Floor replacement

[NormanXanders]

Just bought a 1978 V-20, inline 250/6cyl. with some soft spots on the floor, I will be cutting it out and replacing it. I will take lots of before/during/after pictures to share with everyone.

I'm new to this forum but looking forward to being part of it.

[awthacker]

Welcome and glad you posted. Lots of floors have been rebuilt here. Good luck with the project and as we always say... post some pics!

[Destroyer]

Hi NormanXanders

Welcome to the site. Floors and transoms seem to be the speciality of the crew here, so you're in good company. As Awthaker just said, make sure you post lots of pics. For three reasons:
) we love boat porn here.
2) If you're doing something wrong and we see it we can correct it before a huge ($$$) mistake is made.
3) If you're doing something we havent seen before and it's good then we get to learn.
In all cases , once again, welcome!! :beer:

[Kracker Jack]

Welcome to the forum!! Lots of info here.

[NormanXanders]

Ok...here are some pics......ran into a issue that I need advice on, under the fuel tank I found that the fiberglass covering the spine was very flexible I opened up a small hole to look at it, there is moisture in there and the wood is soft on the top side. I checked the rest of the spine from there back to motor and it all seems very hard or just the fiberglass is hard, I never cut anymore glass to really look at it was hoping it was ok based on the fact that it is not loose like it is under tank...

Can part of the spine be replaced as long as its braced and attached to the other cut ends correctly?

I have some of the beginning pics, I will take more of the spine tomorrow to show...

[RWilson2526]

By the spine you are talking about the vertical support that is attaced to the hull at the bottom and supports the floor?

[NormanXanders]

The keel board down the middle of the hull.....

[NormanXanders]

Well, it turned out better then I thought after I got the fuel tank removed, only one spot on the keel board about six inches long and maybe 1/8 inch deep into the board....scraped all that off and ready for new glass....

Hey Destroyer, have a Q for you....when you installed the new floor did you leave a ledge around the outside edge of the floor bottom? and did you lay your wood on top of that edge and fasten down? I guess what I'm asking is how did you attach it down? I have my own ideas but wanted your advice....

[NormanXanders]

Its getting very close to being done....

[NormanXanders]

Got the first coat of get coat in this evening.....next coat tomorrow with the sand in it for a non-skid service...

[phatdaddy]

looks good, i had to replace the deck in the forward part of mine. i left a lip like you did and attached a strip under it and laid the new deck flush with the old deck. i only had to replace half, so i needed to keep the deck the same level.

[Kracker Jack]

Got the first coat of get coat in this evening.....next coat tomorrow with the sand in it for a non-skid service...

Did you roll the gel coat on or did you spray it?

[tartuffe]

Looks really good, you really made quick work of that repair. Congrats!

[Jdog]

Looks awesome, can't wait to see the floor of mine new like that, congrats!!!

[jasoncooperpcola]

Looks good. Do you have a hard top or is than an arch?

[Destroyer]

Hey Destroyer, have a Q for you....when you installed the new floor did you leave a ledge around the outside edge of the floor bottom? and did you lay your wood on top of that edge and fasten down? I guess what I'm asking is how did you attach it down? I have my own ideas but wanted your advice....

Norman, I'm sorry, somehow I missed this post until now.. yes, I left a ledge around the outside and eventually fastened to that. However, I scraped all the old wood off the bottom of the fiberglass floor, glued new wood to the bottom and then glassed over the whole thing to encapsulate the wood so it won't rot any more. Then I turned the deck back right side up, layed it on the ledge and screwed and glued it down, then foamed all the cavities that I had cut the water saturated foam out of up to the bottom of the new deck for added strength, then glassed all the holes and seams, sanded that, then sprayed bed liner over the whole thing for a finished water and blood proof top coating.

Your deck project is looking awesome! Well done!!! I hope you're as happy with yours as I am with mine. :clap::clap:

[NormanXanders]

Sorry its been so long since my last reply....had a illness in my family to take care of first...but here is the pics of the outcome of my boat and I want to thank everyone of you for your much needed help with this project...

[NormanXanders]

Looks good. Do you have a hard top or is than an arch?

Its an aluminum hard top that was added before I bought the boat.

[NormanXanders]

Did you roll the gel coat on or did you spray it?

I rolled it on....

[NormanXanders]

Looks good. Do you have a hard top or is than an arch?

here is a pic to better show you what my top is...

[awthacker]

Your work looks good. I think destroyers right though. Usually you set saw depth to cut wood but leave the bottom skin, then glue your new wood to the skin, that way it's protected underneath. I doubt much water will touch the underside of your floors, though and it should be good for 10+ years. It looks awesome!

