Patching soft spot in floor

[ole miss gal]

Hi everyone, I've been doing a bit of reading on fixing/patching a softspot in the floor of a fiberglass boat. Here's what I have, a '92 19' VIP 4.3L engine. Okay, my boat has the captains seats (on pedastals) up front. The drivers side (starboard I guess is what it's called, not up to date on the boating Lingo). Now, here's what I don't understand, the spot I need to replace is fairly small, maybe 2' x 2'. If I cut out a section that size, how do I attach another piece of glassed wood back in there and be strong enough to hold up the pedstal seat? What I'm saying is what's going to hold it in place, you obiviously can't 'scab-on' to the side of the plywood on the 4 sides. (from where you cut the piece out). I just don't understand how this is done. For the sake of saying, if one removed the complete floor in a boat such as this, what exactly is inderneath it to support the actual floor? Sorry for the long thread.

 

[b.gagnon]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

It would be best to do the whole floor. 2'x2' is a pretty big section of floor on a 19' boat. The stringers are what the floor is mounted to, they run from bow to stern. If the floor is bad, chances are that the stringers are too. I hope this is not the case with you. Unfortunately the only way to tell is to rip it up!

 

[ole miss gal]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

Actually it's not that big of softspot. It's just right where the seat fastens to the floor. Only spot in the entire boat. So, how do you attach a piece of plywood if you cut this piece out and make it work right? How is the factory floor installed to the stringersm glue, screws?

 

[Solittle]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

As gagnon said the floor sits on top of the stringers that run the length of the boat. If, and a BIG if at that, your soft spot is limitedt a 2'x2' area you best bet would be to cut a 2' wide section our of the entire floor from one side to the other. Use the cut out section as a pattern for a new section, epozy it and glass it in to the existing floor and stringers.<br /><br />Oh and glue is never used. The floor or deck is attached to the sides of the hull and stringers with fiberglass. Some may use screws into the stringers.

 

[r1gal]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

Thankyou, that's the info I was needing.

 

[r1gal]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

Oops, wrong thread.

 

[ole miss gal]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

SoLittle, Thanks for the info.

 

[samsam]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

Originally posted by ole miss gal:<br /> Actually it's not that big of softspot. It's just right where the seat fastens to the floor. Only spot in the entire boat. So, how do you attach a piece of plywood if you cut this piece out and make it work right? How is the factory floor installed to the stringersm glue, screws?

You can cut out the bad spot then clamp and glue or screw and glue some 3 or 4" wide plywood cleats around the underside of the hole. The new piece will sit on them and be screwed and glued in place. The screws can be removed after the piece is glued in and the holes filled when the new fiberglass is applied. Be sure to caulk the pedestal REAL good when you reinstall it. Sam

 

[r1gal]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

Sam - That sounds like an idea, Thanks!

 

[samsam]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

Originally posted by ole miss gal:<br /> Actually it's not that big of softspot. It's just right where the seat fastens to the floor. Only spot in the entire boat. So, how do you attach a piece of plywood if you cut this piece out and make it work right? How is the factory floor installed to the stringersm glue, screws?

I just remembered another way you can "fix" it if <br />the spot isn't much bigger than the pedestal (or even if it is) and looks aren't a priority. You can cut a round or square piece of 3/4" (or two layers for 1 1/2") thick ply with the edges sloped 30-45 degrees and sharp corners rounded, rough sand or grind away the old fiberglass gelcoat in the intended area, glue(or use a resin saturated piece of mat)and screw the ply piece to the old deck and then put 2 layers of 1 1/2 oz mat over it. The first layer should extend onto the old deck 2" or so, the second 3" or so to make the edge less pronounced. Tearing the mat to shape instead of cutting it will blend in the edge real well. Sam

 

[true blue 17133]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

ok nebie,, to site could not find how to post so i jumped in here to ask sorry,, But i need to know how the pedastals that hold seats are mounted in my 86 19 ft bayliner capri i have put a new engine in it and have had the seats rebuilt and re upost in true blue duke.. but after taking all interior out to have this done i see that the pedastals are bad on left side of each pedastals and would like to take them out to redo them can someone tell me how they are are held in i.e. screws,, molded to the floor,, do i need to pull up carpet to see what i am missing to solve this delema because the carpet was best thing in boat so far hate to have to replace it...lol thanks for any help again sorry i jumped in here.....

 

[Boat Biz]

Re: Patching soft spot in floor

Hi everyone, I've been doing a bit of reading on fixing/patching a softspot in the floor of a fiberglass boat. Here's what I have, a '92 19' VIP 4.3L engine. Okay, my boat has the captains seats (on pedastals) up front. The drivers side (starboard I guess is what it's called, not up to date on the boating Lingo). Now, here's what I don't understand, the spot I need to replace is fairly small, maybe 2' x 2'. If I cut out a section that size, how do I attach another piece of glassed wood back in there and be strong enough to hold up the pedstal seat? What I'm saying is what's going to hold it in place, you obiviously can't 'scab-on' to the side of the plywood on the 4 sides. (from where you cut the piece out). I just don't understand how this is done. For the sake of saying, if one removed the complete floor in a boat such as this, what exactly is inderneath it to support the actual floor? Sorry for the long thread.

One more thing to check, WHen you cut out the damaged material - it is most likley that the timber started to rot with water that leaked in from the seat screws.

Make certain you remove all damaged ply untill you get back into good sound material. If you leave any moisture damaged ply that has rot starting, it will not take long for it to continue to deteriorate and your repair will have been in vain.