Hey folks,

I just picked up a 90 31ft Scarab Excel. Runs great etc etc... just a few odds and ends to fix.

My big question is. The deck in the cabin needs to be replaced. I was in it today and noticed that it was getting pretty soft the more i walked on it. So I yanked the carpet and started checking things out.
Looks to be one piece 6-7 ft long I guess. I noticed half of it was pretty soggy length wise and the other was solid. I've heard people mention that sometimes the drain holes get plugged. So i need to check that out also.

In any case I decided to make the plunge and cut some holes. And yes the plywood needs to be replaced for sure. The stingers are solid as a rock. best I can tell, the glass on them must be 1/4 inch think at least. So unless their is something else to worry about I'm thinking just replacing the decking and calling it good.

The questions I have are.

Do I need to worry about bracing since I'm not touching the stringers?? and only swapping out the deck in the cabin?

Can I get away with using exterior plywood and soaking it with epoxy?

Should I coat both sides with fiberglass?

I'm new to working with fiberglass, but I've built a few houses. So I have some experience with tools etc....

From what I understand, you must not glue the deck down at all. it basically rests on the stringers and then a thin layer goes around the outside?

Thanks in advance for any info, or if anyone has some awesome links that explain the process that would be great.

-Sceptre155

I woud check the stringers again...

Whats the best way to test them?? Drill some test holes?

NO,,,,cut the floor and clean the mess up . Then take a small hammer and tap along the stringer's to sound proof them ,,u can tell if it sounds bad !!!

Also ,for the floor i would get a plastic core and put it in ,,80 bucks for the sheet and glass on both sides ,will never rot again and safes weight. Then putty on the stringer's and lay it down ,,but some concrete blocks on it to level it out and press into the putty, then a day later just apply a strip of 6 inch glass tape along the edges and u be done .
Paint ,carpet ,,,whatever u want.

Daredevil,

Out of curoisity, what type of plastic?

Thanks

I would guess he is talking about divinicell or the likes. I would like to know where you can get a sheet of it for $80 bucks...

Thanks for the info guys. I haven't heard of the plstic coreplywood before. I'll have to do some checking. I'm itching to get on the water after the awesome weekend we had up north.

The bottom of the deck I'm pulling up doesn't have anything on it. Was it built like this in the factory? or has someone already been there done that on the boat? Seems like a bad idea to leave raw wood exposed.

How much of a gap should I leave around the edge of the deck? I was thinking 1/4 inch with a beveled edge.

What kind of putty should I put between the deck and stringers?

Any info on the Deck spacing?

Thanks in advance

I call it plasticore,,,, www.fiberglassservices.com


And u need to leave about 2/8 of an inch around it .

The stuff u put on the stringer is called fiberglass putty !!!!

The way i do it ,,is cut out the new sheet for the floor ,,,glass the bottom side of it , make shoer it fits perfect ,then take it out and place putty on the stringers, put floor in ,screw down on to the stringers with drywall screws, let sit over night.
Place weight on top to even it out nice.
Like i said let sit over night, then take screws back out and glass in with a 6 inch tape along the side ,,,before again putty the 2/8 inch in on the sides ( around it ),,,glass right over ( wet on wet ),,let sit until hardened,,then cut out 1 complete piece of glass to cover floor all the way to the edges and glass in ,,,,let sit over night.
Grind everything smooth and WUALLA ,,,DONE !!!!

No either paint with Gel or place carpet on top of floor !!!