CONTINUOUSWAVE

I've pulled off [the deck covering] the fuel compartment [of my OUTRAGE boat], and thankfully the majority is in good shape. I don't think re-coring the deck is needed. However, I do see exposed edges and some rot in one corner. I plan to epoxy the edges.

Should I use some fiberglass cloth strips for added strength?

Or, will some epoxy coats suffice?

I don't want to end up raising the deck so it doesn't go back into position.

For the rot area, I'll probably just inject epoxy as far as I can to reinforce what is there.

[Give your] thoughts.

Your plan may work. Or not. Sealing everything up will buy more time.

You may want to thicken up the epoxy with Colloidal Silica to fill voids. Don't forget the edges under the deck plates. Mine are bare wood.

A little rot is like being a little pregnant. But you maybe able to glue it all to gather again. Maybe glue a dutchman in.

Con

Re-coring the deck cover just seems beyond my abilities.

Well been there--now is too soon to tell how it will work out.

I patched my boat with epoxy and chopped mat. Start by cleaning everything. Key [to the process] is to paint with epoxy, slap on a chopped mat, cover it with PE sheet, then some foam and wood to hold it all in until it sets up. [My repair work] looks okay, but in a few years ask me how the boat is holding up. You can also thicken the epoxy with ground chopped glass. I used both filled and non-filled epoxy.

The deck of my 1979 REVENGER was like yours. It seemed very strong, so I just filled with thickened epoxy and made sure there were no more bare wood areas. I did remove a small amount of minor rot and filled with thickened epoxy.

Re core the deck. I thought it was too much for me so I did patches--bought me a few years. Now the whole boat is torn apart

Blisters.

I am even replacing the fuel tank.

If you don't recore the deck the screws going through the deck into the tops of the stringers will be mobile and leak water into your stringer and will ruin the boat. Trust me.

I’m filling all of the screw holes in the hull (stringers) will ample epoxy to reinforce the bite and seal from water.