See full version: How to Repair a Soft Spot in a Boat Floor
A soft spot in a boat floor can be surprisingly tricky to diagnose. We recommend tapping around the soft spot with the back-end of a screwdriver. If you hear a hollow sound, you’ll have an idea if there’s a weak area. When the sound becomes sharp and the material gives good feedback to the touch, you know that it’s stronger. You can use a grease pencil to mark off the affected area. more
If the problem is due to fiberglass weakening, you’ll want to sand the affected area until the soft spot is noticeably lower than the surrounding area. In fact, in certain spots, you might sand all the way through the fiberglass. here
One reason that soft spots in wooden boat floors have such bad reputations amongst boat owners is that they can be indicative of further degradation. So, let’s start this with a caveat—if there’s significant boat rot on your wood deck and some of it is showing up in the boat floor, you have a major situation on your hands. You should have the boat thoroughly inspected and examined before you consider it seaworthy again.
A soft spot in the boat floor may seem like something innocent, but it requires immediate attention. Not only can a soft spot expand and pose a serious injury hazard to anyone on board, but it will be much easier to repair if it’s limited to a confined space. Here’s how to repair a soft spot in a boat floor to prevent any further damage!
If you use a fiberglass repair kit, you’ll want to follow the given instructions—that usually means cutting fiberglass matting in the shape of the affected area. [links]
One reason that soft spots in wooden boat floors have such bad reputations amongst boat owners is that they can be indicative of further degradation. So, let’s start this with a caveat—if there’s significant boat rot on your wood deck and some of it is showing up in the boat floor, you have a major situation on your hands. You should have the boat thoroughly inspected and examined before you consider it seaworthy again.
A soft spot in a boat floor can be surprisingly tricky to diagnose. We recommend tapping around the soft spot with the back-end of a screwdriver. If you hear a hollow sound, you’ll have an idea if there’s a weak area. When the sound becomes sharp and the material gives good feedback to the touch, you know that it’s stronger. You can use a grease pencil to mark off the affected area. more
If the problem is due to fiberglass weakening, you’ll want to sand the affected area until the soft spot is noticeably lower than the surrounding area. In fact, in certain spots, you might sand all the way through the fiberglass. here
A soft spot in the boat floor may seem like something innocent, but it requires immediate attention. Not only can a soft spot expand and pose a serious injury hazard to anyone on board, but it will be much easier to repair if it’s limited to a confined space. Here’s how to repair a soft spot in a boat floor to prevent any further damage!
If you’re going the putty route, you can fill the area with a resin-based putty until it’s slightly higher than the surrounding areas. Then you’ll need to give it ample time to cure, as per the instructions. This will allow you to sand down the putty, fill any remaining holes that may have occurred in the putty, and allow a new overnight cure—or as your putty’s instructions dictate. here
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Wait 24 hours for the epoxy to set. With the palm sander and 000 grit sandpaper, sand the fiberglass surface down until it is level with the surrounding hull surface and paint with the acrylic epoxy paint. here
Allow the paint to dry completely, then apply the gelcoat according to the product instructions. [links]
When you "sister" a weak spot, it means you are adding additional support to an existing structure, reinforcing it. Apply the epoxy to the surface in small increments, since it will begin to set immediately. The weak spots will be small, but make sure that the area you are working on is small enough to allow you to apply the fiberglass before the epoxy begins to set.
Sand the putty down to the level of the sound surface with the palm sander and 00 grit sandpaper. Fill any voids in the surface of the putty, wait 24 hours and sand again with 00 grit sandpaper. While you wait for the putty to cure, cut the fiberglass sheeting to a size that will cover the repaired area and "sister" the repair, strengthening the weak spot and providing the surface to be finished. [links]
Mix the epoxy resin and hardener only when you are ready to begin the patching process. With a paint roller, apply a thin coat of epoxy to the areas you sanded. Apply the fiberglass patch to the epoxied areas immediately.