replacing floor

Discussion in 'Restoration Projects & Questions' started by Pat Colvin, Oct 7, 2016.

  1. Pat Colvin

    Pat Colvin Hydrodyner

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    Sep 20, 2016
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    51
    Boat Model and Year:
    it is a Hydrodyne but not sure what year just boug
    hello i am now starting to remove the floor on my Hydrodyne and think it may have been replaced before but poorly. The fiberglass covering the deck was solid when i cut through it the plywood was soaked but solid, the stringers may be original made of 2 inch boards but totally rotten. the flotation foam was both solid and as soft as a wet spunge. I am moving on with removing the floor, there does not seem to be anything under the foam but the fiberglass hull not sure if that is right or not? I have not cleared over the keel yet but i will reinforce it and make sure it has a water tight seal. There is not much room to work under the motor well and i do not plan on lifting the top deck so any suggestions on how to cut out the last few feet as the larger power tools will not fit? Before i go to far i will winterize the motor remove it for the winter and start on the transom, becse the outer skin has two large rips in it i will cut the skin out and replace the transom from the outside, has any one done this, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, ty take care. IMG-20160930-00980.jpg
     

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  2. jim

    jim Hydrodyne 18 Specialist

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
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    2,321
    Location:
    FL
    Boat Model and Year:
    77 Dyne 18 I/O converted to Outboard
    "The fiberglass covering the deck was solid when i cut through it the plywood was soaked but solid, the stringers may be original made of 2 inch boards but totally rotten. the flotation foam was both solid and as soft as a wet sponge." Do not replace the foam. The newer boats did not have it.


    "I am moving on with removing the floor, there does not seem to be anything under the foam but the fiberglass hull not sure if that is right or not." That is right.


    "because the outer skin has two large rips in it i will cut the skin out and replace the transom from the outside, has any one done this, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, ty take care." It has been done, but I would not do that. The outer skin is part of the load bearing structure. I would replace it from the inside, even if I had to cut the gunwale to get the rear deck off. Some are very opposed to cutting the rear deck for cosmetic reasons.

    jim
     
  3. Pat Colvin

    Pat Colvin Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2016
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    Boat Model and Year:
    it is a Hydrodyne but not sure what year just boug
    Thanks Jim, i am undecided on which way to replace the transom, your right the proper way is to go thought the inside and since room is a factor cutting or removing the deck would be the way to go once i get the floor out i will look at that for sure. thank you for the help
     
  4. kevinb

    kevinb Elite Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2006
    Messages:
    459
    Location:
    Brookfield, WI
    Boat Model and Year:
    1985 HD 20' I/O 350 (Yep I/O Boat #2 of maybe7?)
    Ski Team:
    NA
    Hey pat:

    On the media section there is a video of twinriggs transom replacement by Tom Miller, and in the restoration section, Mark Bano's HD 18 and TJ's 18 will give you some Ideas. X2 with what Jim stated, I would take the topdeck off (or a section of it) before trying to repare a transom by cutting it out through the hull. Just my humble opinion.
     
  5. tj309

    tj309 Composite Specialist

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2010
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    399
    Location:
    LA (lower Alabama)
    Boat Model and Year:
    1972 18' Hydrodyne
    Ski Team:
    Former Hodag Water shows
    I cannot think of a way to replace the transom without removing the deck or at least the aft portion. The fiberglass shell that makes up the hull is about 3/16" thick and a very important part of the structural integrity of the transom and deck. If you are opposed to the idea of removing the deck consider removing the aft half. When replaced it should spread the loads and will make transom replacement much easier.
     
  6. kevinb

    kevinb Elite Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2006
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    459
    Location:
    Brookfield, WI
    Boat Model and Year:
    1985 HD 20' I/O 350 (Yep I/O Boat #2 of maybe7?)
    Ski Team:
    NA
    XX2 with TJ and Jim, please do not try and replace the transom by cutting through the hull from the outside. All the strength that is derived with the mold layup of the strands of Roven and nondirectional fiberglass will be lost if you do this. Come from the inside and take the top deck off if you need to.
     
  7. Pat Colvin

    Pat Colvin Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2016
    Messages:
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    Boat Model and Year:
    it is a Hydrodyne but not sure what year just boug
    i am convinced replacing it from the inside is the way to go, i may take it to a shop to get the transom done as i am disabled and this may be to hard on my body and i really do not want to cut the deck or remove it unless that is the last option, i am doing good on the floor section, whom ever did it before made a real mess, looks liked they poured a pot of resin over the skeg area and over the drain so i will need to grind that all off. They did cover the stringers with fiberglass but some how they got very wet and are total rot so i will clean up the hull replace the stringers, floor and make sure they are all sealed and fiberglassed properly. thank you all so much for the help , means the world to me to get this right the first and only time.
     
  8. ski38off

    ski38off Photo of the Month

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    Boat Model and Year:
    1976 18', 200 hp, and 1977 18' 150 hp twin rig
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    Lake Shelby Skiers
    Try to just cut the tops of the stringers and leave the fiberglass sides. Dig out the rotten wood. Fill the voids with Seacast or a similar product made for just such an adventure. Replacing stringers is a pretty labor intensive project. Filling an existing cavity is much easier. If you want to make a light and bullet proof floor, use 3/4" Divinicell foam and glass both sides with unidirectional glass. it will never rot and be extremely strong. I have done (2) 18' dynes this way and saved considerable weight.
     
  9. kevinb

    kevinb Elite Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2006
    Messages:
    459
    Location:
    Brookfield, WI
    Boat Model and Year:
    1985 HD 20' I/O 350 (Yep I/O Boat #2 of maybe7?)
    Ski Team:
    NA
    Hey Pat:

    Regarding the floor stringers and adding to the comments from ski38off, The stringers that run longitudional to the hull (north to south for lack of a better expression for the 18 and 20) are not structural for the hull, just to get a level sub floor. The real structure for these hulls is the balsa core beneath the stringers and you do not want to jeprodize the layer beneath the stringers if still good). Here is a link to the photo I took after the bad wood was removed with the floor stringer glass-castings in place.

    https://get.google.com/albumarchive.../AF1QipPR7wcvCCsaySF7i6Z3fjiu2Yhqx8xtjJVe_zgk

    I did the same thing that 38off explained by cutting the top of the fiberglass stringer boxes around the stringers and removed the bad material (I like to call it worm dirt) and thought some pics might help. I agree that a composite (non-wood) would be a more perminant choice for restoring. I store my boat dry in doors and do not anticipate another restoration in my ownership by using the original wood materials but you might consider the composite materials for their weight and zero-rot characteristics. Good stuff IMO.

    Here is a link to the whole process for the 1985 resto if you are interested. I had my transom replaced by a shop that had a mercury certified master machanic at the time. It was one of the coldest winters in my life during 2013-14 here in Wisconsin when I was trying to get the 1885 straightened out. It is also an I/O so wanted to make sure everything lined up correctly regarding the motor and out-drive.

    http://www.hydrodyners.com/forum/index.php?threads/1985-hydrodyne-20-i-o-restoration.1673/

    Best regards and keep the community informed.

    Kevin-
     
  10. Pat Colvin

    Pat Colvin Hydrodyner

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2016
    Messages:
    51
    Boat Model and Year:
    it is a Hydrodyne but not sure what year just boug
    the Divinicell, is that sheet foam for marine applications? thank you for the reply
     

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