need some ideas .. sole support

Hellllllo i know old thread! Been around and check in from time to time but the boards been quiet on rebuild stuff it seems. Good news is we've been using the heck out of this thing, kids love boating finally! Pulled it to address a couple things, tune up ,etc.

But I need some opinions..i've been thinking too hard again. i just continued this thread since it's pretty much the same thing.

Long story short and I knew this when i replaced the back deck section, i just didn't have time then for a complete redeck and i figured i'd do from my back repair forward as i wasn't sure if the core up front was good...but it is dry, has dipped a little due to this problem but it's dry.

The deck sits on these glass wrapped foam pads. They did not put enough up front and over time the middle of the deck has dipped a bit....not too bad but certainly dipped due to the lack of support, < 1/4 inch. Behind the console is now solid and the pads were in good shape. But the lack of ones up front...the existing one's took a beating. 1 is very cracked up...it needs replacing.

Here's where I'm at...I know i should cut from console forward but i really don't want to do more major cutting until i replace the tank, which could be a very long time as the boat has been kept dry as a bone underneath! It's spotless and i've looked in every crack and crevice of this thing...plus over the winter i went around over drilling, filling,redrill, sealing every possible h20 point.

So i gotta temporarily rig something...

I could replace the pads ( i jacked up the deck a bit so i could squeeze them in then lower the jack/wedges.)

I'd *like* though to bridge the 2 stringers to correct the dip in the center deck a bit, i can squeeze in some glued up strips of ply.

Here's a pic, it's a typical foam pad the sole is sitting on. Pic 2 is the area i gotta work in, i put an access panel in that front 3 foot deck section.

So my question, anyone see a problem with bridging the 2, we're talking maybe only 40-45 inches going from pad to pad across the stringers. I'd have to glue/bed them...i can't glass them no space, that would have to wait until i cut it open.

Basically i'm thinking glue up some plywood strips flat (so not on the hard edge)...it's a 2" gap between deck and stringers. Bed them in a thick goo of adhesive, something with some flex...maybe PL? Think that will be enough not to create hard spots? Or should i be thinking something heavy duty foam wise with a bit more flex. Don't want too much flex as the hull flexes, but not too little that i create hard spots.

Anyways as always thanks for all the knowledge on this board and any advice anyone has.

 

not clear in that layout pic but the black lines are roughly stringers, i'm thinking on 2 strips to bridge across the front (right under the front of the center console then before the step up platform). From the front of the console to the step up platform is probably only 3 feet or so but that should reinforce the front enough due to the cracked pad.

Just using a bottle jack where the cross braces would go firmed everything up I can tell. 100% no, but certainly better than the cracked pad.

 

Thinking a bit more...2" foam wrapped in biax with epoxy, then jack the deck up enough to glue them may be a bit better hard spot wise, then release the jack. Should be same as there but would bridge also. Basically what's there except bridge up there instead of pads. Then on down the road if i need to replace the tank which could be a very long time from the looks of things (but you never know with those...) cut er open again.

 

I know i babble on these threads when i get to thinking.

Did a test with 2x4's(just temporarily) it firmed up the whole console and deck. But for sure i don't trust those creating hard spots. So i'll make up some foam beams wrapped in glass so they'll have a bit of give, and reenforce the ones that are there...basically like the pads there now but 2" beams.

Any suggestions on what foam and glass and number of layers to use? divinicel and biaxial? not familiar with the foams but sure the fcgi may have a suggestion.