18ft Searay bowrider floor rotted, help

[bparks1]

Hello Group,<br />I'm replacing the floor in my 18ft Searay bowrider. 1990 Model 180 and I need advice on taking the old out and what to replace it with, 1/2 marine grade ply w/fiberglass? I have the tools and time but this is my first try.<br />How do I cut it out, circular saw? What is a test for the stringer integrity? etc. etc... <br />Get me through this one gang.<br />Thanks much,<br />BobbyP

 

[searay1989]

Re: 18ft Searay bowrider floor rotted, help

I have a 1989 br16 with the same problem. My stringers have rot in a few places. Searay did a poor job in glassing the stingers in my boat, so I would check them out. Take a screw driver and poke around, you can usually spot it pretty easily. Also, pull up the center floor over the fuel tank and remove the screws from the brackets supporting the fuel tank cover. Brown stuff coming out on the screws is a bad thing. I have no experience, but there are alot of guys in here that do and can give good advice.<br />Good luck.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 18ft Searay bowrider floor rotted, help

you can use various tools to cut out the floor...chainsaw, circular saw, jigsaw or 4" angle grinder with cutting wheel. Be careful and wear total body protection. some folks draw cutting lines on the floor first, just be sure to stay about one inch in from where the sides meet the floor/hull...don't want to cut all the way through the hull. this also leaves a ledge to help rest the new floor on. the book Runabout Renovation is a good how-to guide. Use an ice pick, awl, or screwdriver to test the strngers underneath. Any softness and it needs to come out. some folks pre-treat all the replacement wood with borate or ethylene glycol before fiberglassing it...supposed to eliminate rot forever....but I don't know. JasonJ's threads on this board give you a good idea how it's done also, and he is good about answering questions. good luck.

 

[flashback]

Re: 18ft Searay bowrider floor rotted, help

do a search on this forum for "rotted stringers, rotted floor, etc., you will find a good days reading......

 

[Big Dog]

Re: 18ft Searay bowrider floor rotted, help

I used both a 7 1/4" circular saw and a sawzall. Both worked well. I used a 11" grinder to feather everything back into the hull. <br /><br />I just used standard plywood when I redid my boat, But if I had it to do over again I would us marine plywood. I also coated every piece of wood that went back in the boat with resign. <br /><br />I would also consider using 2X12's for your stringers as apossed to the plywood stringers that SeaRay used. (If applicable.) <br /><br />I do not check this board very often, so if you have any questions you can email me at <br /><br /> jmott@indepak.com