Apply 4-inch wide 727 Biaxial fiberglass tape over the fillet. Looking for guidance/ suggestions . This Old Boat ; Soft spot in fiberglass floor Recent Topics. The main way to combat this is regular washings and a good stiff brush. Wet beds, mildew, rust stains in the cabinets, water stained and rotting paneling, stained headliners, rotted deck cores with soft spots; these are just a few of the damages caused by deck leaks. Step 5: Brush the deck. This . MaryKate MK2132 Deck Cleaner It's not unusual for moisture to find its way into this wooden core. The soft spot runs from just in front of the center console back to halfway under the flip/flop cooler seat. * cut top deck off with an oscillating saw, which is also useful for digging out old-but-not-yet-rotten core. 2. When wiping down the area, make sure to use a soft sponge or microfiber cloth. Boater's Edge BE1232 Deck Cleaner 5. Mix a cup of dishwashing liquid to a gallon of water in a large bucket. If you can buy some aluminum box or "U shaped aluminum tubing and run it thru the access holes; you can drill holes thru the fiberglass floor and into the aluminum tubing for support. The deck of a boat also sees a lot of wear. It is also helpful to think of a boat hull not as a continuous, single skin, but as being made of panels that span the stringers and frames. Soft spots are like cancer - early detection / treatment is your best course of action. * bevel edge of remaining deck 2". It has been kept in Lake Washington, under cover, it's whole life. Latest: jiggermyster. You can use a screwdriver to test the wood for soft spots. being an adventurus fellow I pondered many different plans of attack. Scrub brush or soft cloth; Application. Then fiberglass the top piece of the deck back in. Www.gowithgrem.com. The engine and drive system should be checked first. -Muriatic acid. 4. About - Injectadeck Marine Structural Foam DIY Injectadeck is a carefully engineered structural marine foam and adhesive that cures hard as wood, quickly and easily repairing soft spots on your boat's fiberglass deck caused by rot of the underlying core. One of the most common methods is to perform the repair from the outside, peeling back layers of fiberglass and replacing the core material. Support yhe 2cool family. use divinysil or MDO plywood as a bulk filler, and fill all the spaces with epoxy resin with filler. You can use a grease pencil to mark off the affected area. To this day that part of the flange on that boat is probably the strongest hull-deck joint we've ever had on one of those boats. Use 80-grit sandpaper and roughen up the surface of the deck. These are inexpensive and save a lot of time when cleaning your boat deck. Simple Green Marine All-Purpose Boat Cleaner 6. Doing this simple additional task will save you a lot of time and money down the line, since the putty or epoxy will effectively cover the hole created by the head of the nail. -CLR - Calcium Lime Rust Remover. In hull design terms, the span between supports are referred to as panels. it was not long ago that I decided to repair a soft spot on the fly bridge of my F32. Latest: C-4 Fishing. Malo <--- Means--Evil or Mean One. Use this ratio to wipe away the wax. soft spots on the flybridge. Apply the fiberglass patch to the epoxied areas immediately. Protect Yourself Nice-to-Have Boat Cleaning Products. by Mrsluggo Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:00 am. In the deck, a spongy or springy feeling underfoot tells you that rot has taken place. The leading cause of a soft spot on your RV floor is water Star Brite 97316 Deck Wax 8. . When standing on the ground, boat on trailer and me pushing down on the spot, you can see water come up through the holes. Deck Brush: If you don't want to clean the boat deck by hand, pick up a soft bristle deck brush. Please post any results and pictures of this product and repair. When you notice a small soft spot in the deck of your boat, it's often easy to ignore it, thinking the problem is one of limited scope. Wash the compound using the bucket mixture that you've made with a clean cloth. Vinyl Cleaner: If your boat has vinyl seating (particularly white seating), you may want a dedicated vinyl cleaner for this job. Hi all, First time poster, long time lurker :wink We recently bought a 1998 21 CC Wellcraft. First, do a thorough walk-around in direct sunlight and closely inspect the side, front and rear RV walls as well as the areas around windows and roof vents. If you want to fix a boat floor, you need to restore the transom. Now you need to check the rotted area on the boat floor and test the transom's stability step by step while putting heavyweight things on it. . 9 minutes ago. On an 18 the usual place this can happen is . Through the tiny voids between plywood edge-grain and the fiberglass, the epoxy had migrated 10 or 12 feet along the flange of the boat (and fortunately found something to drip into that was more or less replaceable). -Bar Keepers Friend. The hull and transom are solid, but the floor has a large hole that the last owner very sloppily tried to repair by stuffing it with fiberglass fabric and pooring the resin over the top. Using the Wrong Materials The best thing you can do when fixing a boat floor is to use epoxy. Boat Make. Wet out the tape with either a 105 Resin/205 Hardener or 105 Resin/206 Slow Hardener epoxy mixture. Soft Spot on 28 FB bow deck. Most of the time by the time you floor gets soft the older boats were bad about this. Long time 2cooler George in Pearland at South Texas Boat Works is your best option. Injectadeck is a carefully engineered structural marine foam and adhesive