Floor/Hull Restoration

[Evinrude Boater]

I'm undertaking the restoration of the floor and hull of a 16' fiberglass runabout. I felt the floor rise when I hit a wave so I thought it was time to check out the supports. Wouldn't you know it, everything is rotted. I've removed the floor, mulch (as JasonJ calls it) and debonded fiberglass and pulled the wet rotted wood out of the keel and runners(not sure of the terms). I'm trying to learn how this boat was built because it seems the hull is separated from a thin inner layer of glass by wood blocks about 2"x2"x1/4" thick(more mulch). My approach is to install new wood in the keel and runners and glass the entire hull before installing new stringers. I've checked out the Silverline web site. You are my inspiration! I've posted some photos on Yahoo photos. I hope you can view them and give me some thoughts. Click on the Boat Restoration link to see my photos. Boat Restoration

 

[amidaeus]

Re: Floor/Hull Restoration

Those 2x2x1/4 squares look the same as the ones incapsulated in the fiberglass deck over my cuddy cabin. I took the carpet off the ceiling in the cabin and it has small squares of wood glassed into it. I am asssuming it is for strength.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Floor/Hull Restoration

Looks like a wood core hull. I have not had any opportunity to work on one of those, and I have always been thankfull. My impression of those hulls is that you would have to replace the wood with something. Either nighmare-ishly cutting new blocks to fit or possibly laminating ply in their place. Either way, the structure has to be maintained somehow, Maybe glassing in additional stringers instead of putting new blocks in. It all depends on how thick the hull shell is on the bottom. Good luck...

 

[jheron]

Re: Floor/Hull Restoration

Hey classicboater is that boat a Canada Craft? The teak wood cleats look identical to the ones on the boat I am grinding down right now and it's a Canada Craft Made right here in Kitchener Ontario.

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: Floor/Hull Restoration

jheron, no this is an Alpex by Aluma Craft.<br />JasonJ, I think you're right. With the wood core removed it's really flimsy. It had one stringer down the center and about four cross braces notched over the center stringer. The stringers were glassed in covering the wood core. The hull was cracked down the keel and an external patch was applied. It has wore through in spots and the wood inside got soaked. The inner fiberglass is not as thick as the hull and it deteriorated allowing lots of water into the foam and wood. I'm trying to stay positive and motivated with this project after all the work I put into the motor. I keep telling myself that it's a cheap education on buying a good used boat.<br />I'm open to suggestions on how to repair this without laminating another wood core. Can I add more stringers and braces to adequately support the hull?