Drying the floor and hull

[Sport240]

Here I am drying the floor and hull of my 1969 Arkansas Traveler Comet. Opened her up yesterday (after much back and forth with myself about it) to discover that the floor and stringers are solid, but wet (mostly due to poor storage and about 12 screw holes in the floor). So I decided to get some air in her to try to dry the whole thing out, after which I will seal and close up all the holes. The fiberglass is de-laminated from the floor, but the wood is really thick and solid (i'd venture a guess at 3/4 in- 1 in).

I relly do not have time to replace the floor this year, so thought this may be a nice temporary solution.

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...s/03b9114d.jpg
http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...s/23fd39ae.jpg

Thoughts?

JD

 

[Sport240]

Re: Drying the floor and hull

I guess I should mention that the Shop-Vac is blowing air in the hole, not pulling...

 

[jdaher]

Re: Drying the floor and hull

Those links are not working for me...

 

[Sport240]

Re: Drying the floor and hull

Try these...

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w368/Jwdspics/03b9114d.jpg
http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w368/Jwdspics/23fd39ae.jpg

 

[Coho Ghost]

Re: Drying the floor and hull

Is there no foam under the deck? How did you determine the stringers are OK?

Just curious
Coho Ghost

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Drying the floor and hull

If the fiberglass is delaminated, I'd venture a wild guess that the plywood deck is really thick because it is saturated and swollen... and the delaminted fiberglass is just going to be a nice little greenhouse to keep the moisture trapped in there. Do you realize how long it takes a sheet of 3/4" plywood to dry out in the sun with nothing on it?... weeks if not months.

I don't want to be a downer, but your boat is doomed. You can fix it now or later... but it isn't going to get any better.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Drying the floor and hull

Several shop vacs will be worn out before the surfaces are dry, drying more than that takes much longer.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Drying the floor and hull

Not to mention the mold!!!!

 

[Sport240]

Re: Drying the floor and hull

@ Coho...No foam.

The rest of you guys are real bummers! Lol!

I know the stringers are solid because I accidentally drilled into one and it is still pretty hard. The plywood is a little swollen, but after 4 hours of Shop-Vac blowing, I gotta be honest, it is looking much dryer than before. I snuck my fingers in there and, I must say, there is a 100% improvement from when I opened her up. Will give her some more air tomorrow.

Would you guys leave those holes open (non filled & re-glassed) with a plug of some sort, for future venting? They will be under the seats and hence non visible. Like I said, no possibility of cutting out the floor at least this year, maybe not next either.

JD

 

[BigLee324]

Re: Drying the floor and hull

With no foam you may have got lucky but you would want to drill into the stringer near the back of the boat and you would want to do it down low on the stringer close to the hull as that is where the rot generaly starts in the stringers . Not having foam may have saved you on this one, wet foam holds water and does not dry and can cause rot.
Good luck , hope it turns out well.

 

[Sport240]

Re: Drying the floor and hull

Thanx BigLee, will put more air through her tomorrow. Tomorrow is Canada Day (our 4th of July) so will be spending quality time with the family, taking in some shows and watching the F-18's!

Nothing quite like F-18's

JD