Boat floor repair in SoCal

[Badchoices03]

Who is the go to in SoCal for boat floor repair? Preferably IE/OC/SD areas?

 

[PlumLoco]

Fiber Composites in Hemet is your best bet.
951-992-8685. Joel or Kelli

 

[BingerFang]

Fiber Composites in Hemet is your best bet.
951-992-8685. Joel or Kelli

Shit show to deal with but they do good work.

 

[Backlash]

Orange County Boat Repair.

 

[NicPaus]

Sal at OC replaced mine on my old Ultra.

 

[Badchoices03]

What is everyone’s best estimate for a new floor with carpet for 21’ boat, all interior removed and reinstalled by me, so labor and materials for floor and carpet only?

 

[Backlash]

With the price increases of both materials and labor costs, I wouldn't have a clue. I would guesstimate a few grand at least. I'm no expert so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[NicPaus]

I paid around $3500 20 years ago. That was glassed in and coated. It came from ultra bare plywood. That's why it rotted out so quickly.

I would guess $5500 these days.

 

[Badchoices03]

I paid around $3500 20 years ago. That was glassed in and coated. It came from ultra bare plywood. That's why it rotted out so quickly.

I would guess $5500 these days.

Mine rotted after 4 years because the hull forward of the stringer closet to the front of the boat doesn’t have a drain passage, so water collected up there because it had no where to go…

There is a stringer under the floor where this red line is, any water forward of that had no where to go so it just collected and sat there and rotted the wood

 

[Ragged Edge]

Who is the go to in SoCal for boat floor repair? Preferably IE/OC/SD areas?

Wide Open Throttle Marine in Vista. Have them replace it with Coosa Board. More $$$$ but it never rot again.

 

[lbhsbz]

Wide Open Throttle Marine in Vista. Have them replace it with Coosa Board. More $$$$ but it never rot again.

While that is true, wood....if done correctly, will be completely encapsulated and will not rot again in anyone's lifetime. Boat builders cut a lot of corners in the past....maybe the present too (dunno, newest boat I've owned is an '87). I've owned 20 boats....all of which had some level of rot somewhere. All cases of which, during "disassembly" have been found to be caused by either shitty build quality or shitty repair/upgrades.....like using stainless wood screws to hold something to an otherwise perfect transom or through bolts through stringers with some resin brushed over the hole rather than boring out and bonding/sealing in a tube or an insert of some type.

I run into this same sort of scenario with people demanding stainless pistons for the calipers on their 1960's british cars.... "The chrome steel pistons are all rusty"....yeahbut....it took 50 years for them to get to that point.....how old are you and how long do you plan on driving this car? Most of them are in their 60s or 70s and might have 20 years left....do what gets you through till your dead....then it's someone else's problem lol.

 

[Backlash]

While that is true, wood....if done correctly, will be completely encapsulated and will not rot again in anyone's lifetime. Boat builders cut a lot of corners in the past....maybe the present too (dunno, newest boat I've owned is an '87). I've owned 20 boats....all of which had some level of rot somewhere. All cases of which, during "disassembly" have been found to be caused by either shitty build quality or shitty repair/upgrades.....like using stainless wood screws to hold something to an otherwise perfect transom or through bolts through stringers with some resin brushed over the hole rather than boring out and bonding/sealing in a tube or an insert of some type.

Now you're talking a language I understand. It takes a lot longer to do it this way, but by protecting the core (Transom, stringer, etc.), you're preventing any water from ever getting to the core material. It would last forever. But nobody is going to spend the time or energy to do this unless you're OCD like me.

 

[old rigger]

Orange County Boat Repair.

Sal at OC replaced mine on my old Ultra.

Mine rotted after 4 years because the hull forward of the stringer closet to the front of the boat doesn’t have a drain passage, so water collected up there because it had no where to go…

There is a stringer under the floor where this red line is, any water forward of that had no where to go so it just collected and sat there and rotted the wood
View attachment 1507383

I agree about OC boat repair. Know Sal for 50 years, always does great work.

@Badchoices03, no drain hole is certainly a factor on the floor rotting. But having a big giant sponge on either side of that floor support doesn't help either.

 

[lbhsbz]

Now you're talking a language I understand. It takes a lot longer to do it this way, but by protecting the core (Transom, stringer, etc.), you're preventing any water from ever getting to the core material. It would last forever. But nobody is going to spend the time or energy to do this unless you're OCD like me.

I did one transom, and about 1/2 way through it I decided I never wanted to do that again.

All the through holes (that got 1/2" bolts) were drilled to 3/4"....I made a jig so the locations stayed where I wanted them to be....then mixed up some thickened epoxy with microfiber filler so it held together better and used that to fill the holes after priming the wood a few times with thinned catalysed epoxy, then reinstalled the jig and used a drill bushing I made to drill through the epoxy plug and make 1/2" holes to mount the bracket.....no wood chips in the drillings. 1708 between the transom layers, 1708 between the transom wood and the existing fiberglass, 1708 encapsulating everything....twice. There will be cockroaches and my transom when the world ends.

