LouC wrote:
Well when I get a chance to post the pix of my deck rebuild, you can see how good carpet is for boats, with plywood decks. It is a major cause of rot. I can tell you that the decks on these boats, unless something changed between '88 and 94, are plywood, they are stapled down and everywhere a staple is, rot starts, and none of the holes they drill to mount the seats are sealed and that is were the rot always starts. Moisture and dampness gets under the carpet, and because of the carpet, it cannot dry out. It is a cheap and nasty way to build boats and none of the better boats made today has glued down carpet like that, they all have a fiberglass liner.
If I had that boat and I wanted to keep it a long time the first thing I'd do is rip up all the carpet, get rid of that nasty glue, fix any spots were rot is starting (and unless you live in the desert Southwest, it probably has, you just can't feel it yet) and then 'glass over it again and either gelcoat it in non skid gelcoat or use a deck paint like they use for work boats with non skid in it.
I understand all of the issues and potential rot problems with the floor. But now, there are no issues. It has been fine for 18 years, so it isn't all that bad.
I have checked every screw going into the floor. The seat screws and all deck screws (most are on top of the carpet). They are all solid and still hold strong.
It may be necesarry to do some day, but to do it before it's necessary makes little sense.
LouC wrote:
The other thing you could do, is get a set of standard captain's seats and get an upholstery shop to match up the FW colors and add accents in that color. That would coast more but its about the only way.
That is the route I'm leaning toward.