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Roanoke Rapids Fan · Sergeant Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 59

I just bought an old fiberglass motor boat built in 1970. The plant closed in 70 and there is zero info. around. What I want to do is put in a new floor. It is seventeen feet long and built like a tank. It has a mercruiser that runs great. Does anyone know of a restoration site that consentrates on wooden floors in fiberglass boats. I would like to do it right with flotation below it and good strength for seats

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

THE CURE · General Secretary Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 2292

This should be right down doomsters line.
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doomster · Forum General Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 1676

Wood floors were a thing in the older style boats, now a days folks run from them, but they aren't bad if you keep it up and maintain it like it should be. Shoot me the mfg, model number, VIN #, and anything you might have on it. Was it one of the solid plywood floors covered with a vinyl or carpet or was it a style like a hard wood floor with slots in the middle for drainage?? Adding in foam floatation can be done, BUT...don't forget about a drainage system so water will channel to the back of the boat to the bilge area. You don't want water to sit in any one area and be absorbed, it just adds weight and mildew/mold will start as well. While you have the floor up it will be a good time to check the stringers and transom as well. I had to pass a hell of a deal up this past fall on an all wood boat, a chris craft, not enough time to tackle it as a project and the cost was going to be about $40K when it was finished....so I changed my mind real quick. I already have two that cost me thru the wazoo to operate and another one was going to be way much. I can point you to some guys that do floors, they don't have a website, but they do good work, it just depends on what you want to go back with. Let me know............if its just a basic plywood style floor you want to throw some marine carpet over and bolt some seats into, one weekend we can probably knock that out, its not that big of a chore. Pics would be awesome also.
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doomster · Forum General Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 1676

Here is a few forums I have used for fab work...

boatdesign.net
fiberglast.com
glen-l.com

screamandfly.com & offshoreonly.com are more into performance stuff, but you might can pick up some knowledge there, there is a bunch of older guys on there that were around in that time frame and I bet they can probably even put you on any info you need about the boat. Those guys are into it hard, some of them buy old boat molds and all.
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doomster · Forum General Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 1676

RoRapFan.....did you find what you were looking by chance?
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