Question on 23 floor project

[Entourage]

When i cut my floor out on my 23 Sceptre, the edges of the floor on each side of the boat are real flimsy. The person that is doing the glassing with me recommends that i give that some support, before we put the new floor in. Has this been a problem for anyone else doing a 23 floor project. If so what are some suggestions?

[FELLOW-SHIP]

It seems from your pictures that your intention is to raise the deck and place the floor above the previous deck resting on the top of your approx. 4” rim. If that is your intentions than you will be raising the stringers to support the new deck and glassing the new deck into the gunnels and resting on top of that 4” rim. If this is your plan you should be ok. But if you are going to flush mount the new deck to that 4” rim (not raising the deck height) you could get stress cracks from weight on the deck and from the pounding of waves that will torque your hull and probably your deck in ocean conditions. So if you flush mount the new deck additional support under the 4” rim that crosses 2 -3” past the edge so the new deck can also rest on it would help. PLUS the flush glassing process of the old and new deck will need to be done like you would do if you were repairing a hole in your hull by flaring out the two edges and building it up with glass work to fuse them together.


FellowShip

Just for the Grins

[Entourage]

Hey thanks alot for the info, i am flush mounting the deck. Good point on the stress cracking, any suggestion of what i can use to reinforce the 4 inch lip. What type and size of wood should i use? Thanks

[FELLOW-SHIP]

If the remaining balsa lamination is still good on your 4” rim you could go with approx 6” wide by ½ to ¾ thick plywood that you epoxy under the 4” rim with 3” supporting the old deck and 3” supporting the new deck. You would need to coat the wood first with epoxy allowing it to soak into the wood first I would also do that to the edges of the balsa wood on your 4” rim. I would also try to add one layer of glass under there as well. If you use thickened epoxy it should stick even though you will be fighting gravity under there. Make sure you ruff up and then clean up with acetone the bottom of that 4” rim before you start trying to epoxy anything down there.


FellowShip

Just for the Grins

[Entourage]

Thanks for the info everyone i appreciate it. This is what i did today the 4 inch rim was in pretty touch shape so i couldn't do much with it, when i squeeze the glass on both sides water just seeps out of the wood. I used 2x6 running up with some hull and deck putty on the base and countersunk screws on the top. I will wait until this is cured and throw some cloth on the bottom of the 2x6's covering the base where the putty is located for more strength. Any feedback from you guys will help Thanks. Mike

[FELLOW-SHIP]

If the balsa lamination is soggy and rotten I would remove the balsa lamination and replace it with ½ plywood that has been coated with epoxy. You could probably remove the soggy balsa with a electric chain saw and not damage the top or bottom glass to badly. Looking at your new pictures it does not seem like you soaked the new wood with epoxy before you put it into place. How can you prevent that new wood from rotting and soaking in water if you didn’t protect it first???



FellowShip

Just for the Grins

[Entourage]

Good point, The side planks i put a layer of resin on the back side. The putty i used in the picture was just for a little more strength. The plain wood that you see in the picture i still have to glass over this week weather permitting. Thanks for the feedback.

[1bayouboy]

I was hoping you were going to say that.

[Entourage]

You guys really know your stuff, Thanks for Classicseacraft.