Should I open the floor?

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pat72

Seaman Apprentice
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Aug 6, 2010
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Re: Should I open the floor?

One last thing. The boat was built in 1961 so how can I make sure that it's not going to fall apart on me. Sound stupid, I know, but it's 49 years old!! The hull looks good from the outside but how well does fiberglass age? Can it crack without any warning? What should my untrained eyes look for to make sure that I don't become shark food in the next month or so?
 
Yacht Dr.

Yacht Dr.

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Re: Should I open the floor?

pat72 said:
One last thing. The boat was built in 1961 so how can I make sure that it's not going to fall apart on me. Sound stupid, I know, but it's 49 years old!! The hull looks good from the outside but how well does fiberglass age? Can it crack without any warning? What should my untrained eyes look for to make sure that I don't become shark food in the next month or so?
Click to expand...

Hate to say this ( Im the black sheep though ) looking kinda like a Particle board deck to me..

Those "stripes" at first might look like Unidirectional glass..but..more likely now looking like carpet lines.

3/4 " Solid fiberglass deck ? It could be the pics though..Thats seems to be Too much glass for the size of the vessel m8..

Warping of that much glass is IMO very unusual..

Got some more Pics of were the deck is glassed to the hull ?

YD. :)
 
Bob_VT

Bob_VT

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Re: Should I open the floor?

Okay a black sheep may not be a lone black sheep in this case..........

I am really not sure what I see for decking material in the picture. It appears way to granular to be fiberglass alone.

My jury is out on this one too. Got any close up photos?
 
P

pat72

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Aug 6, 2010
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Re: Should I open the floor?

I attached a few pics of the 2 pieces I cut. It's 1/4" thick.

I'm leaving town tomorrow until monday so I won't be able to reply but please keep posting if you see anything that I should be concerned about. As I said it's a 49 years old hull so I rather know now than find out a few miles from the shore that I should have worked on it a little more...:eek:
 

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Mark42

Mark42

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Re: Should I open the floor?

Looks to be some type of composite deck. Molded as one piece (judging from the tapered edge) and glued and or glassed in place. Its obviously got CSM on top, and at only 1/4" thick, its not ply or fiberboard, they would not be strong enough.

My guess is its an early composite designed to prevent rotting floor.

If its not heavy stuff, I might be inclined to lay a few layers of glass on top of the entire deck and call it a day. Otherwise, pull it out and go with plywood.
 
Woodonglass

Woodonglass

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Re: Should I open the floor?

I agree, that looks like glass to me, but not much there. Not sure how I would fix this one. Depends on how much SAGGING is going on. HMMM. I'm thinkin on this one...


I'm just sayin...:D
 
Yacht Dr.

Yacht Dr.

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Re: Should I open the floor?

pat72 said:
I attached a few pics of the 2 pieces I cut. It's 1/4" thick.

I'm leaving town tomorrow until monday so I won't be able to reply but please keep posting if you see anything that I should be concerned about. As I said it's a 49 years old hull so I rather know now than find out a few miles from the shore that I should have worked on it a little more...:eek:
Click to expand...

I dont know were the new wood came in..

The pics are looking kinda ... erm.. inconsistant with the posts.. it was all glass .. now Im looking at some freash wood there..

Btw.. taking pics at 45 deg. angle to the thickness does not help..I still dont see 1/4 inch thick in your cuttout.

IF your edges are really that thin ( still looks like 3/4 inch thick :) ) .. then its time for a re-deck.... sorry m8..

Got some pics of where your deck meats the hull ??

YD.
 
Mark42

Mark42

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Re: Should I open the floor?

Yacht Dr. said:
I dont know were the new wood came in..

The pics are looking kinda ... erm.. inconsistant with the posts.. it was all glass .. now Im looking at some freash wood there..

Btw.. taking pics at 45 deg. angle to the thickness does not help..I still dont see 1/4 inch thick in your cuttout.

IF your edges are really that thin ( still looks like 3/4 inch thick :) ) .. then its time for a re-deck.... sorry m8..

Got some pics of where your deck meats the hull ??

YD.
Click to expand...

Put your glasses on old man. That ruler is measuring 1/4". And what "fresh wood" are you referring to?

http://forums.iboats.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=72824&d=1289539239
 
twkjr 1250

twkjr 1250

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Mar 6, 2009
Messages
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Re: Should I open the floor?

you can try cutting deck right where the crack is to see if something is wrong under that spot . also see if the stringers are secured to the hull bottom . if not you will need to tab them back down
 
Hoggar

Hoggar

Seaman
Joined
Mar 11, 2009
Messages
57
Re: Should I open the floor?

Hi Pat.

I would Suggest you pickup a copy of Runabout Renovation, Lots of great Info in there.

You could seal up those holes with a sheet composite. Find some thing
with no wood in it you have a hull with no wood in it you should keep it
that way.
 
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