Quick Answer: How To Fix Rotted Boat Floor

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How much does it cost to replace deck on boat?

The cost depends on the level of damage and the square footage of the deck requiring replacement. Boats ranging from 18 to 25 feet will fall in the range of 3,000 to 10,000 dollars for a complete deck overhaul.

What kind of plywood do I need to replace boat floor?

The most commonly used plywood for boat flooring is marine plywood. Another option is pressure treated plywood. There are also some preventative measures to take to protect and prolong plywood flooring.

What are soft spots on boats?

Soft spots on the deck are a sign of rotted and delaminated core materials. 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. Another area of potential concern is the boat’s systems.

What causes stringers to rot?

Fixing damaged or delaminated stringers is one of the most common repairs associated with fiberglass boats. The usual causes of stringer failure are disintegration of the stringer core material, impact damage from slamming and grounding, and fatigue from normal use.

How thick should Plywood be on a boat floor?

Use a good grade 1/2 to 5/8 plywood (I used 3/4) you should cover the bottom side with fiberglass cloth, make sure you use a 24 to 36 grid pad to rough up the wood prior to laying your cloth down.

How do you fix dry rot on a boat?

Treat any wood left inside with CPES™. Cut new wood and treat with CPES™ and insert into transom, clamp/epoxy-glue it to the back of the transom, fill in all gaps with either the Fill-It™ epoxy filler or a putty-mix of the L&L Resin™, and then re-glass the inside. It’s real work.

What is the best wood for boat floor?

Marine plywood is a great sheet material that can be easily cut using both hand saws and basic power tools. Marine plywood is often used to build boat interiors and to replace flooring during boat renovations.

What’s the difference between marine plywood and treated plywood?

Marine plywood is specifically manufactured to stand up to the harsh marine environment. The materials used in in its construction are specifically chosen to assist in making it as water resistant as possible. Pressure treated plywood is usually regular softwood and will absorb moisture very easily.

Is Marine grade plywood the same as treated plywood?

Marine plywood is made strictly of Douglas fir and Western larch woods. Unlike treated plywood, glue is applied on marine plywood’s surface. This glue keeps the wood waterproof while saving it from decay. This plywood is usually formed to build boats because of its water-resistance.

Can you build a boat with regular plywood?

Plywood is one of the cheapest and easiest building materials, one that the average do-it-yourselfer is both familiar and comfortable with. Plywood is used as a “sheet” material in the majority of plywood boats, including Stitch-N-Glue. Plywood is also used in “cold-molded” construction and “multi-diagonal” planking.

Can fiberglass boats be repaired?

However, the repairability of fiberglass is one of its best characteristics. The most horrifying hole in a fiberglass hull is quickly healed with a bit of glass fabric, a supply of resin, and equal parts skill and care. And the repair is less patch than graft — a new piece of skin indistinguishable from the old.

How much does it cost to repair fiberglass on a boat?

Most hired-out repairs of any type are roughly 50 percent labor and 50 percent materials. Not so with this fix—hull repairs are all about labor. The repairs on this boat would cost roughly $3,000 at a shop. But the materials only cost about $250 and the buffer about $150!.

What is marine epoxy?

Loctite Marine Epoxy can be applied and cured underwater and eliminates the need to drain out water before repairs. This unique epoxy is a resilient, two-part adhesive system consisting of an epoxy resin and a hardener.

How thick should plywood be on a boat floor?