Add Support
- Add Support When noticing a soft spot on your boat, you need to add more support to the structure to reinforce it as much as possible. ...
- Protect Yourself Whenever working on a boat, especially when using epoxy, you should always wear gloves and mask. ...
- Do Not Mix the Materials Before Use One thing you need to remember is that you have to avoid mixing the repair materials, such as the hardener or the ...
- Buy Your Supplies Early Most people who fix the weak and soft spots of their boat on their own should buy their supplies early enough so that they are ...
- Cut Test Holes
How to repair a soft boat deck?
How to Repair a Soft Boat Deck. 1 Step 1. Tap the area around the soft spot with the butt-end of a screwdriver--a sharp sound is good, a hollow thud indicates a weak area. Mark the ... 2 Step 2. 3 Step 3. 4 Step 4. 5 Step 5. More items
How to fix a soft spot on a boat?
When noticing a soft spot on your boat, you need to add more support to the structure to reinforce it as much as possible. 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. 2. Protect Yourself
Do boats rot on the deck?
Boats rot from the inside out and the bottom up, so by the time the deck shows signs of rot (even just a little) there is much more below deck. Any boat with a soft spot on the deck should be considered a project boat and will take considerable time and money in addition to the purchase price before it can be considered seaworthy.
How do you fix a soft spot on a fiberglass pool table?
You can use a grease pencil to mark off the affected area. If the problem is due to fiberglass weakening, you’ll want to sand the affected area until the soft spot is noticeably lower than the surrounding area. In fact, in certain spots, you might sand all the way through the fiberglass.
How do you fix a soft spot on a boat floor?
If the problem is due to fiberglass weakening, you'll want to sand the affected area until the soft spot is noticeably lower than the surrounding area. In fact, in certain spots, you might sand all the way through the fiberglass.
What causes soft spots in boat floors?
Hi Jeff, Normally, a soft spot is caused when the foam beneath the fiberglass deck gets compressed. The fiberglass usually pops back into place but the foam remains compressed. Soft spots can be caused several ways. The most common is body weight being bounced up & down in the same spot.
How do you fix a soft spot on an aluminum boat floor?
0:228:54How To Fix A Rotten Soft Spot In Your Boat's Floor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWherever you have solid floors you may have to use a tool to cut with make sure you don't cut allMoreWherever you have solid floors you may have to use a tool to cut with make sure you don't cut all the way through the hole through the floor of the boat.
How do I strengthen my boat floor?
4:1723:35How to: Repair Fibreglass Boat Floor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI think gluing and filling filler in with our boat coat resin. See that that that's what I'd callMoreI think gluing and filling filler in with our boat coat resin. See that that that's what I'd call tomato sauce or a little bit thicker.
How do you fix soft spots on the floor?
3:0310:49How To Fill Hollow Spots Inside Vinyl Plank Flooring LVP Laminate And ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can actually go and cut this out attach this right here you can unscrew the top whenever we'reMoreYou can actually go and cut this out attach this right here you can unscrew the top whenever we're filling.
How do you fix a weak floor on a fiberglass boat?
Follow These Steps for a DIY Boat Floor RepairStep 1: Mark the Weak Area. ... Step 2: Apply Acetone to Surface. ... Step 3: Wax the Floor Hole Surface. ... Step 4: Pre-Cut the Fiberglass. ... Step 5: Color-Match the Gel Coat. ... Step 6: Mix the Gel Coat to Harden. ... Step 7: Allow the Fiberglass to Cure.
How do you repair a rotted boat floor?
2:138:28Cheap fix for a rotten boat floor (Part 1 of 2) Installing new plywoodYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd this plywood is all three quarter-inch pressure-treated. It's the boat the floor was reallyMoreAnd this plywood is all three quarter-inch pressure-treated. It's the boat the floor was really quite good it was just soft in one spot. The size of maybe twice the size of a cigarette package.
How do you check a soft spot on a boat?
Look around all deck penetrations, hatches, wells, center console,inspection plates, tank cover plate etc. Take small steps and put all your weight on on foot at a time. If you find one, keep probing around untill you get an idea as to size. Also check transom for rot on these older models.
