replacing a floor

BoatCrazy

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Well my project is about to begin.

I have a 18ft closed bow runabout with an outboard. The floor has been removed. Stringers are in excellent condition. Just need to put a floor in..

Never did a floor, looking for pointers, suggestions, and tips.

Thanks
 
I've done a couple and will offer a few, but Charlie will be along soon and he'll have more.
Stay with the original outline, use a batten of 1/4" by 1&1/2" x 8 or 10 ft. to trace an outline on marine ply 3/4".
Epoxy paint or oil based paint on the undersides; rough it up with 60/80 grit sandpaper first.
If you have to put it in in sections because of shape or other reasons make them fit as well as possible before setting them in. You could use a marine adhesive on the stringers when you're about to screw them in. Stainless screws and BE CAREFUL when you get to the outer edges or you'll send a screw through the hull. Use shorter screws as you go out! You only need to set the board to the stringers, not the hull! (yeah I did it once)
You'll want someone with fiberglassing experience to set the sides to the hull, but with no one available, pick up a copy of wes' marine's book "fiberglass boat repair". It'll show you how to set tabs and form the glass correctly. It's an inexpensive book and well worth getting. You want to duplicate the original construction if possible and if that means forming a "ledge" to place the floor pieces on, do so. Depends on the way you'll use the boat. If you're hauling in crab pots over the side and you're 225 lbs., you may want to do that. But if you're using it as a weekend runabout and won't be putting lots of pressure on the edges, and assuming you've got a stringer system that runs to the outer edges with supports, you may just screw it down and glass the edges to the insides of the hull.
Glass the new floor after sanding it to rough it up and I'd recommend using the more expensive but much stronger laminating resin first (on all critcal areas) then brush on a coat of sanding/finish resin.
It's not rocket science. Take your time and think ahead of the steps you're about to make. Good luck, it's actually fun, especially when you get to shop for new seats and stuff, like a swivel helm seat!!
Buzz
 
thanks for the info. ive been planning on what to do but you just confirmed everything I had in my head. its not a big floor that I have to replace. I have a stringer system and the stringers are all dry and are in excellent shape. Im thinking this is one day job, start early in the day and end later afternoon early evening.

Ive already jumped the gun and am thinking about new seats already. I have really deep gunwales on this boat and I am debating if I want to put two pedestal seats in or one pedestal and one back to back seat. Its usually just me who goes out on it so I am leaning towards the two pedestals...
 
If you plan on selling it, more seating may be more attractive to prospective buyers. Sounds like you've got a few options to play around with before you make your final decision. Do you have room for the 2 pedestals and 2 standard along the transom on each side of the outboard?
 
Thats the thing. On the transom there are two stand alone seats. The boat is a classic, its a 1972 18' Glastron. Its a very beamy boat for an 18footer..the down fall to the pedestal seats is that it takes away from storeage......
 
I used one pedestal and one new back to back but lost a little space as the old one was huge. Consider the height of the back to back and get one that sits high enough for comfortable seating...many of the ones available are made for little people, (no slight intended).
Buzz
 
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