that cures hard as wood, quickly and easily repairing soft spots on your boat's fiberglass deck caused by rot of the underlying core. I have gotton a few good deals from boats that had soft floors. I had to fix two soft spots after we left the boat in Tahiti for 4 months in the rainy season. There's a marine adhesive called Sixty-Ten (or something like that) that I've used in the past. Moomba Boats; General Chat; soft spot in bow floor; . Step 4: Put The Finishing Layer Now that the holes are filled, you have to work on the entire deck. Step 1: Prepare the deck for cleaning. At this point you can either paint to match or make up some gelcoat the same color and finish the patch. On the deck [of my 1986 Boston Whaler MONTAUK 17 on the] port side near where the gunwale and transom meet (and probably where a battery box was screwed to the deck) is a soft spot. The floor above the fuel tank is very soft. Wipe down the surface area of the fiberglass with the sponge, making sure to get in the crevices. Steps to Clean Fiberglass Boat Deck. Step 1 - Initial Steps. The difference in sound is usually crystal clear. Hi Jeff, Normally, a soft spot is caused when the foam beneath the fiberglass deck gets compressed. Star Brite 085900N Deck Cleaner 2. * replace deck with 3/16" G10, with 2" beveled . Better Boat No-Slip Finish Deck Cleaner 3. The cabintop spot had actually cracked the fiberglass below and it was impossible to see because of the fiberglass headliner. Original: Aug 25, 2016 Foredecks on cruising boats take a pounding, and a rotten or delaminated core is a common problem On many boats, decks are cored with end-grain balsa or plywood with a fiberglass laminate on each side. Wipe the oil compound on the cloth over the wax in a circular motion. Step-2: Check The Transom. Making Oxidation Disappear Use a stop or you will accidently drill through both skins. . My father in-law bought a 1973 fiberglass haul boat. Sprinkle some acetone cleaner and wipe clean with a piece of rag. Cut the fiberglass clothing you need. How To Spot Aging Signs On Used Fiberglass Boats. At our Fort Lauderdale boatyard and marina, we offer yacht restoration, refits, and regular maintenance packages that include washdowns, hull painting, repairs, and other premier onshore or dockside services . For professional repairs of ocean-going hulls, the surrounding fiberglass is ground back on a slope of 1:12 to make a large area to be repaired; a 1/2 thick fiberglass structure would be ground back 6 in every direction from the hole. Wait 24 hours for the epoxy to set. (Free lesson number 2) Drill through the top skin only. Reach out to us in an email, or call us at 1-727-768-7509, we're here to help. I'm assuming your chainplates pass through this deck and are fast secured to structures beneath the deck. Fishing Chit Chat. Even the swim deck is fiberglass and foam. Realize before you begin, a deck replacement will cost around $900-$1100, slightly more if you need stringers or a transom. A soft spot on a boat floor can be difficult to diagnose as multiple factors contribute to a soft floor. What causes a soft spot on a boat? Want to repair/replace deck. Stringers are made of wood in wooden boats and of wood, or fiberglass encapsulated wood in fiberglass constructed boats. I've repainted the deck once more for cosmetic and aesthetic value. Hi there. Some of the most common causes of soft areas include . Wash it away with clean water. Most boat decks are wet rotted and perfect candidates for this product. Am thinking about drilling & injecting epoxy, OR, does anyone have a better idea. Materials. If you have dry rot when you drill your holes, lightly spray your newly perforated deck down with water and in 30 minutes, inject your deck." waikikin, Aug 20, 2015. I assume it's rotten wood under the fiberglass gel coat. Fishing Chit Chat. In certain conditions, even pressure-treated wood can rot and decay. Since this O'day 30 had an exterior that was in prime condition, we chose to repair the deck from the inside instead. Ideally, for one inch of boat flooring thickness, 1/32 inch of fiberglass cloth is needed. Another area of potential concern is the boat's systems. Posts: 276. I am not crazy about tearing out the v-berth headliner, but if I have to I will. Add 409 Microsphere Blend to a WEST SYSTEM epoxy Make sure it's mixed to a ketchup consistency and then load into a syringe. Surprised given all other upgrades are top notch. . Soft spot seems to indicate enough of an area is rotted that its better to really fix it properly. Is that the case? I believe the stringers are wood beneath but no access to get under . You'll need one layer of fiberglass for each 1/32-inch of deck thickness, with each layer of fiberglass . Although these sometimes can be repaired, more times than not soft deck sections are an indicator of what is below the deck: a wet or rotted stringer system. The soft spots tend to be small enough at first, so you need to make sure that the overall surface you are working on allows you to apply the epoxy and fiberglass properly. My plan is to cut out the soft part and replace the rotten sub floor. Soft spots will give and bend a little when walked upon, and can indicate very serious problems. -Krud Cutter Rust Remover. Boat water spot remover. Dip your brush in the vinegar and water mix and scrub the deck! Location. Injectadeck Marine Structural Foam DIY Marine deck repair DIY fix soft spots instantly Home Stringers The stringers are the backbone of the boat, and if they break or separate from the hull, serious trouble is in . Gets some 1.5 oz fiberglass mat soak with resin fill the hole or