resin injection question

[Idlewildman]

I have an 87 170 osprey that has a soft floor.  The soft area is centered around the rear deck lid over the bilge pump. i would say the area is 3'x2'. Do you think injecting thickened resin into the core would work in an area that large? the rest of the floor and trnsom are solid, I just trying to go with the easiest and cost effective solution.

[RickK]

Some members have done this with good success - here's some examples
http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=10787.msg105497#msg105497

http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=10525.msg120450#msg120450

http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=7453.msg55472#msg55472

[Idlewildman]

As far as materials.... Should I use a polyester epoxy resin with a cabosol added to it to thicken? I'm guessing a West 105 mixed with 206 (5:1 ratio) and add 404 to thicken? Or do I even need the 404 filler??? Sorry but I have no experience with fiberglass and don't want to screw this up. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. THANKS!

[RickK]

I would use epoxy and I think all of the examples above were epoxy.  If you read through in detail you'll see that some used un-thickened resin in some areas and needed thickened in others. They used syringes and also caulking tubes. You can use cabosil, wood flour and several other things.  Click on the Gulfstream banner above and browse what he has to offer in fillers and applicators.
Joel will be around to offer his advice.

[Shine]

I would use neat (not thickened) epoxy for this in order to get as much saturation as possible.

I would like to see someone try it using a vacuum to pull the resin through 

[wingtime]

I have a 87 170 with some soft floor spots as well.  Seems to have been caused by unbeaded screws in the console that allowed water intrusion into the deck.  I plan on injecting my deck as well.  You have to do some test drilling to determine if you need to use thickened epoxy or not.  Odd are you will find the plywood is gone in that area so you will need to thicken it.  I suggest either wood flour or milled fibers since they ADD to the strength of the epoxy. (I personally prefer the milled fibers).  Make sure you put some sort of a stop on your drill bit so you don't drill thru the lower layer of fiberglass!  If you drill thru then the epoxy will just flow into the bilge.  Vacuum to pull the resin in sounds good but I believe it will cause the top layer of glass to bow down.