Total restore of 1987 Harris Flotebote 24ft 3.0L OMC

[onabender]

This fall once the funds start arriving I will be doing a complete teardown of our pontoon boat. Taking the frame off, redecking, carpet, repair the plywood frame of the seats to get another year out of them then next year go with the newer plastic framed seats. When I have the boat stripped down to the deck I'm getting the engine all tuned up and ready to go. Just wanted to hear success and horror stories of going through the project. I know it will be cherry when I get done, it's just getting there. Anyone know good places online to get seats/redeck kits/ hardware?? I've been looking on pontoonstuff.com just to get an estimate on my budget but they seem to have what I'm looking for. I'll get my marine plywood at a local lumber outfit here. I've restored cars and tractors so this boat is a first for me. Wish me luck....

 

[KaGee]

Re: Total restore of 1987 Harris Flotebote 24ft 3.0L OMC

Friend of the family used pressure treated plywood to redeck his restore project. After the carpet was laid, nobody knew the difference. Be aware with the new PT wood, you need either stainless or HOT-DIPPPED galvanized hardware. The chemicals will eat up anything else.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Total restore of 1987 Harris Flotebote 24ft 3.0L OMC

pressure treated plywood is not water resistant, it is bug resistant and mold resistant. not water. it will rot the same as untreated wood (40 years experience in the construction industry) marine grade uses a water resistant glue, but will still rot, look at how many transom and stringers are replaced. what ever you use, seal surface, every edge, cut out with the best stuff you can afford. thats the only way to keep water out, and reduce rot.

as to the corrosiveness of the new chemical we are trying to isolated any metal from the pressure treated material.

 

[sdunt]

Re: Total restore of 1987 Harris Flotebote 24ft 3.0L OMC

You referenced plywood frames of seats and also plastic seats, have you looked at using some of the plastic - vinyl materials from the lumberyard instead of the plywood?

They make materials for around garage doors that come in up to 1 x 12 sizes and it is rot proof.

 

[onabender]

Re: Total restore of 1987 Harris Flotebote 24ft 3.0L OMC

I'm looking into a good sealer for the bottom of the decking. From what I've tested I'm leaning towards that black foundation type sealer for inground basement walls. Goes on thick and very waterproof. It can't be used for the top though as the carpet glue won't adhere properly.

I'm only taking about 3-4 inches off the bottom of the seat frame and replacing that just to get through another season, then we're going with all new.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Total restore of 1987 Harris Flotebote 24ft 3.0L OMC

personally i would use a good 2 part epoxy, and seal everything before in stalling. then seal where the attachment hardware is.