 

[cofooter]

I agree about OC boat repair. Know Sal for 50 years, always does great work.

@Badchoices03, no drain hole is certainly a factor on the floor rotting. But having a big giant sponge on either side of that floor support doesn't help either.

Likely stringer are wet as well.......

 

[Backlash]

I did one transom, and about 1/2 way through it I decided I never wanted to do that again.

All the through holes (that got 1/2" bolts) were drilled to 3/4"....I made a jig so the locations stayed where I wanted them to be....then mixed up some thickened epoxy with microfiber filler so it held together better and used that to fill the holes after priming the wood a few times with thinned catalysed epoxy, then reinstalled the jig and used a drill bushing I made to drill through the epoxy plug and make 1/2" holes to mount the bracket.....no wood chips in the drillings. 1708 between the transom layers, 1708 between the transom wood and the existing fiberglass, 1708 encapsulating everything....twice. There will be cockroaches and my transom when the world ends.

I completely appreciate the work you did. Here's how I did all the holes in the transom of my Howard. I also sleeved the drain holes in the stringers and the drain out the transom.

 

[lbhsbz]

your not gonna find a shop to do that kinda work....

 

[Backlash]

your not gonna find a shop to do that kinda work....

At least not one I could afford! Hahaha!!

 

[Backlash]

I need to get the rest of this glass work finished up. I've spent far too long just looking at this damn boat as I walk past it working on other things. HOPEFULLY this will be a productive summer with this thing. I'd like to get it to a shop to do a little final prep work before shooting the transom in gel. That's the game plan anyways.....

 

[lbhsbz]

At least not one I could afford! Hahaha!!

The folks who build my boat quoted me $1500 to replace the transom if I did the tearout and got it to bare glass....sounded on the low side. After I got into it....I was right. I have no idea what they would have done for $1500 but it certainly would not have been what I did

 

[Kbach]

The folks who build my boat quoted me $1500 to replace the transom if I did the tearout and got it to bare glass....sounded on the low side. After I got into it....I was right. I have no idea what they would have done for $1500 but it certainly would not have been what I did

I paid $400 for a guy to do my old Ultra 21 transom. I cut out all of the old glass/wood and brought it to him that way. I supplied a sheet of 3/4" marine ply. I probably asked him 5 times "so $500 to do it right?" Turned out really good. Gave him $600 and he kept trying to give me back the extra $$.

Last I heard he was working in Florida but comes out this way every now and then...might be time to call him for some gelcoat repairs on my current boat.

 

[lbhsbz]

I paid $400 for a guy to do my old Ultra 21 transom. I cut out all of the old glass/wood and brought it to him that way. I supplied a sheet of 3/4" marine ply. I probably asked him 5 times "so $500 to do it right?" Turned out really good. Gave him $600 and he kept trying to give me back the extra $$.

Last I heard he was working in Florida but comes out this way every now and then...might be time to call him for some gelcoat repairs on my current boat.

You got lucky....I had an upholstery guy like that.



He got deported

 

[81Sprint]

Replaced the floor in my old Spectra, it really isn't that hard to do if you have the old floor as a template.

Jordan Lockrey still does it I believe, he's good and a super nice guy, he is in Havasu now tho. Here's his IG page-

https://www.instagram.com/lockreymarine/

 

[ChrisV]

Do it yoursel. It’s a weekend job imo. Hard part is cutting and laying the carpet.

 

[Badchoices03]

I agree about OC boat repair. Know Sal for 50 years, always does great work.

@Badchoices03, no drain hole is certainly a factor on the floor rotting. But having a big giant sponge on either side of that floor support doesn't help either.

I have heard this from another guy about not using foam, but why would Laveycraft put it in? Supposedly they just did the floors in 2019.

 

[gqchris]

I paid around $3500 20 years ago. That was glassed in and coated. It came from ultra bare plywood. That's why it rotted out so quickly.

I would guess $5500 these days.

I would guess even more. I dont even think $5500 gets upholstery done these days. Prices are out of this world high. And no shortage of people paying it.

 

[Badchoices03]

I would guess even more. I dont even think $5500 gets upholstery done these days. Prices are out of this world high. And no shortage of people paying it.

Current quote is $6500 and thats me bringing them the boat with the complete interior and anything attached to the floor removed.

 

[PlumLoco]

For whatever it's worth Fiber Composites price was less than $2000. Interior was already out but they replaced the floor, re-anchored the saddle tanks, and repaired a bulkhead that had become detached. 2 month long wait list to get in but it was done on time.
23' jetboat.

 

[Badchoices03]

For whatever it's worth Fiber Composites price was less than $2000. Interior was already out but they replaced the floor, re-anchored the saddle tanks, and repaired a bulkhead that had become detached. 2 month long wait list to get in but it was done on time.
23' jetboat.

How long ago was this?

 

[PlumLoco]

How long ago was this?

Last year.

 

[ChrisV]

Is OC pretty good with gel coat repair?

 

[Ragged Edge]

Is OC pretty good with gel coat repair?

Yes. Sal is awesome.