What can I use for boat floor?
The 5 Best Types of Boat Flooring MaterialsWood. It goes without saying that wood has been the material of choice for boat and ship builders for thousands of years. ... Linoleum or Vinyl. ... Specialty Paints. ... Canvas. ... Carpeting.
Can you use regular plywood on boat floor?
Cold molded boats are made all the time with strips of regular plywood protected by layers of fiberglass. As long as you glass them properly they will never be exposed to moisture and should be fine. You can use exteriior plywood. The glues are the same as in marine ply.
How do I know if my boat floor is rotten?
If you have been around boats for a long time you will start to understand the correct "pitch" fiberglass should make when it is dry and solid and you tap on it. Good solid fiberglass makes a high pitched sound... If there is any rotten wood in there it will make a "thud" sound which is lower pitched.
How thick should plywood be on a boat floor?
3/4 would seem plenty on a boat that size, it's usually 1/2 or 3/4. I used 3/4 on the floor of my CC it's very solid and is what I would use on your project. Nidacore is nice until you need to screw something down. Coosa board is a much better alternative for a flooring material.
How do you tell if a boat has a soft spot?
Look around all deck penetrations, hatches, wells, center console,inspection plates, tank cover plate etc. Take small steps and put all your weight on on foot at a time. If you find one, keep probing around untill you get an idea as to size. Also check transom for rot on these older models.
What is boat carpet?
Marine carpets are carpets that are designed especially for boats. This is advisable for all types of boats owing to their specific properties. There is no other safer or more durable alternative to marine carpets. The boat will be less slippery and provide safer adventure.
What can I use for boat floor?
The 5 Best Types of Boat Flooring MaterialsWood. It goes without saying that wood has been the material of choice for boat and ship builders for thousands of years. ... Linoleum or Vinyl. ... Specialty Paints. ... Canvas. ... Carpeting.
How do you replace a floor in a fiberglass boat?
0:5730:33[EP3] Fibreglass Boat Floor Replacement + Fibreglass RepairsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDown you've got to sand it back with something aggressive otherwise it just won't adhere. So I gotMoreDown you've got to sand it back with something aggressive otherwise it just won't adhere. So I got unwaxed. And then a little bottle of wax. So all my first layers. Through every repair was unwaxed.
What to do if you have a soft spot on your boat?
When noticing a soft spot on your boat, you need to add more support to the structure to reinforce it as much as possible. 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.
Why do boats have soft spots?
A soft spot in your boat can make your life miserable on board. It requires you to fix it as soon as possible so that further damage doesn’t occur. Boats are usually affected when you use them actively, suffering numerous stresses on their hull. Sagging and hogging are very common conditions of a boat and they can also be cumulative.
How to fix delamination on fiberglass boat?
Fiberglass delamination can be fixed by drilling small holes into the fiberglass surface of your boat. You can inject the materials you want, such as resin or other fillers, and a west system that dries and becomes solid rock protecting the fiberglass surface of your boat.
What are the conditions of a boat?
Sagging and hogging are very common conditions of a boat and they can also be cumulative. Although boats are specifically designed and structured in such a way to withstand use and abuse, the skin of the boat might respond to stresses and forces, developing soft spots. These damages can easily be repaired. The process is not long – it will take you ...
How to use epoxy on a boat?
2. Protect Yourself. Whenever working on a boat, especially when using epoxy, you should always wear gloves and mask. You should also have long sleeves and safety glasses and work in a ventilated area so that you do not suffer any shortness of breath. 3. Do Not Mix the Materials Before Use.
Do you need to cut a test hole on a boat?
Cut Test Holes. Probably slicing your boat is not something you really want to consider and for good reason. However, in some cases, you will need to cut an inspection hole when you see soft spots on the boat’s fiberglass.
Can you mix resin and hardener?
One thing you need to remember is that you have to avoid mixing the repair materials, such as the hardener or the resin, until you begin the repair process. These materials dry very fast so, if you mix them, you should use them right away. In the case you have a large area to cover, you should mix the materials in small batches and use them in smaller areas.
