Soft spot in floor. 1998 cobalt

[rkuhns]

So I have a small soft squishy spot in my floor in my 1998 cobalt 200. Right now we just put a cooler there So the kids or anyone else doesn’t step there. I know the stringers are fiberglass so I’m not really worried that it’s rotting out but I see they use this honeycomb layer under the fiberglass liner. Maybe that has went bad in that spot. And DIY way that anyone knows to fix this?? Spray foam of some sort maybe? Any insight is greatly appreciated

 

[Scott Danforth]

boats rot from the drain plug on the transom upward.

only way to fix is to cut out and repair.

are you sure the stringers are all fiberglass?

 

[rkuhns]

According to the cobalt manual they started using fiberglass stringers with the hydro-lam system on all models after 1997 except for the 190. There should be no wood in the construction of the boat.
boats.
-We actually did not start using fiberglass stringers until the 252 came out in 1994. The composite liner floor came out at that time, but only on the 252.
-Every new model after that had the liner floor and fiberglass stringers with the exception of the 190 that came out in 1996.
-In 1997, we began to install a composite foam transom on our boats, replacing the wood transom.

 

[Pulse186]

Cut a hole in the soft spot and take a look. Until you do that everything is a guess.

Once you actually see what the issue is then you can figure out the repair.

 

[Chris1956]

You need to look. My '88 SeaRay was part of their ascendency to be a leader in the boat building industry.
On another day, one of the strakes cracked and leaked on a normally rough day in the bay. I was stunned. I think it was bad quality control.
My boat was much older. but you cannot take anything for chance.

 

[tpenfield]

It would be best to contact Cobalt for some guidance on a repair. They should also be able to confirm the materials and construction of the boat.

I know that Cobalt was a leader in converting to synthetic materials, but it would be good to know specifically.

Post some pictures of the soft spot and any areas underneath the spot that you can get your camera on.

 

[rkuhns]

Cobalt finally got back to me after I posted this. They suggested taking it to a fiberglass repair shop. Said the correct way to fix it is to inject resin into the affected area

 

[rkuhns]

Although they did not specify type of resin. He just said resin

 

[Scott Danforth]

Although they did not specify type of resin. He just said resin

Your choice is resin (poly) VE, or Epoxy. Your boat was laid up with poly

 

[rkuhns]

Your choice is resin (poly) VE, or Epoxy. Your boat was laid up with poly

So I need to find an injectable poly resin then? Sorry don’t know much about fiberglass and resins and stuff

 

[Scott Danforth]

So I need to find an injectable poly resin then? Sorry don’t know much about fiberglass and resins and stuff

I would go to the hull restoration forum. Go to the 4th sticky down. Read they links 14, 15, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b in their entirety