Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

[Aquaman-PSD]

I have an 87 Monark Fish n' Ski that I recently bought. All in all the boat is great, motor is strong, handles good nice solid stable ride and plane. I was very intent on checkin the transom when I bought the boat because it has a very large and heavy OB. It is solid as it could be. BUT recently I found a soft spot on the floor behind the drivers seat. It is pretty soft so I can't beleive a missed it. I still think I did pretty good on the boat and everything works great on it. I plan on replacing the floor after this season but I would like to know what I am getting myself into.... I have good carpentry skills but have no idea what it takes to repair fiberglass stringers. Also I can't find ANY information on these boats so I don't know if these boats are known for bad stringers or not. The boat has been garage kept for most of its life and I know this because the boat is in excellent condition for its age. I am not sure how or why the floor is rotting but I don't mind spending the time to replace it if thats all it need. Does anyone know what the odds of having bad stringers with bad flooring? Or has anyone heard anything on monark fiberglass boats and thier tendency to rot? Also if the stringers are bad how will I know? I know that I am probably going to have to replace some of the flotation material too which doesn't bother me but I have no idea how much that stuff cost. As you can see I am new to boat restoration and hopefully I don't learn the lesson the hard way....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

most likely if the floor is rotten, the stringers and foam will be too.

since your new to restoration, read Oops!'s thread and the stickies at the top of the restoration page.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

Howdy!

First off, it's a 1987 so I would be suspicious or at least cautious. Of course, properly care for, the wood will last a very very long time. How did you test the transom? Knocking it with a mallet won't tell you much. Flexing the motor and drilling a couple of holes could tell you a bunch. Stringers and transoms rot...they all do. It's a matter of time and care. You can cut out the soft spot and stick you head down there for a peek. As well....use your nose. If it is just a small soft spot, you are fortunate. On the other hand, many a man has said the same and ended up with a full restore. You say you have good carpentry skills so you are ahead of a lot of us. Send some pix and you will receive a lot of help.

 

[Aquaman-PSD]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

From what I can tell the bad spot is about 2 maybe 3 SF. It is right around the floor drain behind the drivers side seat. I will post pictures what I can. Any idea of how much cost is associated with foam and stringer repair?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

Does she have a Ski Locker? This will tell you a lot. Core sampling the transom down low from the inside will tell you for sure if it truly is good to go.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

I'm going to skip right over the bad news, I'll let the other guys tell ya about all that.

Here's the good news: You are certainly in the right spot These guys will walk you through everything you need to know and need to do. They will save you time, money, effort and energy!

(I'm glad I got to do the good news part)

 

[oops!]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

welcome to iboats....

lol...i had those same questions.....i kept thinking about it.....what happens if?....how do i do this?

you are over thinking this. over thinking leads to many sleepless nights.....and unnecessary worries.

the truth is.......you wont know till you rip you the deck.

and if you find rotted stringers.....deal with it.....we will help you, and yes, you can do this.

the whole point of my thread below....is to let a first time boat owner know that they can repair their boat.

stringers are nothing more than shaped pieces of plywood on edge...top flat....bottom contoured.
throw some popcicle sticks down where the stringer is supposed to go....smear in some thickened resin and drop your stringer in to the gook.

the chances of your stringers needing work is on a scale of 1-10....about an 8.
most people dont like what they see when the deck comes op....because they get skeered.

i like it.....because then i know what i have to do.

when you are think about your stringers, whilst zipping around on the water this year....just remember.

the iboats forum has helped thousands of boaters just like you........to re build thier boats better than factory new.
these do it your selfers, had never even seen a piece of 1708 or chopped strand mat in thier lives...

and some of thier boats.......well...out standing.

 

[Aquaman-PSD]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

well I guess I will just have to wait and see. I over anylize everything and due to my line of work (estimating) always think in dollors and the benifit of each dollar. Is it going to hurt anything to leave the floor as it is now or should I do it before taking it out again? Also there is plywood on the floor now and I guess I am going to replace is with 5/8 marine grade plywood. Is this over kill? Also the floor doesn't have fiberglass on it now just wood then carpet... should I replace it with fiberglass? All in all i figured out that it is going to cost me about $300 to fix the floor and carpet...

 

[oops!]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

well I guess I will just have to wait and see. I over anylize everything and due to my line of work (estimating) always think in dollors and the benifit of each dollar.

........lol.......you are in for a shock.....the cost/benefit equation does not work with boat restoration....the only way you can think of it is that boat will be as new when i finish.....and compare the price to a new boat.
but when you are done....you will still have a 87 monarch.....and it will sell for what those boats go for in your area.

Is it going to hurt anything to leave the floor as it is now or should I do it before taking it out again?

All in all the boat is great, motor is strong, handles good nice solid stable ride and plane.

if the boat is sound.....and she does not flex.....you are good.

Also there is plywood on the floor now Also the floor doesn't have fiberglass on it now just wood then carpet...

my friend........

the red flags just went up.......the alarms went off.....and the full blown sirens are at maximum.

this is not factory.......i think someone layed a piece of plywood over a rotten deck.

if this is true.......it will condem the hull in 3 seasons. the glass will be fine.....but all of the stringers and more than likely the transom will be shot.....

this will mean a full gut.........throw out your 300 dollar guesstimate and add another zero.....and a month

I am going to replace is with 5/8 marine grade plywood. Is this over kill?

you will gain nothing from marine grade plywood in a deck situation.....marine grade is for building a wooden boat using plywood as the hull.
standard exterior grade plywood is more than sufficient.

should I replace it with fiberglass?

you encapsulate all the wood in a boat by fiberglassing it......so you fiberglass the bottom and the top of the deck.

this is a link to a deck replacement how to

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=543161

....ok....

do you have a ski locker?,,,,you said there was a drain in your deck......

what i would like you to do....is to open the locker or drain so you can look at the edge of your deck.

it should be 1/2 inch ply with fiberglass over it.....

if it is way thicker than 1/2 inch....someone has just thrown a piece of ply over a really bad deck....and re rug-ed the ply.
not good.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

I'm with oops!..... BIG RED FLAG! A double layer of deck is a sure sign of a rotten,waterlogged boat.... But it can be fixed

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

Truth is, fiberglass boats rot from the inside out and the bottom up and the deck is the last thing to go.

You're the second person this month that has been duped by a "cover over", putting new plywood and carpet over a rotten deck to make a quick sale and unload a rotting heap.

The only thing you really paid for was a motor, a trailer, and a fiberglass shell... all the rotten stuff under the deck was free.

 

[Aquaman-PSD]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

Ok well this isn't good news and I'll be honest i'm not sure if there isn't fiberglass under the carpet I assumed (a** out of you and me, mainly me.. ) I will peel up a piece of the rug and take a look.. I checked the trasnsom in a couple different ways. First I looked I looked it over very well for cracks, then I pulled the transom saver off and pulled up and down on the motor.. no movement, then when we took it on a test run I ran it at WOT in a mild chop and there was no flexing anywhere on the boat that I could see or feel. I looked at the hull where it bears on the trailer for any deformations because I read in here that this is a sign of a bad hull/transom and there was nothing. it planes great and besides no Power steering handles great. Also I am hoping that there is fiberglass over the floor because if things were as rotten as you say then I would think my little ford ranger wouldn't be able to move it. I guess I am just getting myself worked up without knowing anything at this point I need to peel back the carpet and see if there is fiber glass there. I just find it hard to believe that the carpet isn't original... it doesn't look like there has been any work done to the floor. In the picture below I know that the area in front of the floor compartment with the wooden cover, maybe called a ski locker? has fiber glass because I looked at it. The back I am not sure because I haven't looked. I guess worst case scenario I have a 200 horsepower johnson motor that purs like a kittten and all the associated controles... trying to be optimistic :redface: I will say that I bought this boat from a friend and I would hate to have to go KY redneck on him!

 

[hotshot123]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

2 years ago, i knew nothing about fiberglass. now i can do pretty much anything from little fixes to moulding my own hatch lids. if you decide to go for it and want some reading material that helped me learn, just let me know and i will pass it on. Like anything else, it takes time to learn but floors and transoms are not that big of a deal. start growing your fingernails now though, cause your going to need them for the itch.hahaha

 

[hotshot123]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

jig-n-grub, can you delete a few msgs so i can pm you? thanks

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

jig-n-grub, can you delete a few msgs so i can pm you? thanks

Msgs deleted.

 

[Aquaman-PSD]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

I am still waiting for the bad news.... What if someone removed the fiberglass floor and just put down marine grade plywood without fiberglass... there is no visible seam where the fiberglass would stop and the wood would start so they couldn't have laid wood ontop of the fiberglass or there would be a seam...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

I am still waiting for the bad news....

OK, I'll tell ya...

Your deck, stringers, and foam are shot. Likely the transom too. You are in for a total gut and rebuild job. Sorry man

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

I am still waiting for the bad news.... What if someone removed the fiberglass floor and just put down marine grade plywood without fiberglass... there is no visible seam where the fiberglass would stop and the wood would start so they couldn't have laid wood ontop of the fiberglass or there would be a seam...

If it's just wood and carpet, they laid the wood on top of the old rotten deck and the carpet is hiding the joint/seam. The deck has to be glassed into the hull somewhere to tie everything together, if your deck isn't tied into the hull you've got bigger problems than you think.

If someone just laid decking over the stringers and didn't glass the deck or tie back into the hull, they sure as heck didn't replace stringers and waterlogged foam.

Being in denial right now is pretty normal, remove your decking and your denial will be resolved.

 

[Aquaman-PSD]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

i'll peel up the carpet and look at the deck tonight. I am not going double the amount of money I have in this boat. If it is truely as bad as you say it is then it's going to the bottom of the Ohio wit the previous owner in the driver seat!

 

[carpedium]

Re: Odds of having bad floor and good stringers....

Relax! Rebuilding your boat can be cathartic. Out with the old junk and rot feels good. Look at it that way instead of a motive for murder?