Why are there soft spots on my boat?
One reason that soft spots in wooden boat floors have such bad reputations amongst boat owners is that they can be indicative of further degradation.
How to tell if boat floor is weak?
A soft spot in a boat floor can be surprisingly tricky to diagnose. We recommend tapping around the soft spot with the back-end of a screwdriver. If you hear a hollow sound, you’ll have an idea if there’s a weak area. When the sound becomes sharp and the material gives good feedback to the touch, you know that it’s stronger. You can use a grease pencil to mark off the affected area.
Can you salvage a soft spot in a boat?
That’s why it’s important to get an extra eye and investigate whether the soft spot is caused by rot that may be deeper into the boat than you know. If your soft spot is in fiberglass, however, it’s possible to salvage.
Can you use resin putty to fill holes?
If you’re going the putty route, you can fill the area with a resin-based putty until it’s slightly higher than the surrounding areas. Then you’ll need to give it ample time to cure, as per the instructions. This will allow you to sand down the putty, fill any remaining holes that may have occurred in the putty, and allow a new overnight cure—or as your putty’s instructions dictate.
Can you sand fiberglass?
If the problem is due to fiberglass weakening, you’ll want to sand the affected area until the soft spot is noticeably lower than the surrounding area. In fact, in certain spots, you might sand all the way through the fiberglass.
Can a soft spot in a boat floor be repaired?
A soft spot in the boat floor may seem like something innocent, but it requires immediate attention. Not only can a soft spot expand and pose a serious injury hazard to anyone on board, but it will be much easier to repair if it’s limited to a confined space.
Can you core damage around deck hardware?
2) If you core damage around the deck hardware, you should fix this before you re-bed the hardware. Again, not uncommon (I have this issue around one of my stanchions). And again I would recommend you look at Maine Sail's site and search the forums for details on how to do this. It is called "potting".
Is core repair rocket science?
Doing a core repair like what you describe isn't rocket science and doesn't require a whole lot in the way of esoteric tools or knowledge.
Does epoxy dry out balsa wood?
This, like most other "quick-fix" methods generally results in a pretty lousy repair. Epoxy does not adhere to wet core materials as a general rule and this type of repair doesn't really dry the core out. In most cases, the water has taken months to penetrate the balsa core, and unless the core has disintegrated almost completely, it will take a long time for it to yield up the water it has taken so long to absorb.
Can you replace a laminate core with epoxy?
Letting the epoxy saturate the area in this method will make replacing the core material when you do a proper repair job much more difficult. If you're going to fix this, please do it the right way and remove one side of the laminate, clear out the wet core material and then replace it and then glass in a new skin to replace what you removed.
Can epoxy be used to fix a rotted deck?
If your deck core isn't rotted away or wet, but just delaminated from the fiberglass skin- then just filling with epoxy will be a permanent fix, without any glassing.
Can you use acetone on balsa deck?
PLEASE keep in mind that acetone can SOFTEN and can potentially DESTROY any bonding you have left between the balsa and the glass skins. I have seen the results of both drill & fill and vacuum dried/filled decks. I can assure you it is a band-aid at best. If the boat was hand laid the resin usually just rides the kerfs but the acetone has already softened the bond so you really get...well .. a high tech solution that really solves little... You can almost always excavate and do it right in less time. You still have to fix all your drill holes anyway so paint or gelcoat are going to happen either way. I often wonder if any of these yards charging an arm & leg for these "solutions" ever have a cut away section of deck they can show a customer? I know why they don't...
soft area starboard fore deck
Soft Foredeck Does anyone know if there is wood or foam in between the glass in the fore deck construction over the v berth ? foam ? balsam? I also have a small soft fore deck area on the starboard side of my O'day 25. Was planning on drilling a series of holes and...
2.5 CFM Vacuum Pump
Amazing deals on this 2.5Cfm Vacuum Pump at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
John Satazahn, Seattle WA
"I installed it my Twin diesel trawler transom, a lot of water came out and I passed the moisture survey"
Injectadeck
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More
