Replacing floors

**2manymustangs** · 03-23-2015, 05:20 AM

Originally Posted by 77nordic

I was talking about the plywood on top of the stringers that makes up the flooring, I could use the space between the stringers as storage or as a step down to walk around on. I'm really interested in polishing the resin to see the wood flooring clearly

Sorry, I thought you were talking about a hull where the wood flooring is glassed directly to the bottom of the hull. If this is a raised floor and is soft that should be an easy fix...

**77nordic** · 03-23-2015, 03:30 PM

This is the raised plywood floor that sits on top of the stringers. Is it something I should do myself or is it detailed enough that I should refer to a shop? Honestly hoping to get it done before easter to use it for a ymca kids camp.

**2manymustangs** · 03-23-2015, 06:34 PM

you can do it BUT getting it done by easter would be tough I think...

the real good looking wood floors you see in the flatties/hydros are more than just wood with poly resin on them, they have glass cloth/mat and resin over the wood. just resin wont be strong and have the showy look.

this is why i think doing this before easter is agressive, getting the wood cut/installed and then the glass work/sanding-grinding/long boarding/sanding/flow coat/buffing... its something you can do but it takes alot of time for pro's to do...

also the professionals are using clears over the poly resin that can withstand the U.V. rays... UNcoated poly resin will yellow over time...

**77nordic** · 03-23-2015, 08:30 PM

That does help, so I think I'm going to carpet it and I'll make polished wood hatch covers for the floor hatches. Do I need to remove the engine to replace the flooring?

**2manymustangs** · 03-24-2015, 05:30 AM

I think to do a good job you are going to have to gut the inside, I would assume the engine mounts and other interior pieces have the raised floor sandwiched to the stringers/hull...

Any pics of the interior???

I wouldn't give up on the idea of replacing the floors but I think your going to have to give yourself at least a few months, maybe a winter project???

It's hard to believe when you look at some of the balsa and wood floors in the boats but it essentially has a THICK layer of glass/resin over the wood and that has to give MUCHO strength to a flat or hydro...

A well done floor has virtually no sign of having a thick layer of glass over the wood floor... Your boat may not need that kind of strength but if you want a slick / good looking floor that will not have checks/cracks all through the resin it's going to have to have a substantial amount of glass buried in there...

Also, just resin alone with no urethane clear over the poly resin will start to turn yellow in a matter of years if it is left in the sun for very long... The resin alone without the glass is not very strong, like a cement driveway/street without steel in it, it will crack up... Add the fiberglass and it becomes some tough shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiat...