Need advice on rot

[Jason17103]

I just purchased a 1987 Renken 2288 that needs some work. The floor in the cuddy felt squishy, so I ripped up the marine carpeting and found the fiberglassed plywood to be rotted. of more concern their is a wooden stringer running along the keel line that is rotted. This is the first boat that I have owned that requires fiberglass and wood repair and I am wondering if this is something that is repairable without too much trouble. I am planning on replacing the wood stringer and then laying a new sheet of plywood on top of that. Am i going in the right direction?

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: Need advice on rot

Hi Jason,

Yes... The deck and ply will have to come out, and the transom needs a good look too.

Roam around this forum and you'll find dozens of folks who faced and conquered similar problems...

Perhaps we should write a "sticky" describing the process???? Tashasdaddy (a moderator)... I'd be willing to write the draft if you want to edit...

Alan

 

[Jason17103]

Re: Need advice on rot

The deck is plywood with fiberglass on the top side only. I see that the stringers that run parallel to the transom are fiberglassed on both sides. What is a good way to check these to make sure they are okay. it is looking like the rot is only inside of the cuddy, and everything aft of the cuddy appears to be solid. I was told that the boat was swamped at one point and it seems like water stayed in the foward area whereas it drained from the other areas quicker. The transom also appears to be solid

 

[Driven1]

Re: Need advice on rot

Jason,

Yes, it can definately be done. But it depends on what you mean by...

repairable without too much trouble.

You've got quite a project ahead of you. If that center stringer's rotted, you can bet other stuff is too. Being a cuddy doesn't make it any easier. It's gonna take some time and money but it can definately be done and you'll feel real good about it when you're done.

Good luck in your decision!

 

[BillP]

Re: Need advice on rot

Hi Jason,

Yes... The deck and ply will have to come out, and the transom needs a good look too.

Roam around this forum and you'll find dozens of folks who faced and conquered similar problems...

Perhaps we should write a "sticky" describing the process???? Tashasdaddy (a moderator)... I'd be willing to write the draft if you want to edit...

Alan

Please no sticky on this...unless you have lots of yrs of hands on experience refurbing lots of old glass boats.

bp

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Need advice on rot

Frist , Welcome Jason17103, this is the place to be !!

Ok sorry to say this , but there is no easy way out of this !! well there is one if you pay some one to do it , [ 5000 grand min]
Its a lot of work , you got to pull the top , then the deck , and more then likely the motor !! and the transom !!

Sorry but if you decide to do it you will feel so good after , and you will know more then most guys out on the water !! and belive me it does fell so good when it is done !!

Ok its up to you , you have to put your mind to it and you will get it done !! Its really not that hard I dont want to scare you !! but it is a lot of work !! John

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: Need advice on rot

Hi bp,

Nope, I don't have lots of years experience refurbishing glass boats. I've been building boats as a hobby for 30 years, am an engineer as well as a professional technical writer. I'm also a moderator on one wooden boat building forum as well as a wooden boat group on Yahoo! But no... I don't have lots of years of experience refurbishing glass boats. That's why I suggested that a moderator on this site act as an editor.

Quite frankly, I don't care who writes the piece, but the simple fact is that this site (and fiberglassics, and theclassicboathouse, and...) are crammed with people asking essentially the same question... "What do I do with a rotting deck?" IMHO that question deserves a good sticky with general instructions, and links to some of the best threads showing how others have done battle with the beast. I'd also suggest an FAQ hitting on subjects like poly vs. epoxy, the differences in plywood grades, the differences in marine adhesives, etc.

Anyway, I hope someone writes a sticky... It would save a lot of people a lot of hassle.

Just my $.02 worth,

Alan

 

[salty87]

Re: Need advice on rot

i agree with stoutcat...a sticky titled something like, "i have a soft floor, now what?"

it's the same process for everybody, doesn't really matter a whole bunch what the boat is. everyone has the same anxieties and questions...do i have to do the whole floor, do i have to pull the engine, how to split the halves, can i dig out the stringers, etc.

the repair processes are similar...determine extent of damage, pro's and con's of various materials, common places to shop for materials, diff types of plywood...lots that can be covered.

jason 17103...prepare yourself mentally and financially for a pretty big project. to replace the wood along the keel and the plywood on top would be very lucky. chances are better than good that most of the wood below is wet. leaving it behind would negate any work you do on the rest. rot is inevitable once the wood is wet, there's no drying out down there.

the reality is that you will likely have to remove all foam, some of the stringers, replace the entire deck (all of the floor), and quite likely the transom too. you might get lucky and not have to do it all but those cases seem rare. you also won't know the extent of the damage until you open her up and see for yourself. some strategic drilling and you can see how the stringers are...if wet mush comes out on the bit you've got problems. if good saw dust comes out, you're ok in that spot.

good luck

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need advice on rot

I think a sticky would be very useful. There are many stickies on other subjects, but not much on wood, epoxy, polyester, glass or rot.

 

[DrCox]

Re: Need advice on rot

I would also like a sticky, I just found this post merely by searching forums for:

"Epoxy vs. Poly"

Lets see where I go next As far as your boat, take a look at some of these peoples signatures, alot of them have links to thier projects that have come full circle.

-DrCox

 

[oops!]

Re: Need advice on rot

ive cruised these forums backwards fowards and sideways.....search is a wonderful feature....and faster than a post!
i beleive the intent of the compleated projects forum is to provide answers to most questions........td has been using jason j's skanky beast for a toturial for some time......

im not a mod (and dont wanna be) but i beleive the resto section could grow ot the point that it gets its own set of faqs in the future.
things like .....what to do if......let's say a core sample for example...its the first thing to do.....

i could draft one and submit it to the forum for editing....
i also am gonna do a materials list....just give choices...no opinions.
but the best way and eayest way is to use search !

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

to jason.......
sorry to derail this thread......there has been some really knowelagable people answer you so far.

john has a good post for you to read......so read this one twice......

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Frist , Welcome Jason17103, this is the place to be !!

Ok sorry to say this , but there is no easy way out of this !! well there is one if you pay some one to do it , [ 5000 grand min]
Its a lot of work , you got to pull the top , then the deck , and more then likely the motor !! and the transom !!

Sorry but if you decide to do it you will feel so good after , and you will know more then most guys out on the water !! and belive me it does fell so good when it is done !!

Ok its up to you , you have to put your mind to it and you will get it done !! Its really not that hard I dont want to scare you !! but it is a lot of work !! John

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

what he says is true....all of it......we can and will walk you thru it step by step.....from material selection to how to do it. to congratulating you an a job well done.........but there just aint no quick fix.....some times you get lucky.....and theres less work......and some times you dont.

id suggest to search "core sample"....it will tell you everything.

abd btw.....welcome to i boats

cheers
oops