1997 SN Soft Floor

I'm in the process of refurbishing the 1997 Ski Nautique I purchased a few months ago and have noticed some soft spots in the floor. Considering this is all-fiberglass, I thought this was a little odd. Upon removing the carpet I revealed a couple small spots that look like the floor was punctured but none larger than a quarter.

Any ideas and is it easily repairable?

while there´s no wood as the stringers are composite..the foam is still used to fill the voids and as flotation aid..As its has foam anyway I think it over the time take water and cause the soft floor?

Too funny Pete! Does anyone else remember seeing a 93+ floor repair? I'm sure Tim can tell us!

8122pbrainard wrote: Brad, Yes, as Seb mentioned, the foam does support the glass floor. I'd hole saw (maybe 1") the holes out and see what's going on below. If the foam is damaged, you'll need to iject some more before you do a glass repair. Poly foams in the 2 lb. density range have a PSI rating of about 35. This is true for even the "Great Stuff" out of the can. Open it up, dig around and post some pictures. Sounds like some babe has been in that boat with high heels!!

Wow, a girl in the boat with high heels on.............sounds like my single days 20 years ago...yeah, I want to to see pictures too but forget the silly soft spots, let's see some party pictures!!

I say be the first one to tear the floor up in a '93 or newer (no wood) and report back with whats underneath.
You could be the father of > year'93 stringer repair.
"All hail the great one"

i have the same issue with my 96. one spot at base of passeneger seat. have not tackled it yet but am interested in what you find.

So, what is the entire floor of a later gen ski nautique made out of? Is it glass? Composite stuff?

The ski locker door on our new to us sport is made of black stuff that looks like composite trailer/boat lift bunks. Is that what the whole floor is made of? Seems very flexible when the lid is open on that ski locker. Just curious!

So the stringers should be fine...the rest may be business as usual?

Hey guys, i was reading this old thread and i have the carpet up in my 97 sport right now and have some soft spots in the floor. I am not sdure what to do, obviously some water has found its way under there and the foam has rotted a little.When i push on the area a little drop of water comes up and i see some black areas under the glass. I have attached some photos to show the floor close up and a little further away. I hope some of the experts here have some suggestions. I read in the 1993 brochure that they just drilled a hole in the floor in the factory and randomly sprayed foam. so maybe i can just inject some foam and repair the floor. What exactly to i need to use to repair the floor if i have to cut it?

Pete, Hi again and thanks for the reply, I know about not opening it up, but do you think it is ok to cut the floor in that position? Do I just use the same matting and resin i used on the muffler to reapair the floor if i cut it?

One more thing - the foam can create quite a lot of pressure. Inject the foam, lay a piece of plastic over the holes, cover with a piece of wood and weigh it down until it cures.

Guys,

I have succumbed to curiosity and cut into the floor, after i did i was glad i chose to. Upon cutting the hole in the glass floor there was a considerable amount of water under the floor, i used a wet vac and sucked all the water i could , then i removed all foam i thought to be a little rotted or wet. I have left open the the area the help dry out for a few days, any advise from here on in? I bought a can of expandable foam from bunnings in Australia(lilke your Lowes) but i think this expandale foam may not be the best for what i want, not dense enough and not really for marine application, i think i should use the pour in foam but i have a very small are to fill like maybe two fist sizes. I have attached some pice for viewing. Please anyone with an idea as to where to go from here would be great, awaiting your replies.


The hole in floor


when pushed on the water coming up through the foam


after i removed the foam from under the floor


some foam i removed

If it were me, I would open up the hole to a circle as mentioned above by Tim Morfoot. Yes, this will make a bigger opening, but it will be easier to patch once you start putting everything back together.

The I'd dig down and see if there is standing water down by the hull. If there isn't, then go ahead and fill the void with two part foam (I'd get it from Jamestown Dist.) and cover it back up.

...If there's a bunch of water then you're in uncharted territory! I'd hate to hear you say there's a bunch of water because I've got a small soft spot from ski fins in our 96!

Hey Mark,

I looked on the cans but they didn`t have any specs on desity or water resistance, it actually said moisture needed to cure, so i suspect that the foam will absorb water, I am going to get pour in foam from a chandlery on Saturday. So dig all the way down to the hull hey? The foam i have dug down too seems firm and not wet but if yous think to keep digging i will, wow i hope this doesn`t turn into something huge!!!

They are fibreglass stringers so definitely do not cut into them. I would remove the foam up against them on both sides leaving the hole in the foam between them. This picture from the 93 brochure should give you an idea what is below the floor. The more I look at your previous pictures I think what happened is that something was dropped onto the floor that punctured the fiberglass skin over the foam allowing water to enter from the top. It still may be worth delving deeper but that is up to you.