posted 03-19-2002 09:12 AM ET (US)        

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I have read some other posts here about soft spongy floors and recently looked at a boat with a soft spongy floor deck. The only part that seemed to be spongy was the removable deck plate (gas tank). I saw water on the top of the tank so I would imagine that water had sat in the boat for a while and rotted the plywood core. My first question is; is this common? My second question is; is it easier to replace it than to go through the trouble of repairing?

I was surprised by the condition of the deck because the hull was otherwise solid. The floor on my 18' which is older is still solid as a rock.

posted 03-22-2002 11:29 AM ET (US)            

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What model Whaler were you looking at?

The cover over the gas tank on my 1981 (?) Revenge is plywood cored and seems solid, but anything made of wood can rot. But I don't think the repair should be terribly difficult. The floor comes right up.

I haven't heard that this kind of rot is common in Whalers, though, and find it difficult to envision how the plywood could get soaked enough to rot in normal usage. Maybe water stood in the cockpit for a long time, like during winter storage (with drains plugged with leaves)?

posted 03-22-2002 02:43 PM ET (US)            

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Yes BIGSHOT it is good that I spelled it correctly especially having said it softens after being soaked with water for a while.

The boat was a 20' cc whaler and there had been water collecting inside for a while. I thought abot repairing but didn't want to buy a boat and then get into the hassle. I contacted my whaler dealer and they fumbled big time on getting me info on a replacement deckplate in fact I still have not heard, not bad for a week's work huh!