[NormanXanders]

Your work looks good. I think destroyers right though. Usually you set saw depth to cut wood but leave the bottom skin, then glue your new wood to the skin, that way it's protected underneath. I doubt much water will touch the underside of your floors, though and it should be good for 10+ years. It looks awesome!

The new plywood i installed was coated in two coats of resin and glass, the top side was coated in three coats of resin and two layers of chop glass. The bottom skin was cracked in so many places I opted to just remove the whole thing and left a two inch edge to reattach the new floor to.....it worked out quite well....

[awthacker]

Okay, sounds like your good to go for the life of the boat then. Nice job!

[NormanXanders]

Got more done to the forward seating areas and the under console storage, and the storage under the bow area....

[NormanXanders]

Just have sanding left and gel-coat

[NormanXanders]

What do you think....

[bksah2]

Norman GREAT Job on opening up the bow I had plans to do the same a fews years back accept i was going to open the whole bow and make it into a bowrider i just did not have the guts to do it.:nice:

[nymack66]

Norman GREAT Job on opening up the bow I had plans to do the same a fews years back accept i was going to open the whole bow and make it into a bowrider i just did not have the guts to do it.:nice:
I will go postal on mine someday also with a chainsaw, I will make it a bowrider with semi surround seating and storage locker below the seats is my plan.....My buddy went back to the Ukraine so no Beers and borsch so no work if you know what I mean :beer:

[nymack66]

What do you think....
Awesome work not to mention your progress speed...

[NormanXanders]

Here are some more pics....

[NormanXanders]

More pics of work done to boat..

[NormanXanders]

Some more to look at...

[NormanXanders]

All done other than adding the seat cushions....

[NormanXanders]

see what you think...I just have minor things to reattach and all is done..

[NormanXanders]

Here is how it turned out...


Norman GREAT Job on opening up the bow I had plans to do the same a fews years back accept i was going to open the whole bow and make it into a bowrider i just did not have the guts to do it.:nice:

[macojoe]

looks great! you do good work!!

[msbhammer]

Vary interesting. Great work.

[NormanXanders]

She sure loves the salt water of Homosassa...

[cterrebonne]

Wow... Awesome work. I like that tower. Ever thought about putting a station up there?

[NormanXanders]

I thought about it, there is another section that goes on top of the tower, it locks into it but its just a rail to keep you from falling off, the kids like using the top to jump in the water from....

[NormanXanders]

Thanks...It was alot of work....on another note...the fiberglass covers that slide into one another that used to cover the cuddy cabin are in tremendous shape, anyone need them for their boat? I will take pictures and post tomorrow...

[reelapeelin]

Thanks...It was alot of work....on another note...the fiberglass covers that slide into one another that used to cover the cuddy cabin are in tremendous shape, anyone need them for their boat? I will take pictures and post tomorrow...

Yeah...pic that slider when you can...somebody's always looking for one of those...put it here and ya might wanna put it in Classifieds as well...

You have really made the most unique V20 on this forum..what a great layout...I like the fact you left a big casting deck forward and the seats make easy step up access gettin up there...

Great job, Norman and you sure are in line for the "Geeter Done'' award...:clap:

[NormanXanders]

Yeah...pic that slider when you can...somebody's always looking for one of those...put it here and ya might wanna put it in Classifieds as well...

You have really made the most unique V20 on this forum..what a great layout...I like the fact you left a big casting deck forward and the seats make easy step up access gettin up there...

Great job, Norman and you sure are in line for the "Geeter Done'' award...:clap:

Thanks for the remarks, its been quite an experience that I have enjoyed.

[Kracker Jack]

beautiful job on the boat!!!! i'd love to have a tower like that!!!!! florida has some really good deals on hardtops and ttops.

[reelapeelin]

Thanks for the remarks, its been quite an experience that I have enjoyed.

Hope one of the folks asking comes along and grabs that hatch lid...it looks like a good one...

[NormanXanders]

Never heard anything about the hatch yet....No biggie...its not going anywhere...

[RidgeRunner]

How in the heck did I miss this one. I am in Lakeland, FL. I boat Homasassa a lot. I am sure I will be seeing you on the water soon..
Good work.
:beer:

[NormanXanders]

That is just way too cool.... I'm in North Lakeland.... Just came back from homosassa this weekend from scalloping.... Limited out everyday in two hours....

[RidgeRunner]

I posted over in the Fishing section about Steinahatchee Scalloping. I have a good friend that lives in Homasassa and he tells me they are plentiful. Sending you a PM.