85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

[badbowtie]

I am getting ready to pull this boat back in my garage and tear it apart I have used it for 2 years and have really had alot of fun with it. I just don't have the funds to buy a newer one. When I bought the boat I guess the floor had some weak spots in it, so the guy that had it, installed plywood floor over top of it and carpeted it. It looks good, but it is time to go. Back in the engine bay, the floor was soft originally, never added the second layer. You could stand back there on the stringers and they felt really solid still. So I am going to rip both layers of floor up and replace it. The floor in my cuddy is nice and solid so from there back. 2 years ago I cut two 3" holes in the transom for thru hall exhaust and the trans was really nice and dry up their so should have no problems there.
What thickness sealed plywood should I be using and are there special screws to fasten down to stringers? Also can I buy sealed plywood at a local hardware store or treated plywood with fiberglass brushed on all 6 sides.

Thanks in advance.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

you need either marine plywood, or exterior grade plywood, (not pressure treated). you will have to do all the sealing, and fiberglassing.

this one will educate you quite a bit. http://recaffeinated.net/skankybeast/page1.html

and look thru the rest of these, http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=407

 

[92excel]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

dont be too nervous... when you first think about a rebuild you think .. a couple weeks... then you post here and people tell you what it will really take .. but really.. the people here are only saying the absolute best way to fix your boat and it will last you much longer then if you half ***** it...

it can be done with patience!!!

 

[badbowtie]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

I have all the second floor out that was added, sure was hacked up the guy laid 2x8 then used 1x5 pressure treated over them and then carpeted it all. I also already have the motor out. I have a ice chest in the originial floor that I did not even know that existed. I got the original carpet up and some of the damaged plywood. From want I have seen all the stringers are still solid. What do you use to remove all the resin where it meets the wall. I am going to pick up 3 sheets of Marine plywood on friday and going to order some carpet in a day or so. I need to stop and get a bunch of resin and mat this week still also.

 

[92excel]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

The Stringers seem solid.. make sure you do a core sample to verify! Drill into the stringer and see if the interior is as solid as you think it is. search core sample for detailed description.

You will need to use an angle grinder to clean up the edges to get back to the hull. Make sure you look at the sticky for grinding safety it covers everything about grinding!

 

[badbowtie]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

Here are a couple pictures of the floor out so far.
Pictures will keep rolling in on my galley at
http://s-seriesforum.com/gallery/wellcraft-210

 

[loppster]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

I can't beleive someone would put 1X5's on top of the original floor. I had the same ice chest in the floor of my '83 Elite, but the previous owner said it was broke and pulled it out. When I bought the boat, they had a piece of plywood over the opening. I replace it with a chest I bought online and converted it to a cooler.

Good work so far. Did you find any wet foam under the floor? My boat seems pretty heavy and have wondered if there is foam and it is soaked. My floor is solid as a rock, so I have no reason to pull the floor to check this.

Keep taking the pics and keep us updated.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

while you are there, pressure test the fuel tank. also replace the fuel hoses with the new alcohol resistant hoses.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

Yea I was really thinking about replacing the fuel hoses don't want to have to do this again stoped on my way home and picked up my 3 sheets of marine plywood. Was thinking about just replacing the fuel tank but not real sure on the price of them. I will have to do some checking to see what is needed to pressure test it. As for the foam I don' thave any foam anywere but right their around the gas tank and all real dry.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

I am going to make some calls tomorrow and see what I can locate for epoxy resin I am just doing the bottom of 3 4x8 sheets and all around the edges and the complete top. I am not sure how much it should take to do all of this. Do I run a layer of mat on the bottom or just resin. I was reading around and I don't really see anything about what kind of epoxy resin I should get or ask for tomorrow when I call a couple places. Also what mat to get should I use different mat for the seems, around the edges, or on top and bottom of the sheets.
Thanks

 

[badbowtie]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

I have my sheets of marine plywood I want to start cutting them tomorrow or this weekend for sure I have some 4x10 sheets of cardboard to use as patterns. I would really hate to screw up a sheet of marine plywood. How much of a gap should I leave between the side walls and the plywood? I will have to wait for a couple nice days to be able to start fiberglassing but at least it will be all done.

 

[92excel]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

you want to get the deck as close to the hull as possible. some people have angled the edge of the deck to match the hull angle and cut down the gap between the deck and the hull..

 

[badbowtie]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

I didn't know if it was touching it would be bad like a solid joint like a stringer and creat problems or not.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

Well I got all my boards and holes cut in them I had a 55 degree day last week so I got all the bottoms of them fiberglassed. Is it okay to pull the boat around on the trailer I really need to pull it out of my garage but none of the floor is glued fiberglassed or even screwed down yet. I need to do a couple things in the garage for a week or two annd need the space. Since I really have to wait for the temp to get back up before I can finish any way. all the stringers are in and still atached.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

You should be fine to move it around a bit without the deck in. Just make sure to cover it real well hate to get any water in what foam is there because that stuff does not dry out at all. you want everything below dry as it can be prior to installing the deck. I had a 83 Wellcraft sunhatch 196 same boat but a cuddy. I loved it it was a real solid boat for me, it had the cooler in the floor which was nice but I didn't like the way it drained so I used it more for dry goods. Without the insulation foam and shell that can be turned into a pretty decent sized hold for storage. Then put a portable cooler somewhere else. Good luck with the floor, hope you get back on the water soon.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

Okay after some other projects I am back on the boat. I have been sanding and grinding all the old fiberglass off the walls. I have all the floor boards cut and test fitted and have fiberglassed the bottoms of them. I finally am ready to finish cleaning up all the stringers and the pockets around the stringers to lay my bead of caulk and get them screwed down. What should I clean all the fiberglass dust with I have used a shop vac and just can't get it all. Also the 1708 mesh I have that I am using on all the seams and up against the wall which side goes down first the stringy side or the mat side, I am using poly resin.

 

[othelloears]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

Just saw this post. I have doing the same exact boat. I know I am coming into this late but did you to test holes in the foam as well as the stringers. I was stunned because mine all looked fine and dry but when I holesd out the foam with a 2" pvc pipe and drilled 1/4" holes in the stringers many were junk..soaked and rotten. I also found the foam under the gas tank was the worst. It had trapped about 10 gallons of water. I would strongly recommend you pull that tank if you haven't yet before you seal up the deck. If you are not going to redo the stringers you may want to drill holes and shoot in thinned epoxy resin to strengthen them. Even the good stringers I had were seperated from the fiberglass which obviously gives them then strength.

Like you I grinded all winter. I am doing parts of 4 stringers as well as the deck. I actually finished the grinding yesterday and got back on the site to finalize my plan together. I ordered all my materials from uscomposites last week. I have cut and dry fit the 4 stringer pieces and am waiting on the epoxy to get them in. I plan to bed the stringers in PL adhesive, round all the joints with peanut butter and coat with 1708.

What cloth are you using for the deck. I was going to use 1708 all around for the joint and 4oz cloth for the floor?

 

[92excel]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

I agree with othelloears. if you have not done core samples on the foam and stringers and transom.. Do YOURSELF a favor and go no farther until you do!

use acetone to clean up all old glass before you apply new glass.

Also you said caulk to put your deck down.. you should use PL or 3m 5200 if you want to glue the deck to the stringers..


1708 you want to put the csm "stringy side" side down.. when you use poly you have to have csm between any layer of matt. so csm, matt, csm, matt..


othelloears.. you should use atleast 8 oz on the deck. (if poly csm has to go before the matt)

 

[badbowtie]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

I was going to use 1708 around the sides and at all my joints and I have 8oz for the top. I am using 1708 for strength and I thought I could just use it since one side is csm and the other is mat and keep pilling it for two layers.
I have tested the transom and a couple stringers and all still solid and dry. I have not removed the gas tank. But has been sitting in the garage for allmost 3 months. I had it tarped and had a dehumidifier running and didn't even get a cup of water.

othelloears I would like to see some pictures of what you got

 

[othelloears]

Re: 85 wellcraft 210 elite need advice

Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures before I ripped everything out, just wanted to tear at it, but I will take some of what I have done and post tomorrow.

One of the problems I found was that the pvc drain line was cracked at the bait well area and the water was leaking in the gas tank area. The tank was sitting on 2" of foam which was filled with water. If you don't want to pull the tank you may try to drill a hole through the bilge hole into the tank area and see if you have watter. Again I was stunned by it. The only reason I emphasize it is becuase it looked perfect and dry becuase it was sealed with foam all around the tank which locked everything in under the tank.

What motor do you have? i have the checy 305 228 hp and am trying to find out what gears I have beacuse my drive is shot.