rebuild question

[scott_gunn]

My boat is an 87 Osprey 200 (19'6").  The deck seems fine (there are some spider cracks) and my boat is floating plenty high.  Should I be worried about redoing the stringers and deck?  I'd rather just redo my console and install a leaning post before I move on to the cool stuff (jack plate & trolling motor).

How easy is it to check for water intrusion, and how is it done?  Should I even be worried about it?

Thanks,
Scott

[Seadog]

Hey Scott. Welcome to the forum!

I wouldn't worry too much about spider cracks in the floor gel-coat. That's probably from the flex in the floor since 1987.

The only way to check the integrity of the deck and stringers is to cut it open and look.  Doesn't sound like that's too much of a concern if the floor feels solid.

The leaning post might need some backing under the floor to secure it down tight. As opposed to just screwin it down thru the glass.

Keep us posted.

[Wilson]

Have you drilled into the transom to install anything?  You can check the wood that comes out to see if you have wet wood.  Othewise, Seadog is right you have to start cutting to see.

Are you noticing flex in the transom?  You can tilt the engine all the way up and stand on the motor and bounce a little.  You will be able to see if there is flex and therefore wet, bad, delaminated transom.

[scott_gunn]

Thanks for the replies.  The transom is fine - it was rebuilt a few years ago, right before I bought the boat.

[Wilson]

That's great.  If there are no soft/squishy spots on the deck, then don't worry about it.  The test is simply walking all over the thing and checking.  You probably would have noticed.

[scott_gunn]

The only place where I notice any squishiness is directly over the bilge access - but I've always assumed it was normal because that's the largest area unsupported by stringers.  If it's deflecting at all (even just a little) does that mean maybe some plywood in my deck is wet and rotting?

[Argo]

My fuel cover was softt and I have a soft spot around the anchor box hole up front which I will be cutting out and making into a bigger access hole anyhow.  Every other part of my deck is rock solid which suprised me on an 81.

[Seadog]

The only place where I notice any squishiness is directly over the bilge access

Scott - do you mean the bilge access hatch itself or around the rim?

[scott_gunn]

Not the actual hatch itself - that whole section of the floor will give just a tiny bit when I stand in the middle of that section.

[Seadog]

Is there enough room inside the bilge access to take a look around and see how far back the stringers go. Is the floor flexing part on or near a stringer?  I guess you probably know where this is leading.

Not sure how your 200 Osprey stringers are laid out, but it might have a central stringer, running down the middle of the hull that will stop a foot or more forward of the transom. That part of the floor will be unsupported by the stringers and may not be a big deal.

But if the floor flex is on or near a stringer then you may have some troubles ahead.

[scott_gunn]

It's not near any stringers - it's just the floor flexing, not the stringers.

There is no central stringer - if there is it stops well short of the bilge access near the transom.

Thanks for your help!

[GradySailfish25]

Scott,
I have the same boat as you, just picked it up.  The deck is solid but it isn't level.  It seems to have some crown to it, mostly from the console back.  Ever seen this?
Rick

[scott_gunn]

I've never noticed a crown.  I'll try and remember to check when I get home.

[scott_gunn]

Yes, it does slope down around the edges, but is not noticeably crowned in the center.

[Wilson]

It should have a slight camber, so that the water flows to the sides then out of the boat.