1989 23' Chaparral 2300SX Floor Replacement and Tabbing

[Mateoowen84]

Looking for some advice on some "how to" questions. This is my first boat, its a fixer upper for sure. No experience with glassing, except for a couple practice pieces. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

1. What is the best way/tool to get the old bedding/glass down to the fiberglass hull?
2. There is currently 1/2" plywood that sat up under the tabbing around the edge of the hull, what is the best way to butt the new 1/2" plywood up to the existing plywood and tab the plywood to the hull? Should I leave old tabbing around the hull, grind it down, etc...?
I have watched multiple videos on tabbing and minor repairs. Most tabbing is of full boat rehabs. All help is appreciated.

V/r,
Matt

 

[Scott Danforth]

start by looking at the DIY sticky at the top of the forum.

look at links 14, 15, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b. go thru the entire threads in the link. look at every video, etc.

all your answers are there. especially in links 14, 15, and 18.

all the forums have stickies at the top. 95% of the questions you may have will be answered in the stickies.

 

[Mateoowen84]

thank you very much, i will definitely take a look

 

[jbcurt00]

Why partial deck (floor) replacement?

What boat?

 

[Mateoowen84]

1989 23' Chaparral 2300SX. The stringers were rotted in the rear of the boat due to manufacturer screwing seats to stringers, over time it rotted about a 4 foot section in two of the stringers and about 9 feet of the other stringer. about 2/3s of the floor is still down.

 

[Mateoowen84]

Scott, also I see only 4 stickys at the top of the page. I have tried to search for them and everything. Not finding the stickys you are talking about in particular. thank you

 

[In way over my head... always]

Scott, also I see only 4 stickys at the top of the page. I have tried to search for them and everything. Not finding the stickys you are talking about in particular. thank you

I believe he is referring to this thread, which is one of the four stickies at the top of this sub-forum. When you open it, there are many numbered points that are links to the things he advises that you read.

 

[jbcurt00]

Look here
https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boa...r/295740-how-to-s-and-other-great-information

Often partial deck replacements are false economy. Short term goal, long term redo.

And yep, that does make for a lot more work.

hard to test foam/wood for water intrusion when you cant see and touch them entirely.

Its usually a hope for the best and expect the worst. Significantly more rehabs

Good luck w your project.

 

[Scott Danforth]

there is no such thing as a half-replacement...... only a half-fast replacment

seriously, yes, there are only 4 stickies, each one has stuff in them, the last one has 20 some links in it.look at links 14, 15, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b...... all your answers are there.

its not a Chaparral screwed seats issue........ its a fiberglass boat is designed to last 15 years and be replaced issue..... just like your car is designed to last only 12-15 years (actually, its 180,000 miles or 300,000 kilometers)

a 1989 Chap is 32 years old. that is 2X the anticipated life of the boat.

 

[Mateoowen84]

thanks everyone. well either way, I feel like I am now going to do a full replacement.the transom is in great shape, stringers do not seem to be tied it at all to the transom. 3 of 4 stringers were rotted inside the glass layup, when i say rotted I mean like someone put loose strings of wood and saturated them in water. foam is wet about an inch from the bottom and the rest is completely dry.

 

[Mateoowen84]

Scott, thanks for the info. JB, tore a little more out today, and most likely going all the way. an extra 1,500 to make sure its fully secure and built legit. worth it for a boat that will last another 30. bought it for 1k with a working volvo engine and a trailer. cant beat it. so I will have about $3500 in it and it should be good. I am new to this, and this is my first boat. thank you for your help, insight and patience!

V/r,
Matt

 

[Freezebrand44]

its not a Chaparral screwed seats issue........

I have a stringer and floor issue, as in partial rot....and its absolutely due to manufacturers design...my 86 searay, 20' bowrider, came factory with a giant hole in the floor over the gas tank, that they placed a carpeted piece of plywood over, that was screwed directly to the stringers and bulkheads...a place in the boat, that people typically stand after skiing, or tubing, while dripping wet...
then theres the ski locker that is in no way water proof, and also tied into a bulkhead....
all I'm saying is, factory design has a lot to do with rotted floors and stringers....

 

[In way over my head... always]

its not a Chaparral screwed seats issue........

I have a stringer and floor issue, as in partial rot....and its absolutely due to manufacturers design...my 86 searay, 20' bowrider, came factory with a giant hole in the floor over the gas tank, that they placed a carpeted piece of plywood over, that was screwed directly to the stringers and bulkheads...a place in the boat, that people typically stand after skiing, or tubing, while dripping wet...
then theres the ski locker that is in no way water proof, and also tied into a bulkhead....
all I'm saying is, factory design has a lot to do with rotted floors and stringers....

My Four Winns project is the same way. While some has been modified over the years, now that I'm digging into the depths, I'm left scratching my head as to what they were thinking. Actually, I do know what they were thinking: This one will be in poor shape in 20 years, and we'll sell a new boat to replace it.

 

[Freezebrand44]

I have owned several boats, and never had a floor problem.....until I bought the searay. The more I read, the more I dig, everyone with a searay has this problem....I'm a motor guy, not a "hull guy", and the more I get into my repair, it's like you said....what were they thinking....its almost like they designed failure into it... the ski locker example, they....a piece of plywood with carpet, big hole in the middle of the boat....being a motor guy, even I know this doesn't work....

 

[jbcurt00]

Mateoowen84 I changed the title of this topic

Please dont start multiple topics anout the same subject. Both new topics were deleted.

Ask about seperating the 2 halves (upper & lower hull) here in a topic about rehab of your Chaparral.

Its all part & parcel of a rehab, easier to track and offer assistance when its not spread across multiple topics.