Hello all. I am new to this forum, and for all intents and purposes I am new to boating as well. I grew up less than a mile from a large recreational lake, and my family had a boat, but I was a child then. I have longed to get back to the lake, but college, career, marraige, and a new home took priority.
Just recently I came across what appeared to be a good deal on a 1985 Bayliner Capri 1950 open bow. I spoke with the owner who was selling on order to buy a larger cuddy, or so he said. He agreed to take me out on the lake so that I could really get a feel for the boat and it's condition.
At first glance the exterior was in superb condition given its age. The original gel coat has minimal oxidation, and very few checks and scratches. The interior, however, was a nightmare. The carpet didn't match (what was there) and he was in the midst of doing a terrible job replacing the upholstery. I did not feel any soft places in the floor. The previous owner siad he had replaced the floor just this year. The boat did have two new laydown seats from a 2000 or so Bayliner in near mint condition. He also had a new bimini that he hadn't installed yet. I felt confident that I could update the upholstery in an acceptible manner. I am very picky.
In the water, the boat ran great. The boat has a 4 banger Volvo with a Penta outdrive I/O combination. It started right up, no smoke, no squeeling, no objections to be mentioned. Seemed to be in excellent shape mechanically.
All things considered, I felt like the boat was acceptible, and we struck up a deal. I towed the boat home feeling proud, as I had finally bought a boat.
The first task that I took to was to pull up the carpet so that I could get an idea as to what I would be up against in replacing it...here is where it goes bad very quickly. After pulling up the carpet, I wasn't very impressed with his job replacing the floor. I knew I could do much better. I decided to pull up his marine grade plywood to find the rear half of the boat is soaked and rotted.
Here is where you guys come in. I'm a handy guy, and there isn't much that I can't fo or figure out. I'm a Mechanical Engineer by trade and degree, and my expertise is in the commercial wood-working business. I know that the stringers and floor have to be replaced and glassed in, but where do I start?
The foam and stringers in front of the captain's seats are dry as a bone (I drilled into them to verify), but somewhere along the base of those seats it gets very wet, and eventually, rotten. If at all possible, and it may not be, I'd like to replace the floor and stringers in the rear half only, and leave everything from the glovebox / helm forward intact. Is this feasible? I'm not feeling overwhelmed yet, but I'm not far from it. What is the best way to cut out the glassed in portion of the floor to access the wet foam? How do I remove the foam?
I'm a member on several other forums, and if this one is like the others, I know you guys will want pictures. Here goes.
Looks great from the outside.
The inside is a disaster. I've already pulled some of the floor and seats.
The engine runs great, and this area seems dry on top, but I suspect the foam underneath is soaked. The transom is dry and pretty solid.
This foam is totally dry and hard, as are the stringers. I'd really REALLY love to only remove from the seats back if possible. At some point the previous owner boxed in the area between the stringers where it is dry in order to add some support to the floor behind it.
Just recently I came across what appeared to be a good deal on a 1985 Bayliner Capri 1950 open bow. I spoke with the owner who was selling on order to buy a larger cuddy, or so he said. He agreed to take me out on the lake so that I could really get a feel for the boat and it's condition.
At first glance the exterior was in superb condition given its age. The original gel coat has minimal oxidation, and very few checks and scratches. The interior, however, was a nightmare. The carpet didn't match (what was there) and he was in the midst of doing a terrible job replacing the upholstery. I did not feel any soft places in the floor. The previous owner siad he had replaced the floor just this year. The boat did have two new laydown seats from a 2000 or so Bayliner in near mint condition. He also had a new bimini that he hadn't installed yet. I felt confident that I could update the upholstery in an acceptible manner. I am very picky.
In the water, the boat ran great. The boat has a 4 banger Volvo with a Penta outdrive I/O combination. It started right up, no smoke, no squeeling, no objections to be mentioned. Seemed to be in excellent shape mechanically.
All things considered, I felt like the boat was acceptible, and we struck up a deal. I towed the boat home feeling proud, as I had finally bought a boat.
The first task that I took to was to pull up the carpet so that I could get an idea as to what I would be up against in replacing it...here is where it goes bad very quickly. After pulling up the carpet, I wasn't very impressed with his job replacing the floor. I knew I could do much better. I decided to pull up his marine grade plywood to find the rear half of the boat is soaked and rotted.
Here is where you guys come in. I'm a handy guy, and there isn't much that I can't fo or figure out. I'm a Mechanical Engineer by trade and degree, and my expertise is in the commercial wood-working business. I know that the stringers and floor have to be replaced and glassed in, but where do I start?
The foam and stringers in front of the captain's seats are dry as a bone (I drilled into them to verify), but somewhere along the base of those seats it gets very wet, and eventually, rotten. If at all possible, and it may not be, I'd like to replace the floor and stringers in the rear half only, and leave everything from the glovebox / helm forward intact. Is this feasible? I'm not feeling overwhelmed yet, but I'm not far from it. What is the best way to cut out the glassed in portion of the floor to access the wet foam? How do I remove the foam?
I'm a member on several other forums, and if this one is like the others, I know you guys will want pictures. Here goes.
Looks great from the outside.
The inside is a disaster. I've already pulled some of the floor and seats.
The engine runs great, and this area seems dry on top, but I suspect the foam underneath is soaked. The transom is dry and pretty solid.
This foam is totally dry and hard, as are the stringers. I'd really REALLY love to only remove from the seats back if possible. At some point the previous owner boxed in the area between the stringers where it is dry in order to add some support to the floor behind it.
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