Fibreglass Floor Replacement
Submitted by Bradmac73 on Fri, 2023-11-17 09:27
Question for those in the know.
How hard and/or expensive is it to replace a section of soft or lifting floor in a fibreglass boat. I'm sure I've seen a few on here who have done this. Any ideas on what it might cost to get done by a professional would be appreciated too. As far as I can tell stringers are solid, just the floor need to be redone (hopefully).
cheers
.thumbnail.jpg "Day's catch - minus a few skippy")
Swompa
Posts: 3786
Date Joined: 14/10/12
It isnt perticularly hard. I
It isnt perticularly hard. I had to cut rot out of my previous boat. Simple angle grinder with wood blade on it and a claw hammer with some screwdrivers to dig out the old bit. Cut the new bit to suit, make up a thick bog/wood glue to adhere it to any frames and place the new puzzle piece in with a couple of pieces of flat screwed to hold it all level.
Once the glue has set, grind the edges ~ 200mm back over the existing deck so you can then lay the glass over the join starting with a thin piece of woven mat, then increasingly wider pieces then a couple of large pieces over the whole patch.
Sand, bog, prime and paint.
Then cover it all up with carpet to pretend it isnt there.
Really, it is a weekend job to get the glass work done trusting it isnt wet under the deck.
Bradmac73
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 22/03/17
Thanks Swompa
Appreciate the info
Silver Fox
Posts: 1097
Date Joined: 19/06/14
You’re a brave, brave man.
Been there done that on more than one occasion. Just be prepared to eat massive amounts of shit and not have your boat in the water for a while. It's an easy job, if you can use a pair of scissors and a paintbrush and have a good sense of humour you can Fibreglass. YouTube is your best friend for inspiration on how to get things done correctly. Be sure to cover everything with a generous coat of resin and mat ( sides of wood most importantly) and don't go drilling any holes through your new deck.
My wife understands why I clean my rods n reels in the shower....
Bradmac73
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 22/03/17
Thanks SF
Thanks for the info and warning!
rob90
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 06/02/13
I done my floor last year in
I done my floor last year in thermolite. Big itchy job. If it's just a patch it should be simple. But if one bit is soft it's all trash. Judging by my experience a pro job wouldn't be cheap for a whole floor replacement. If you want to tackle it yourself just be prepared to get itchy. It's not a hard job and as you have done asking the question here should get you most of your answers. It's a can of worms that needs to be opened but do so with an open mind. What boat is it?
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
Bradmac73
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 22/03/17
Cheers Rob
It's a 90's Leeder, doesn't look too bad but agree if one part is lifting and shot the rest likely will be too. Cheers
rob90
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 06/02/13
Mine is a 90s leeder
Mine is a 90s leeder customcraft. Only timber below deck was tank supports and floor joists, which I changed out for composite and Ali. Mine has glass stringers so no problems there. Leeder were terrible when it came to floors. Never glassed the bottoms, spoke to a guy who done some work for them back in the day and said they slapped ply sheets down and glassed tops. What I pulled out suggested that. They painted the backs with something like tar that stained the inside of the hull.
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
Bradmac73
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 22/03/17
Good to know
Good to know the stringers are all glass. Sounds like the unsealed back might be the issue here too.
Bradmac73
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 22/03/17
Good to know
Good to know the stringers are all glass. Sounds like the unsealed back might be the issue here too.
Brock O
Posts: 3166
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Most stringers should be
Most stringers should be fully glassed, Ive an old 79 guardian and mine are, just the floor that cop's it when water gets through.
Been contemplating a new floor and few other bits on mine also, just need an area to sort it, time and money.
scubafish
Posts: 949
Date Joined: 15/08/12
Big &Small
Big boat $$$$$$ Diy less $$$
Small boat $ Less dollars.
Did mine small boat LUCKY $.
But once you open that door (removing the floor )be very ready for what's behind it .
Get someone else to do it could be a professionals dream and a bottomless pit of $$$$$$ for you.
Flow coat ,Rez,Glass not hard.
Be shore to seal,rez,glass the bottom of the floor as well (condensation).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjFNhMmTPRw
http://img.gg/BQ91Sys
Bradmac73
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 22/03/17
Thanks mate
Good advice. I'll def be sealing all round, toip, bottome, sides
Swompa
Posts: 3786
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Not sure where you live but I
Not sure where you live but I have a bit of glass here - few different thicknesses both woven mat and uni directional (woven mat on one side and chopped strand on the other.
Its not expesive stuff but if you need some, i am in thornlie...
Bradmac73
Posts: 176
Date Joined: 22/03/17
cheers
Thanks Swompa, I'll yell out if I need it once I get a handle on the size of the job.