 

[Badchoices03]

Fiber Composites in Hemet is your best bet.
951-992-8685. Joel or Kelli

Just spoke to Joel, seems like a good dude and knowledgeable....he was telling me about an Ultra Jetboat that he did not too long ago...not sure if that was yours....

 

[ChrisV]

Yes. Sal is awesome.

Emailed him. He’s not too far.

 

[Ragged Edge]

There have been times that I could not get a response via phone or email so I just went over and talked with him in person.

 

[Badchoices03]

There have been times that I could not get a response via phone or email so I just went over and talked with him in person.

I called him today too, so far no return call yet.

 

[old rigger]

I have heard this from another guy about not using foam, but why would Laveycraft put it in? Supposedly they just did the floors in 2019.

Coast Guard regulations for floating when sunk.
One time we sold a boat at Rogers with no floatation, zero. Turns out the buyer was working for the CG. It was a fucking nightmare dealing with them. If I remember we had to recall a certain number of boats and prove they had floatation. Lucky Roger was a low volume builder.
I just remembered, this was a long time ago so I don't know if the rules are the same, but outboards had to float level, inboards bow up. Never made sense to me.

 

[old rigger]

Is OC pretty good with gel coat repair?

excelent

 

[NicPaus]

excelent

Sal Sr was still out there working when I sent a Friend few years ago. He repaired a scratch for me 24 years ago through several colors with fades. I could never tell where it was after picking it up and for the next 14 years I owned it.

 

[old rigger]

Sal Sr was still out there working when I sent a Friend few years ago. He repaired a scratch for me 24 years ago through several colors with fades. I could never tell where it was after picking it up and for the next 14 years I owned it.

Besides his ability to repair blends and fades he's amazing with metal flake. When we met he was hired on to repair the bottoms of a few hundred Hawaiians that were sent out the door with a few layers of glass left out of the lamination schedule. One of the owners, not Schuster, for some reason cut the laminators pay, expecting the same layup for less money. I'm convinced that's where he got so good at metal flake work. He was there for years doing nothing but bottom repairs. what a shit show.

At one point maybe 20 years ago Hallett sent all their gel repairs to Sal.

I stopped by there maybe 6 months ago just to shoot the shit. Sal was still out back doing repairs. Was surprised Sal Jr was gone from the office.

I was just thinking of his guard/attack rooster. Little fucker went after Sal and that was it. He ended up being Sunday dinner.

 

[ChrisV]

Seems like a solid shop. Cant wait to hear back.

 

[NicPaus]

Seems like a solid shop. Cant wait to hear back.

I don't think communication was there strong point. But fixing boats is. I used them numerous times over the years. And if my boat was here I would of had him fix 2 scratches that drove me nuts. Once I get my RV parking finished I can bring the boat home and take it in.

 

[ChrisV]

I don't think communication was there strong point. But fixing boats is. I used them numerous times over the years. And if my boat was here I would have had him fix 2 scratches that drove me nuts. Once I get my RV parking finished I can bring the boat home and take it in.

I called him and talked to him for a bit. Told me to send him pics through email.

 

[wzuber]

@Gelcoater
Who's the guy out in elsinore that used to work @ eliminator many years ago? I can't recall his name.

 

[Melloyellovector]

@Gelcoater
Who's the guy out in elsinore that used to work @ eliminator many years ago? I can't recall his name.

Blas at Extreme in Elsinore, he’s in the back of a boat dealer out there now

 

[wzuber]

Blas at Extreme in Elsinore, he’s in the back of a boat dealer out there now

Yep, that's him. Thx

 

[lbhsbz]

I would guess even more. I dont even think $5500 gets upholstery done these days. Prices are out of this world high. And no shortage of people paying it.

When I was about 21 I built a T-bucket roadster.....drove it around with a bean bag chair I stole from my girlfriend for a few months before I had money to get it done right. There was a upholstery guy a few miles away with a small shop that did great work....did the seat/door panels, carpet in nice material with pretty cool detail work for $350. I took a bench seat and 2 buckets from my boat down there 10 years ago. $2900 lol. I'd just paid $2500 for the whole fucking boat with a running engine. Sold the boat and found one for $3500 with good seats lol. I know how long it takes because I hung out and drank beer with the guy while he did my T-bucket in 2 hours. The boat is the same except for 2 buckets. It can't take more than 4, maybe 5. How'd we get to $2900? Material is $150 (foam was good).

My guy that got deported 8 years ago.....I saw the lights on one night about 11:00pm while I was picking up a pack of smokes at the gas station next door...so I walked in and asked him about doing my Jet Ski seat.....he said bring it now....so I went home and got it....he poured me 2 shots of tequila while I waited (he had 5 or 6 lol) and was done in 25 minutes. $40 and I was home by midnight. I miss that guy.

 

[ChrisV]

Spoke to Sal, seems like a solid dude. Dropping off the 22 toMorrow.

 

[ChrisV]

@Badchoices03 told him about your boat. Call again.

 

[Badchoices03]

@Badchoices03 told him about your boat. Call again.

View attachment 1508316

Will do, thank you!