1979 manatee floor soft spot.

[Baylinerchuck]

Lots of work ahead indeed....but a bad day of boat construction is better than a good day of work in my opinion. Something really relaxing about grinding fiberglass....:crazy:

 

[Jayflash7]

So another 2 hrs tonight on the boat. I took out almost all of the foam between the stringers. A lot of water trapped inside the foam and underneath it. Seems like there was no draining systems. There is a pvc pipe on starboard side of the center stringer but its raise a half inch above the hull. Its not even cut in half. I honestly dont know why they put it there. Its not doing anything. The foam encased it. Luck that the stringers are completely encapsulated. But tomorrow i will be drilling into the stringers and transom to see what i get.... im going to bed tonight and praying to the boat gods. Lol

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Man that's a lot of stringers....

 

[ezmobee]

Man that's a lot of stringers....

I've always heard that Manatee's were built like tanks. Looks like it's true!

 

[proshadetree]

Very unique looking craft. Dont think i have ever seen that much bracing on a boat. Hopefully your prayers worked and construction will not be that challenging. Going to follow this build for sure.

 

[kjdunne]

The PVC pipe is a drain from the step-down floor in the cuddy to the bilge box at the stern. You'll find a hole for it at the bottom of the bulkhead at the rear of the cuddy floor. Yes, the Manatees were built strong and had a great ride. I enjoyed a 18 ft. cuddy like yours, sold it to buy bigger. Good luck with your restore, you will have a boat that will last a lifetime when your done.

 

[Jayflash7]

Ok guys i have questions. I understand the best way to install new deck is to encapsulate it in resin then put fiberglass mat over the top of the deck. Im looking for a lower budget way to do it. Ultimately i will do it if i can. Is there any ideas you guys have or have seen a cheaper but just as good alternative. Or if you could point me to store or website where i can get the chopped mat and resin for cheap
And how much resin do you think i need?. Also i would like to install foam in it as well. About how much foam do you think i need for this boat. 2 part expanding foam is expensive but id rather use it because it will sturdy up my boat. Any store to find that cheap? I dont mind doing the labor i mind dishing out 100s of dollars if i dont have to. I just dont want to buy all the stuff and find someplace where i could of gotten it for half the price. Thanks guys

 

[gm280]

Ok guys i have questions. I understand the best way to install new deck is to encapsulate it in resin then put fiberglass mat over the top of the deck. Im looking for a lower budget way to do it. Ultimately i will do it if i can. Is there any ideas you guys have or have seen a cheaper but just as good alternative. Or if you could point me to store or website where i can get the chopped mat and resin for cheap
And how much resin do you think i need?. Also i would like to install foam in it as well. About how much foam do you think i need for this boat. 2 part expanding foam is expensive but id rather use it because it will sturdy up my boat. Any store to find that cheap? I dont mind doing the labor i mind dishing out 100s of dollars if i dont have to. I just dont want to buy all the stuff and find someplace where i could of gotten it for half the price. Thanks guys

Jayflash7, I honestly know what you are asking about. Seems we all hate to fork out money if there are cheaper ways to do things. Sadly with refurbishing boats, there are no shortcuts. I understand the cost of such things, but it is how boat repairs run. If you try to short cut waterproofing, you will be doing it again and a lot sooner then you would think. I bought nearly everything from US Composites out of Florida. And I bought from them for a few reasons. First they are located the closest to me then other places so that helped with shipping costs. Second, they actually have very competitive prices when I compared to other places for the same type resins and fiberglass CSM mat and 1708 woven. I would suggest you do things as money permits. I realize that takes longer to do, but it isn't doing compermised work that way. JMHO

 

[proshadetree]

Us composite here to. For cloth check fleebay first. I have gotten rolls of the stuff there cheap. Better to go heavy on cloth if cheap enough. I have also doubled up on thinner, but like i said it was cheap.

 

[Woodonglass]

Have you core sampled the stringers and transom yet. If they need replaced you'll be buying resin and glass for sure. GM280 is spot on. No way to "ShortCut" the restoration process. You might find this helpful... View attachment WOG Material List_2017.pdf

 

[Jayflash7]

Ok ive been thinking should i just epoxy deck? Peanutbutter it in? Im painting it anyways. Would that seal it enough to be water tight?

 

[proshadetree]

I wouldnt trust it without cloth. Hate to do all that work just to have it to do over. How is your stringers and transom? Take your time and do it right the first time. It will cost you double in the long run if you don't

 

[Jayflash7]

So im wondering how much expanding foam i would need for my boat. Looking at the pictures the length is 10 ft the width between the stringers is about 10 inches and height of the stringers is about a foot for the two bilges in the middle and about 6 inches the outer bilges.

 

[Jayflash7]

Also has anyone used it. Does is really provide ridgidity to the hull?

 

[DeepBlue2010]

So im wondering how much expanding foam i would need for my boat. Looking at the pictures the length is 10 ft the width between the stringers is about 10 inches and height of the stringers is about a foot for the two bilges in the middle and about 6 inches the outer bilges.

Using the numbers above, I would say, roughly, you will need about 7.5 cubic feet. Add 20% waste, I would buy 10

 

[DeepBlue2010]

Also has anyone used it. Does is really provide ridgidity to the hull?

Yes and yes. It also has a noise dampening effect for a much quieter ride. It can also save your life or at least your wallet if the say comes and you actually need it.