March Project - Das Boot (The Boat)

The following story is real. No names were changed because I don’t need to change them.

Before I start I have to thank many people.
First and foremost, Ann who allowed me to get it and who believes I can actually get this thing "sea-worthy" and based on all my previous hobbies that never quite comes to fruition (understatement alert) that is an incredible leap of faith...
Secondly I have to thank Kevin Travis. He ain’t much to speak of when it comes to getting online and searching for parts, but he always knows what to do with them when I get them.
Blake Travis AKA I AM SO a Master Carpenter. He still insists that 3/4" to 1/2" is the same as 1/2" to 1/4" but as far as I am concerned, as long as I don’t have to do it, who am I to complain?
And Cody...Parts runner extraordinaire. If he ever remembers where everything is and what anything does, he's gonna be rockin.

On to the story.....

We bought a boat....finally....after waiting 6 years we bought a $200.00 boat....And if you think that it’s at all pitiful that it took me 6 years to do it, wait till you hear the rest of the story.

Fun fact #1 - Even when (or especially when) buying a boat from a friend and co-worker, don’t take their word for it that there is nothing wrong with the deck. Sub-fact 1 - "It's been reinforced" does not in anyway mean it has a good solid deck or that you can safely walk on it. When in doubt, walk it out.

The bottom line is we went and looked at it and decided to buy it. We go to pick it up and trailer it home. Once we get back to the house,  I get in it and discover the floor is a bit "soft" in spots, which quickly turns into one of the great understatements of all times. The floor is almost nonexistent. We pull up the carpet and discover that large amounts of the floor is actually still stuck to the carpet....just in case you can’t make that visual, the floor is still supposed to be on the floor.

Based on that fact, we quickly realize that flooring cannot wait "till the end of summer". Well that and seeing a few gallons of water pooled in the bottom of the boat between wads of foam. Demolition begins. Up comes the carpet and that takes care of about 40% of the decking. The rest is stuck to foam and fiberglass, but with the exception of the sides it all comes up really easy.

Insert "Montage"

The floor is up and sides are trimmed. We have decided that cutting 2 sheets of plywood to fit will be the best way to proceed....

Insert new "Montage"

The new deck is down and spray foam has been used to fill in the spots that previously did not have any as well as to shore up weak spots in the fiberglass. Now to let it dry.

Its dry, no montage needed. We trim out the spray foam which we have discovered has quite incredible expansion properties and is now ready for sealant. This actually takes several days because, as stated earlier, Kevin is not much on internet research. I go to I don’t know how many sites and call I dont know how many people, trying to find out what I will need as far as fiberglassing it. During this search I find a company called Sani Tred, which has a product called LRB (Liquid Rubber Base) that both seals and creates a hard rubber surface. We (I) really want carpet though so a serious email campaign begins. I don’t know how many emails I sent but each came back with an answer. Someone named "Salem" seriously earned their money answering emails and I finally make my decision and order what I think I need. It comes in and I am still worried that I didn’t get the right stuff and if I did I didn’t get enough. I was wrong on both accounts. According to their documentation the entire process which includes one layer of Perma Flex, filling gaps, holes and seams with LRB/TAV mix, laying the LRB and one final layer of Perma Flex can be done in one day. Of course we took 4, but that’s ok, it turned out great I think. I didn’t do a purty job but then again, I planned on putting carpet in. Speaking of which....its carpet time....

Not much I can say about the carpet installation except if there is one thing that comes close to my dislike of painting its carpet laying. You’ve heard the old saying about measure twice cut once? Well we measured 8 times per cut. Should have been 9. As we were laying in one side, I quickly realized that while the cut around the engine was perfect, I should have made sure we had enough carpet for the sides. I was way off to one side. But luckily we had plenty to spare so it did not become an issue. Although if I had not made the engine cut all the way to the stern we might have had enough to go all the way to the front. Then again, maybe not. I think I would have been a foot short anyway. Which of course was my mistake too since I ordered it. Dang-it Kevin (T)! lol

So as you can see by the pictures we have the floor re-done and carpeted. Coming up next...Cushions? We don’t need no stinking Cushions!