How do you find a soft spot on a boat?
3 min read
Asked by: Jon Patilla
A soft spot in a boat floor can be surprisingly tricky to diagnose. We recommend tapping around the soft spot with the back-end of a screwdriver. If you hear a hollow sound, you’ll have an idea if there’s a weak area.
How does a boat get soft spots?
Most soft spots come from water intrusion between the glass. The foam absorbs the water and holds it, cold freezes the water expanding it and tearing the glass from the foam.
How do you find your soft spot?
Look around all deck penetrations, hatches, wells, center console,inspection plates, tank cover plate etc. Take small steps and put all your weight on on foot at a time. If you find one, keep probing around untill you get an idea as to size.
How do you repair a soft spot in the deck of a boat?
Into any structure on the boat a deck is a structural repair I like to use epoxy resin versus polyester resin you're going to get a much stronger repair.
What do soft spots on a boat deck mean?
It apears the soft spots are between the top fiberglass deck and the bottom side of the floor that meets the stringers. Basically saying the material between the fiberglass top and the bottom side of the deck is worn away. Some spots are worse than others.
How do you check a soft spot on a fiberglass boat?
Open and there is matter of fact you even have dirt and then you can see how dry the layup. Is see how the fiberglass strands have no resonant and whatsoever.
How do I know if my boat has a soft floor?
A soft spot in a boat floor can be surprisingly tricky to diagnose. We recommend tapping around the soft spot with the back-end of a screwdriver. If you hear a hollow sound, you’ll have an idea if there’s a weak area.
How do you repair rotted floor in a boat?
Down quite a bit before cutting the floor with the circular. Saw my main concern was to make sure we had enough space between the surface of the floor. And the top of the solid core hull.
How do you strengthen a fiberglass boat floor?
Put our epoxy fill down with blue and fill it in filler feels. So nice thick creamy peanut butter with we're blaster or we put a coat of resin on them to the side of our ply.
Do fiberglass boats rot?
How Long Do Fiberglass Boats Typically last? Fiberglass boats can be sound and seaworthy for up to fifty years or more. Fiberglass is very durable, and with proper maintenance and care, fiberglass boats can last for many decades. Fiberglass itself will not break down but instead will break down due to outside factors.
How do you fix soft spots on fiberglass boat?
Follow These Steps for a DIY Boat Floor Repair
- Step 1: Mark the Weak Area. …
- Step 2: Apply Acetone to Surface. …
- Step 3: Wax the Floor Hole Surface. …
- Step 4: Pre-Cut the Fiberglass. …
- Step 5: Color-Match the Gel Coat. …
- Step 6: Mix the Gel Coat to Harden. …
- Step 7: Allow the Fiberglass to Cure.
How do you check for rot in a fiberglass boat?
You want to put a wrench ratchet. Something on there and you want to turn these bolts and if you're putting pressure on it and it's free spinning then you know that the stringer is rotted.
