Floor Replacement in 84 Entertainer

[checkmate stacey]

Okay so I've gotten all the floor out and I'm getting reaady to cut the plywood for fit up/reinstallation. One thing I noted when I removed the floor/stringers and everything else was that it appeared the mfr used a puddy to set the stringers in prior to glassing them in- poorly I might add.

My question is was the puddy simply for adjustment? When doing similar restorations, are others using this puddy in rebuilds? I was thinking to block it up then mix epoxy with filler and use in place of puddy. Probably more expensive but I think it would achieve the same result.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[Sam I am]

The experts will be sounding off shortly, but since I just got the floor out of my Starliner I'll chime in.

The putty the manufacturer used to seat and bond the stringers against the hull was bondo/DBF. It worked, but is not ideal. I'll be using epoxy and Cabosil, like a lot of the others on this form, when i replace the stringers. so...you're on the right track. Check out the restore section. There is an entire section devoted to Fiberglass and resins. You'll find the info you're looking for there. You'll also find a lot of pics and they'll be very useful as well. Post some pics of your restore.

 

[Rob B]

Sam is correct either Cabosil and resin or hull and deck putty to bond the stringers plus fill in where the floor meets the hull.

 

[Madtown]

I used epoxy and Cabosil & also the pre-mixed West Six10 to bond items in my boat. Worked great.