Floor questions and a "what is it?"

[BA17]

The T-top was pulled out of the floor on the starboard side of the boat. The port side still seems to be fastened tightly to the floor. I wonder if this could some how be tied to the reason I have a "hole" in the hull? I will put up some pics of the floor and the resulting damage to the console. Take a look and let me know the best way to fix the floor? Slightly behind the crack in the floor is a soft spot that I was planning on fixing this winter. Should I cut the floor out from near the front fish box to some point behind the soft spot on the starboard side and replace it? I assume that the T-top was screwed into the stringer so I guess that will need to be repaired also. I tried to find some pics of floors being replaced and/or repaired but just couldn't find very many. Seems like the floor repair gets no love. I also figured out that there is water between the port stringer and the side of the boat. I guess the drain got plugged during re-do? I am about to go try to see if I can unplug it. I was concerned that the stringer on that side would be full of water so I drilled a hole in it. The foam in stringer is dry. Beside the stringer is a lower flat spot that is spongy and completely saturated. I don't know what it is or why its there. I drilled a hole in it and there is wood that is completely saturated. Both sides of the bilge have the same issue with this spongy area. Let me know what I'm dealing with and how to fix. Thanks. Any pics will be a huge help.

Pic 1


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Pic 8

[Grneyedloki]

The crack in pic 6 down is not a good one. The t-top pulled out because of a wet / failed floor. If the deck hasnt been redone then the original floor was 3x3 squares. If you going to be fixing one section you might as well redo the entire floor. Or else your just band-aiding the issue. What year is the boat?

[BA17]

The boat is a 1974.

[BA17]

I agree, pic 6 and on is a concern. What is that? Pic 8 is a pic of what I thought was a hole drilled in the stringer (the dry foam) and what looked like engine mounting blocks for an inboard/outboard(wet wood), which was even more confusing. I have been looking through all of the rebuild posts I could find and did not see this lower "flat stringer". Most pics I found with the floor removed did no show this lower stinger. I don't think this boat was ever an io/ob. When I had it redone there was the usual splash well that the outboards had.

[BA17]

One thing I don't think I made clear, the port side looks just like the starboard side in pics 6-8. The port side looks identical. The stringer is dry but the lower flat spot is spongy and soaking wet.

[Grneyedloki]

Well from what i know that is not a stringer. Mine is also a 74. Looks like your 74 used to be an i/o. Check ou the link. Pic 4 has what appear the be the same wood pieces.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boats-sa...t-reduced.html

These boats have foam filled fiberglass stringers. So its not a stringer. I dont see any reason you cant eliminate the piece. Its not structural.

[Grneyedloki]

Besides it looks like your going to have the deck off anyway. You can see more of it then

[Capt Chuck]

Brian

I think maybe previous I/O also. The running rust coming from within signals metal? My '78 had those shitty ole battery boxes back there that rotted.
No stringer just glassed up against them. Check out the picture looking forward. You can see them.
I don't think your Hull Number back in '74 would signify the type either.
Let me know what you discover when you start digging

[FLexpat]

The engine beds on my '76 I/O were closer to the centerline than that. They extended about 6" inward from the first step towards the centerline. You can see where I cut them out. The outboard edge was about where yours start. On the starboard side there is a wooden pad used for mounting the trim motor - not the same as what you have but looks like it is cut at the same angle and in the same position relative to the keel.

[BA17]

Thanks guys for the help. I guess I'm gonna take it out. This simple floor repair is turning into a major project. I think I'm going to take the floor out, cut out the fish box, remove 40 years of wires, dig into the hull on the front side, switch the wheel and throttles, and probably 100 things I have not even figured out yet. I'm really not looking forward to taking out the console. Anyone got any suggestions on what to put back down for the deck? Seems like the options are endless. If any one has any pics of their floor replacements in process I would appreciate it.