Too much flex

[build it better]

i just bought a 1984 Forester boat. The next day i checked the boat with more detail. What i noticed when the boat was on the trailer the sides of hull flexed very easy. i think this would stop sum what when the boat is in the water. The boat is open bow so this could account for the flexing. I also notticed the the floor in the open bow area is not tite to the main deck. When I sand in the bow and pull the hull together to the point where the wind shield lines up, the floor moves to to the main deck.My question is should the open bow floor be glued or attached to the main deck.Hope for sum input thanks.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Too much flex

When I sand in the bow and pull the hull together to the point where the wind shield lines up, the floor moves to to the main deck.

that ain't right. the boat should feel solid. you shouldn't have to pull it together or even be able to pull it together. your deck/sole (no floors in boats), shouldn't move....
ya should do some real fine inspections. your likely to find rot it sounds like to me.
ya might have a look at the boat restorations part of this fine forum.
sorry for the bad news, maybe others will think differently. i hope so. but it don't sound good to me..

and welcome to the forum. sounds like you may have need to start some new posts regarding boat hull repair.. lots of folks done lots of repairs to there boats over there. much info to be had..

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Too much flex

maybe others will think differently..

Nope.... There's something rotten in paradise (or at least in this boat). The deck should not move one bit. You'll be pulling the deck to get to the stringers, which likely are rotted. AND THEN more good news.... there's a high probability that the transom may be bad also. Welcome to the wonderful world of boat repair/restoration

 

[build it better]

Re: Too much flex

Hi. build it better guy here. thanks for your responses.The boat is not rotten, its in very good condition. I would like to explain in better detail what I am trying to say. The plywood deck is in good shape front to back. The plywood is covered with fiberglass and carpet. The open bow has a fiberglass insert with the seats and floor in one piece. The problem is that the floor in the insert is above the deck, not much space 1/4 inch. When you are standing in the open bow facing the windshield and you pull on the sides of the hull, the fiberglass insert floor rests on the plywood deck. Should the bow insert floor be glued or fastened to the plywood deck to stabilize the sides of the boat? The boat is a deep V hull.From the deck to the top of hull sides is 27 inches. The movement of the top of the sides of the boat is only about 1/2 inches in to each side. This at the point where the windshield is across the boat.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Too much flex

The boat is not rotten,

Ayuh,... OK, if you say so,....
It's still Broken,+ Shouldn't do what it's doin'....

 

[build it better]

Re: Too much flex

Hi build it better guy. I pull back the carpet on the bow insert and found 2 screws that pulled out. thinking that you guys were right I srcaped out the screw hole with a dental tool. the wood that came out is dry and looks clean. So I grabed a ratchit tie down pulled the hull together. I put 4 pan head low root screws with washer though the insert into the deck. Let off the ratchit tie down and every statyed in place. Looks like problem is fixed.

 

[Splat]

Re: Too much flex

Hi build it better guy. I pull back the carpet on the bow insert and found 2 screws that pulled out. thinking that you guys were right I srcaped out the screw hole with a dental tool. the wood that came out is dry and looks clean. So I grabed a ratchit tie down pulled the hull together. I put 4 pan head low root screws with washer though the insert into the deck. Let off the ratchit tie down and every statyed in place. Looks like problem is fixed.

Nope. Still very broken.

Sorry but all you did was put a bandaid on it.

Bill

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: Too much flex

I would never buy a boat, used or new, that the hull sides flex.