Swiftcraft Sea Otter new floor

Josha79 · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:19 pm Post subject: Swiftcraft Sea Otter new floor

Finally got a couple of hours to spend on the new boat. Since I bought it I thought the floor was a little soft in spots, so I made the decision to tackle the job myself. Today I got out the saw and started cutting. I've got the front half out at the moment and the timber looks pretty good for the age of the boat. I can't see any obvious rot. The stringers are solid and still have plenty of life left in them. The reason the floor felt soft is the ply is only 8mm thick.

I was going to use 18mm marine ply but at $100 a sheet I'm a little hesitant. A mate from work suggested using 18mm form ply, at $32 a sheet it looks like a more attractive option. It has a water-resistant layer that I'm thinking of laying face down and then glassing over the whole lot once it's laid.

Has anyone used formply on their boats? I'm sure someone has. 18mm ply should give my floor a nice solid feel to it as well. I'm also throwing the idea of filling it with foam as well. Ant thoughts?

Josha79 · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:36 am Post subject:

Still have a bit to go, remove the rear half, clean up all the edges. Prep for a new deck, glass the deck etc.

Anyway, a couple progress pics. We all love them.

Still gotta get under the seats and cut around the transom and bilge well, not looking forward to that.

carplips · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:03 am Post subject: transom

Hi Josh

going ok , just a question , how is your transom , i can see the checker plate thats been on the inside of the engine mount bolts. Was that to stop the bolts pulling through ?

regs carpy
_________________
If God wanted you to know everything , he would have made you a boat repairer.

devilfromtas · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 5:51 pm Post subject:

Hi Josh, you have a good project on your hands. Good to see Carpy has showed some interest, he is the man that can help you with any questions.

Josha79 · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:53 am Post subject:

Picked-up some 18mm form ply yesterday. Tonight I'll get a cutting attachment for my grinder and I can remove the rest of the old floor.

Carpy - The transom feels fine. I tested it before I removed the old 50hp Suzuki. The ally is there from the old owner. But I will be checking it again with the floor out.

carplips · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject: Re:

Josha79 · Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 8:24 am Post subject:

OK guys, got some more work done yesterday. Took out the rest of the floor. Looked at the transom and decided to see what was underneath the aluminium plate work that someone had put on there. Low and behold, dodgyness had taken it's toll. I took off the cover to find someone had cut down the transom to fit a 15" short shaft at some stage. THEN some bright spark had wanted to fit a 20" back to it and made this stupid alloy plate arrangement and left it hollow. Well, the pics will speak for themselves.

Dinner bell rang, tools down for today.

firecat150hp · Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:36 am Post subject:

Well there you go Josh.
You may or may not have given the transom a second thought should Carpy not of mentioned it but the good thing is.."You know now".
Was an easy separation too by the photos.

A question regards the 18mm 'form ply' Yes this is reasonably 'high end' ply and makes for a great 'lay up' surface and that point alone worries me that you may be thinking of using it for the floor.
"Nothing will 'stick,laminate,glue,bond or any other words likely to go with 'fibre glassing'" ("correct me should I spew crap please")
Hope all goes well with the little 'Otter'.....Many many many years ago Port Philip was "dominated" by just that.... 'Swift craft' - Dominator's,Seagulls and "Otters"

Josha79 · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:25 am Post subject:

Current update, all too familiar with jobs like this.

A Swiftcraft Sea Runner popped up for sale recently for $2850, well, I couldn't resist. So this project has been given to a mate from work for himself and his old man to complete while I go fishing in my new boat.

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firecat150hp · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:59 pm Post subject:

Looks neat as Josh.

Hope it's a great boat for you.
Almost,nearly,just about,not quite bought a brand newbie years ago.
Wish I had as I then got a 'New rip off' Stedgy with a 'chip board floor'.
"Jail time is what they got."

Regards Steve.