wood floor ?

[proples]

I have a 1973 Eliminator jet boat and have been stripping old carpet and glue from the floor for the past 2 weekends. What I found under there is what looks like plywood under some layers of glass . I would like to be able to show the wood instead of capreting back over it . But I have problem . When I get the floor wet in the sun it shows the glass fibers inside the resin (looks like a layer of glass matt) . I have seen some realy nice wood floors in boats like this , so what do I need to do to make it look right ?

 

[JB]

Re: wood floor ?

Surely you mean a deck. Floors go in houses.

 

[gcboat]

Re: wood floor ?

Wood decking in a smaller boat = bust your butt when wet. Replace it with carpet with removable snaps. Your rear end will thank you.

 

[marine4003]

Re: wood floor ?

If you cant live w/out a wood floor,the only safe way to do it is to use slats, strips of 1/2 inch thick by 1 inch wide teak strips,for the best look attach the strips from the backside to a piece of epoxied plywood,then varnish the whole deal,precut the ply to fit..cut outs for bilge access..and count on re-varnishing every year, be advised..it will still be slippery.best bet..stick w/carpet

 

[fixb52s]

Re: wood floor ?

Surely you mean a deck. Floors go in houses.

Well, actually it is known as a sole.........​

 

[proples]

Re: wood floor ?

Ok ... termanology aside . Maybe some pics will help.

What I have . It does look better when its wet or with a fresh coat of resin on it , but you can still see the fibers in there .

What I want.

How do I make mine look like the second one ? Do I need to strip all the old glass off the wood and start over ?

 

[marine4003]

Re: wood floor ?

Propless,No,No,No...don't be stripping off any of that glass,now,here?.If you want the look of the 2nd pic,you have to go over the existing floor with your desired floor,you start stripping off glass,and the whole thing becomes a major water sponge.leave the floor as is,choose the wood for the new floor,pre-cut to fit,on the perimeter off the old floor, glass in some brackets to hold new floor(so your not penetrating original floor) varnish the heck out of it,install,and buy yourself a good pair of deck shoe's,as it will be VERY slippery when wet.Thats about the only way to accomplish your task without causing potential wood rot down the line.Good Luck Amigo.

 

[fixb52s]

Re: wood floor ?

The post above is sound advice for your floor. Maybe some real thin wood on top of what is there would be nice. There is some nice veneers used for cabinets that would look great and would not add too much weight.

As for the "sole" remark, a lot of people love to jump at you when you say "floor". They yell DECK when it really should be sole. Floor, deck or sole, it don't matter.

Then again, a boat could be a vessel or a sloop. ​

 

[proples]

Re: wood floor ?

:redface::redface:, Why didnt I think of that. Those thin veneers would be perfect for that ! Thanks guys, I realy didnt want to be removeing the glass , I was afraid it would weaken the way the stringers were held in and the floor/sole/deck, (Pick you favorite term ) and stringes are in great shape for an old jet boat.

 

[marine4003]

Re: wood floor ?

Prop....By trade im'a General Contractor and have done extensive home renovations,So i'm very familiar with wood veneer's.....Not gonna work! surface is way to uneven,to use veneer surface has to be Smoooooth, the thinest wood i would try is Lauan, mahogany,its only 1/4 thick and will still show subsurface imperfections,or even 7/16 hardwood plywood, thicker = better.

 

[oops!]

Re: wood floor ?

ok bud.......

the glassed in sole of the boat ........IS STRUCTURAL.....dont fuss with it......esp with a jet boat......that purty deck on the other guys boat may be nice but yours is strong.....

what could be done is a series of wood slats (over top as suggested....make sure the water can drain) giving you a "deck" look...but beware......i dont care how much thompsons water seal on it......in three years youll be ripping it out......(stained , discolored, rot started.....generally ugly)....not to mention slippery