So my petrol tank sprung a couple of leaks and my floor started getting soft (or more than soft...) so I thought it was time to start doing up my Phantom 18.
The soft floor turned into re-carpeting, re-upholstering and rebuilding bench seat as well as well as some electrics. I’ve got as far as removing all the old bits. Cutting out the floor and including a couple of storage hatches.
Next up is glassing, carpet, securing side panels, seats and then good to go.
I’m struggling to get rust marks off the boat from the previous owner using non stainless steel staples. I’ve used oxalic acid, which has been reasonably good. Also does anyone have thoughts on filling the gap between the side of the new floor and the hull? I’ve seen some marine fillers advertised but I’d imagine next time the floor needs doing, these would be tough to remove? Foam?
Make it so good that the deck will never need to be removed again. Close it up using a mix of resin and glass fibres. Cut up chopped strand mat into pieces about 20mm long using scissors then tease it apart. Mix it in with the resin, as much fibre as you can reasonably get into the mix then lift a gloop out of the mixing tub and settle it into the gap. