project boat

[hl]

I have bought a 1983 Venture bass boat for a winter project. I am familar with motors but not hull and body work. The boat seem to be in good condition except the floor seems to be a little weak when you stand on it. I am thinking of adding some epoxy or maybe building it up with fiberglass. What is the best way to check the bottom hull and transom for weakness?

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: project boat

The best way is to remove the floor. With the floor out, you can check the hull. I don't think there are too many guys that would recommend putting epoxy on or adding fiberglass to a weak deck.

 

[oops!]

Re: project boat

hi hi.

welcome to the dry dock !

let me understand you. you have a soft spot in the deck and you want to epoxy over it?....is that correct?

ok....lets do this.......you rip up the carpet, (btw, you will ruin the carpet) and if the spot is one foot square.....you want to do a 15 inch square patch.
ok.....but what happens when you take the cover off the boat next season and found out the rot has travelled 18 inches?

the rot needs to be cut out.....it is like a cancer....it keeps spreading, regardless of what you put on top of it. epoxy or poly resin.

so.....take a circ saw, and cut out the area, then take your glass and poly or epoxy it......then replace the rug, and go fishin' next season !

cheers
oops

 

[hl]

Re: project boat

hi hi.

welcome to the dry dock !

let me understand you. you have a soft spot in the deck and you want to epoxy over it?....is that correct?

ok....lets do this.......you rip up the carpet, (btw, you will ruin the carpet) and if the spot is one foot square.....you want to do a 15 inch square patch.
ok.....but what happens when you take the cover off the boat next season and found out the rot has travelled 18 inches?

the rot needs to be cut out.....it is like a cancer....it keeps spreading, regardless of what you put on top of it. epoxy or poly resin.

so.....take a circ saw, and cut out the area, then take your glass and poly or epoxy it......then replace the rug, and go fishin' next season !

cheers
oops

Thanks for the advice. I will try cutting the weak spot out after you have told me. I bought the boat to learn how to do repairs such as this. I have all winter to see what I can do. Thanks again, I am sure I will have more questions.