Solid floors

[ggundersen3]

I am search for a 19-21" used bowrider with an I/O to replace my 19' I recently sold. I'm aware of how important solid floors are. How solid is solid? I've seen a few boats where there is a very, very minimal amount of flex in the floor in the area just outside the motor box over the gas tank and 6-12" closer to the ski locker. I even jumped up and down and it was a minimal amount of flex. Is that acceptable? Is that normal? How solid is solid?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Solid floors

that is the most common place for floors to start rotting and likely indicates that the end is near..... Rotten floors while a problem are often an indicator that the even more serious problem of stringer rot is already seriously under way.

If in doubt a survey would be a good idea if the boat is expensive enough to justify it

If it's an I/O a couple of the bolts attaching the motor mounts to the stringers can be removed to look for wet rotting wood in the holes

Outboards, you can bounce on the motor looking for ANY hint of transom flex and remove a lower mount bolt looking for wet rotting wood (have 5200 on hand to reseal the bolt).

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Solid floors

"How solid is solid?" ~~~~ well,,, it is solid!

 

[tazrig]

Re: Solid floors

Ideally you don't want any flex at all.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Solid floors

My boat is 40 and there's no flex in the floor at all. Kinda' hurts to step on it too hard

 

[ken51k]

Re: Solid floors

I would walk away from any boat that has any flex in the floor or transom.What you describes is a sure sign of rot starting.

 

[ggundersen3]

Re: Solid floors

Sure enough.I went back today to look at it again after it was brought inside and had a day or 2 to thaw out and I checked out the floor again and its soft in spots. In fact one spot I heard the aweful sound "crack"! .......................Forget it.

 

[Brian 26]

Re: Solid floors

Flexing doesn't mean an instant deal killer. I had a 2002 Glastron with the SEC construction (which supposedly means no wood) and the floor would flex when you walked on the fiberglass access panel for the fuel tank.

But as other's have said if it's a wood deck then flex is bad.

 

[ggundersen3]

Re: Solid floors

Yea it was a 1993 Maxum which is for sure wood floors and stringers. Soft spots in more than one place and after I heard that aweful "crack" sound when exerting pressure on the floor.....forget it.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Solid floors

One thing to check for is for the DIFFERENCE in flex. All wood flexes, so 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 ply will all flex some if you jump on it, and expect concrete... But now if you notice that when you walk to a corner it flexes more than an area like in front of the passenger seat, then you have a problem.

 

[Grandad]

Re: Solid floors

One thing to check for is for the DIFFERENCE in flex. All wood flexes, so 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 ply will all flex some if you jump on it, and expect concrete... But now if you notice that when you walk to a corner it flexes more than an area like in front of the passenger seat, then you have a problem.

^+1 - Grandad

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Solid floors

There should be other signs of high moisture content under the floors and in back around the transom, in the cuddy or cabin area. Look for signs of rot/stains/debris in the bilge, also inspecting the fiberglass, vinyl, any vertical spot that is exposed. Check the fuse block, battery trays and all the other spots that moisture could get in if left uncovered. Find out how the boat was stored and were? check the cover, is it used? You just have to ask questions and inspect well. If all else fails and you still don't know, hire a survey guy for everything you don't know about.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Solid floors

They rot from the bottom up, not the deck down.
Choose carefully or you will be disappointed. I bet over half the boats I see around here are left uncovered and are rotting away quietly awaiting a "new" owner.

 

[jc55]

Re: Solid floors

They rot from the bottom up, not the deck down.
Choose carefully or you will be disappointed. I bet over half the boats I see around here are left uncovered and are rotting away quietly awaiting a "new" owner.

Amen to that!