Flooring

GMarty · Post by **GMarty** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 7:50 am

Looking at the photos in the slide show section makes me want to go with a nice new floor while I have my boat ripped apart. I always intended to go with a teak and holly floor eventually and now may be the time. Can any of you guys that did wood floors provide some insight on the project. All of them came out great and that is a huge upgrade! Basically, I am trying to get a sense for cost of materials, level of complexity, how is it holding up, what materials were used and anything else I should consider. My intention is to have my fishing buddy (also a carpenter) earn his keep for next year by helping but if it is a huge project that will take up lots of his time...... I will make him do it anyway but want to know what I am getting myself/him into. Is the wood floor over the orginal or replaces the orginal? I assume there is some way to pull the floor if needed? Thanks in advance!

Bob S · Post by **Bob S** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 10:31 am

I am also looking to do my cabin sole but considering a vinyl teak and holly look (Amtico). This is the system used on the new Hatteras. My question is what to do at the risers and hatches. There are two areas which have vertical surfaces which are carpeted on my boat. 1 the two steps down to the head and vberth, and 2 the elevated section and the dinette. What would I do to end the vinyl at the edge? THis also needs to be done at the hatches. I ripped up my carpet and found two hatch forward. Why anyone would cover hatchs is beyond me.

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:05 pm

OK, I'll try to answer a couple questions. The hatches are covered from Bertram, I knew they were there but was also surprised that they would do this. The vertical surfaces look good if the carpet is over fiberglass, just strip the glue with stripper and polish it up, it looks really good next to the wood . The raised area on my boat where the carpet was stuck to wood was no good after the carpet came off so I glued white formica to it and it looks good.. The edges look best if they're a clean cut and you carefully caulk it. The biggest expense for the flooring , if you do it yourself is the wood and the epoxy. On mine the wood was about six or seven hundred bucks and I used about a gallon of epoxy. It's most important to get the patterns right and even then you should re-fit the wood to the floor before you finish anything. The other really tough part is the edges on the hatches . If you look , you can see that on some, the carpenter squared off the edges to make it easier . On mine I took teak teak boards and cut thin strips for the gradual curves, on the tighter stuff I had to shape chunks of teak to fit and then epoxy them on , then finish shape with a grinder by hand until it fit the opening well. Then seal everything with epoxy. If you go with any real wood product, it's imperative that you seal the edges and bottom as thoroughly as the top , or else you'll get water intrusion and it swells the wood permanently and looks bad. Even after sealing itwell, the potentialexists for water to get in there and ruin it, so a synthetic floor isn't a bad idea. After you have everything fit and finished, you glue it to the sub floor , which should be moulded fiberglass unless on some of the older boats they used plywood, I'm not sure of that. I used epoxy thickened with colloidal silica for the gluing. It's not going anywhere. On the sport fish with the late floor plan , you have to have a removeable panel in front of the refridgerator, in case it has to come out. If you forget this, you'll have to pull your countertops or something to get the refer out when the time comes. If I've left anything out , feel free to ask questions. Frank Price

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:24 pm

Frank and I had different philosophy on the wood floors.Frank chose to do all that hard work himself...I hired someone...seriously,2 different styles and techniques and both turned out beautiful.Frank went with the plywood sheets ,patterned them cut them and put a great finish on them.The hatches on Franks were probably the hardest part. On my boat I went with mahogany planks which are tongue and groove and prefinished. They were glued down and in a couple places they were pin nailed to the existing fiberglass sole.As Frank said rather than try to match the radius on the hatches the carpenter squared off the new wood and attatched it to the existing rounded hatchesThis was done by framing a square around the hatch and a square on the hatch.I did not quite understand the technique when the carpenter was explaining it. but it makes perfect sense now that i saw him do it.I really did not think that i could handle doing the project because it seemed like a lot of fine cut work.However after seeing it done i think now i could do the project.The wood planks cost me around $500 and the installer charged $1200....I think i got a good deal.Also I think franks project was much more difficult with the sportfish model vs my fbc.due to the raised area on the sportfish.I really love my floors it really updated and upclassed the boat immensly(sp.?)yes i do have some scratches already but that just adds character.one last thing. the installer wanted to use full pieces of mahogany on the steps rather than use the planks so he finished raw mahogany to match the planks...that is someting that Frank could probably do ..but there is no way I would have done that. Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 7:32 am

Here is a wood link that may be helpful or offer some ideas. www.worldpanel.com 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:29 am

Have you looked at Flexiteek in the link section? 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida

Post by **Admin** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 1:30 pm

When I do my salon, I am going to try the Flexiteek. I will let everyone know how it turns out. David Sumich 33 Megabites Huntington Harbour, CA Forum Administrator

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 2:15 pm

David, How soon are you going to do it? Are you going to DIY or have someone install it for you? Any idea on cost? 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida

Post by **Admin** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:10 am

I would like to do it myself, but I am not sure that time and ability would allow me to. I have the templates that Frank let me copy, which would help whoever does it immensely. My first step is to get an estimate. The Flexiteek program includes installation "experts", so I am going to get an estimate first. I am hoping to do it within in the next year. It is the first interior project that I want to complete. David Sumich 33 Megabites Huntington Harbour, CA Forum Administrator