layer the matt at least 4 times till just above deck, just enough to sand flush with the surface. It isn't cheap to do the work correctly, but it isn't difficult either. -Whink Rust Stain Remover. onitis said: I found a soft spot just forward of the starboard fuel tank on my 1988 26 ft pilothouse model.I temporarily covered it with a piece of aluminum but am hoping for a way to fix.I once had a boston whaler with a soft spot and just . Injectadeck 310 Orange St #375 Ozona, FL 34660-9801 Contact Us Name Fire&Cats101 Registered The fiberglass should be flat and smooth. I'm not sure how or when it happened, but I was glad that I removed the soft core and could do a proper fiberglass repair . Just bought a 2000 Key West 1720 CC Sportsman. If you notice any waves, bubbles, or creases, press them with your finger. Riverside,Rhode Island. Step 3: Apply deck cleaner or boat soap. That was two years ago and the spot we did this to is solid once again. Simple effective repair of a dent, crack, or leak in a fiberglass boat done on an OC1 outrigger canoe. Trim the syringe tip as necessary. I recently made a trade and received a 14' 1991 G-Force Falcon fiberglass boat. This product is attracted to moist environments, and water helps in adhesion, expansion and curing. Another indicator of a rotten stringer can be a soft spot in the deck, delaminating fiberglass, age, the quality of the original stringers . I always go in and redo the stringers and floor. . The boat had "buy me" all over it. I just noticed today that exactly right between the front beverage holders and the front locker, that there is a soft spot when I step on it with my foot. Fiberglass boat.not sure about the material of the lid. In fact the report appears to say that the boat has cored decks. Injectadeck Small Boat Kit - 03900009980IAD $299.00- $431.00Select options Large Boat Kit - 03900009981IAD $469.00Add to cart Case of 6 Cartridges - 0070000780IAD $329.00Add to cart Contact Questions? In the transom, lots of large cracks at the edges (a few small ones are almost always present) are a dead give-away of structural failure. Please 'Like' or 'Share' above and join the discussion below in our comments section! "Surveying Fiberglass Power Boats" (2E) Chapt. Newer pre-fabricated boats often have stringers constructed of fiberglass only. A friend of mine said to get fiberglass sheets and resin and cover over the crack. Anyone experience a soft spot in the bow floor? Step 4: Let it sit for two to three minutes. Step 2: Pressure washing the deck. It just requires time and labor.. mostly sanding and grinding labor . 1972 22' Wasque Lay up fibreglass over the core to match the existing glass. It only tells you that the glass was laminated by hand rather than shot from a chopper gun. Post by Lawrence Sun Apr 09, 2017 10:47 pm. Z Care LVP Marine Boat Cleaner 9. Vinyl . Whether we're talking sail or power boats, deck leaks tend to be a ervasive problem, one which few people give much thought to until its too late and the damage has been done. If the deck flexes it's something to take care of but I doubt that it's the case as AFAIK the 2007 models had the plywood fiberglass covered which would protect the wood. Soft spots on the deck are a sign of rotted and delaminated core materials. Cut inch of fiberglass mat for each hole and you would need two layers of fiberglass cloth to cover up the soft areas. Drill 6mm holes, 25mm apart and about 75mm beyond the delamination area. . The key elements of my approach: * repair from the top, do not fight gravity. there are also soft spots on the sides of the hulls. Soft spots can be caused several ways. Injectadeck saves you from having to peel up your deck and replace it - costing thousands of dollars and weeks or months of time. . Step 6: Wash off the deck. Just screw stainless screws thru some stainless washers and thru the fiberglass flooring and into the aluminum tubing for support. Truglo opti-speed cross now scope. The most common is body weight being bounced up & down in the same spot. Drill through the skin and about of the way into the core. The patch is then built-up with increasingly larger pieces of fiberglass mat and resin. Star Brite 096332 Deck Cleaner 4. Hello all, I have a soft spot in my forward deck that I am going to attempt to repair myself, this will be a first time for me and I'm looking for any tips and advice to make this process as smooth as it can be. With the palm sander and 000 grit sandpaper, sand the fiberglass surface down until it is level with the surrounding hull surface and paint with the acrylic epoxy paint. Inject epoxy. Talk about slick, and it works 100% of the time There will be one more video on this topic, then onto something new! Saltwater Westport tuna rookie Sat 9/17. Again, "Yes." The boat became ours April 1, 1990, and we motored it out of the harbor. He asked me to just fasten the new seats to the deck and check out a soft spot in the deck next to the drivers area. Mix epoxy. And just noticed she has 2 small soft spots, one at the front corner of the console (really close to where the T-top mounts) and one next to the console (About 8 inches away from the one in the top corner) they are pretty small, maybe 6 inches. This place must be cleaned thoroughly before proceeding with any repair. Drill the outer skin- (picture- 2 drill outer deck) Using a drill stop, drill holes approximately inch deep through the top deck. The answer is a resounding "Yes!" After eight years of 12-month-a-year service, averaging three days a week, there have been no failures, no leaks, and no soft spots. 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