering it's not the standard method, I'm putting forward what idea I've come up with. What I'm hoping for is people's opinions on my idea or hopes that some will have a better one (short of doing it all now.)

Thanks again, and again, I really do appreciate the response.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Saving the wood deck

enjoy your vacation. after which you should start making plans to replace that old floor. check out the transom while your at it. good luck.

 

[Silver Heels]

Re: Saving the wood deck

I agree with the last post. I'm not an "expert" like Bob in Vt, but it seems to me a small spot of rot on the deck will not spell catastrophic failure. I would check that the transom is sound though. Have fun with the boat this summer and fix the problem in time for next summer

 

[NickAndJena]

Re: Saving the wood deck

Sorry, I mis-voted in that poll. Picked the wrong radio button

Anyway, I would take great care in what you've got at stake while on the water. A few people suggested I wait to do our boat repair until the end of the Summer. However, after we dug in we realized there would have been some major issues structurally. We also found some issues that we couldn't see at the surface.

The main consideration that kept going through my mind... If I'm out on the lake to relax and otherwise have a good time would be spoiled by stressing about the real issues below the surface. How far has the rot spread? Did it make stringers mushy? Is your transom sound or is it more like kindling... Just some things to think about.

I'm very glad that we decided to do the full repair on ours... Only 1/2 done.

Hope this helps!:redface:

 

[Quacker]

Re: Saving the wood deck

I definitely plan on redoing the floor by next summer.

When I made this post, the boat was already completely stripped of interior and carpeting, and the deck was sanded so although I can't see everything under the deck, I can see soft spots and worn areas. I weight about 240# and can jump everywhere on the deck. There's one spot that's soft and that's at the edge of the ski well down the center of the boat. I've already reinforced it by glassing in a 2x6 because I had to add a new support for the cover well cover anyway. Before glassing it in, I pre-drilled the 2x6 and while screwing them into the rotted board, the screws bogged down the screw gun so there has to be a fair amount of solid wood in the existing supports.

The transom is perfect.

I probably shouldn't have added the poll to this post because it distorts my question. I've already done the reinforcement, but the interior isn't in yet.

What I intended to ask is 'understanding that I will be putting off the total floor replacement, does anyone have any experience in doing a temporary fix and what's suggested?'

Thanks again - I appreciate the responses.

 

[capri1600]

Re: Saving the wood deck

I wouldnt waste the time or the money doing a patch job. I think I'd go with what you have on a very temporary basis if you are insisting on being on the water NOW. As you already know though, the right thing to do is to take the boat down and fix it properly once and for all. As someone else mentioned, the boats been laying around for years on a trailer and now you want to slap a patch on it? Protect your boat from further damage. Protect your family from a boating accident due to a failed hull/transom and protect your family from illness from mold and rot.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Saving the wood deck

Ill tell you for a fact a lot and I mean a lot of boats are out there that have been band aided and ran hard for years.Now I dont mean ocean boats, lake boats.Ive seen patched boats jumped and rodded like new till they blew up and a different cheap boat found.I would look and take some pics of what you have.Core sample from inside transome.Post up some pics and get a opinion then make a sound choice to run or not.If you fix it and fix it right you wont have to find a different boat for next year.I am not telling you that your boat is safe but when have you seen a hull crack in half.The titanic yes but not a lake boat.

 

[Quacker]

Re: Saving the wood deck

Thanks - I think you've hit some of my points. It's on a small lake that I can swim across. I've checked the transom with a pick and it's very sound. I'm done covering the floor now and I can jump hard on it and get no movement so I feel pretty good that it will last the year.

For anyone else considering doing this too, It may be good to know that I don't disagree with much of the advice I got here but didn't follow. I did check everything extensively and feel conservative to be redoing the floor next year. I have been in a sinking boat in the ocean (twice) and dead in the water in the gulf stream. Anyone thinking about waiting on wood repair, do consider where you may be and who will be in the boat too.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Saving the wood deck

If you read transom repairs you'll usually find they start with a soft spot in the deck. Its the last place it affects and the first place it usually shows up.

Your stringers and transom are probably gone or soon will be but you CAN still use it if you don't go nuts on the water.
I got a yr out of mine before it needed doing.

The only sure fire way to know if the transom is good is to drill a hole near the bottom, look at the chips, wood or black mush?
Banging on the transom just makes noise, mine sounded fine and it was rotted rotted. Water poured out when I drilled a hole. No wonder it sounded solid. Solid pulp and water.

 

[rucaradio]

Re: Saving the wood deck

Considering the shape my floor/transom/and stringers were in before I began my restore, it's amazing she lasted so long on the water before I bought her and began to restore her. The amount of rot was indicative of YEARS of neglect... But she lasted 21 years before I got my hands on her and began to tear out all the wet compost.

Remember manufacturers don't build boats to last, they build them to sell. Most boat makers put the absolute cheapest supplies into them and much of the workmanship is sub par at best (chopper guns).. Mine floated and was enjoyed for two decades with this in mind.

Bottom line, yes, I would say you can use her this summer.. But as it was said earlier in this thread, start planning your restore now... If you begin in late September with a tear out, you may be able to have her ready by next spring.

Just my $.02..