1979 Crestliner - new floor

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RickFrench

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Oct 26, 2009
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9
Good Evening

Well - I am into it now! I have most of the rotten section of the floor removed but before i start to replace it I wanted to try and determine why water that has collected in the front of the boat cannot get back to the stern of the boat. This has stumped me for a while now and it seems the best time to try and resolve it - while the floor is ripped up. I would rather not take the gas tank out to figure it out so ..... can anyone tell me why water will not flow from the bow to the stern under the floor? There appears to be a fiberglass "bulkhead" just in front of the engine and as far as i can determine there is no "hole" in it at the keel to let the water flow through. There "must" be a reason that it is like that and i can't think of why the boat might have been built that way.

ANY assistance anyopne could be would be appreciated!!

Also - the floor section that is really rotten is from the gas tank to just before the front bow seats (it is a bowrider). Should dig out and replace the original blown in foam that was under the rotted section ?? I am not sure how to tell if it is watergogged but i sepect that it is??
And - the project continues!!

Appreciate anyones help!!
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

Chances are really good that the foam is waterlogged. I would remove it. If and what you choose to replace it with is your decision. Length debates have gone on here on that very subject. Personally I am going with cut and stacked pink or blue construction sheet foam from Lowes/HD on my project. Make sure your stringers are solid. If drainage is a problem, drill some holes but make sure you properly seal them so they don't promote rot.
 
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RickFrench

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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

Thanks bunches Ezmobee! I think I will take your advise and remove it while the floor is out!

Any idea why a bulkhead would be put in that stopped the "under floor" water from flowing front to back where the bildge pump could pump it out???

There must be another Crestliner guy that has run into the same issue as I have!?!?:confused:
 
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fishrdan

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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

RickFrench said:
There appears to be a fiberglass "bulkhead" just in front of the engine and as far as i can determine there is no "hole" in it at the keel to let the water flow through. There "must" be a reason that it is like that and i can't think of why the boat might have been built that way.
Click to expand...

My old 73 SeaSwril was the same way and I think they built them that way so the below deck area would stay dry, they didn't think water was going to get in there. Also, there is probably exposed wood under the deck so they didn't want water getting in there, to rot out the wood. From reading the posts, I think most guys build in drainage so water has a way to get out, while rebuilding their decks/stringers, etc...
 
Bob_VT

Bob_VT

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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

It's called a DECK!! :D:D

You have a kitchen floor at home but you have a deck in the boat ;) Welcome to iboats!
 
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RickFrench

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Oct 26, 2009
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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

LOL - so I guess the consensus is .... drill a hole through the bulkhead to allow the water to move under the floor from the bow to the stern areas. I have already started the process of removing the gas tank (gotta siphon the gas out first - heavy sucker) - there appears to be a fiberglass "tray" below the tank - I am not sure what is under the tank. There appears to be a plywood "floor" under this fiberglass tray that is rotted as well - this could go from bad to worse?!?! I really wish i could find the "drawings" for how these boats were put together. I spoke to a fellow at Crestliner and he said that alot of these boats were hand layed so - perhaps each one was a bit different?
Any other suggestions / ideas are welcome here!! Love to understand this hull better before i start cutting and drilling! :)
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

Lets have some pics Rick!
 
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RickFrench

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Oct 26, 2009
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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

Pictures --- Ahh thats the idea! the two pics show the "bulkhead" that is just forward of the engine. the ther pic shows the gas tank - the bulkhead is to the right side of the tank "tray". Clear as mud ... right! Hopefully the pics will make it here - if not i will try again!! Hmmm ..... uploaded the pics but they didn't showup anywhere??
 

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ezmobee

ezmobee

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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

set up a free account on photobucket.com. make sure the pics are sized to 640x480 (you can do that right on photobucket) and then link to them there.
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

Very nice looking boat. I really like that blue. Doesn't look like a '79 at all from the exterior. Definitely worth the effort to fix up.
 
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RickFrench

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Oct 26, 2009
Messages
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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

Thanks Bunches Ezmobee!! So - does the "bulkhead" thing make any sense to you?? It just baffles me that Crestliner would make a separate area under the floor decking with no way to get rid of the water? I think I am missing something about the design here????
 
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RickFrench

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Oct 26, 2009
Messages
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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

Anyone have an idea as to why the "bulkhead" has been constructed into the boat?
 
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RickFrench

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Oct 26, 2009
Messages
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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

REALLY sorry to bug you guys but - I am reluctant to drill a hole through this "bulkhead" "Stringer" or what ever it is called. I gotta believe that it was built this way for a reason and if I drill through it - am I going to create more of a problem than i already have if i do drill through?? There has to be a way to let the water flow through to the stern from the bow section to be pumped out via the bildge pump.

Suggestions anyone??
 
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fishrdan

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Jan 25, 2008
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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

Hey rick,

That deck looks like someone repaired it before by capping the deck with plywood,,, not the right way. Those 2x2's and metal hangers are very suspect. The fiberglass bulkhead you see is the remnants of how the boat used to be constructed (my best guess) as the decks should have been glassed in also, not the loose plywood decking and lumber as shown in the pics.

I'd look through the "completed projects" in the resto board to see how a fiberglass boat is supposed to be constructed and then evaluate what's not right on yours. Here's a goodie:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=237215

Or, if you have a bunch of time to kill,,, 135 pages... :eek:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=234392

BTW, I do agree, that boat does have some nice lines, I like it.
 
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Panther2006

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Sep 22, 2009
Messages
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Re: 1979 Crestliner - new floor

Hello Rick

I hope all is well with your restore. Im also in the process of restoring a cursader 770 and i was looking for some info on the canopy frame and was looking at your photos and i think your canopy is very close to mine . can you post a few pic's of the canopy frame in your boat. I t would be a great help to me.

Have you been keeping a photo album of your work? If so you might want to start a thread in the restoration section(might be fun).
 
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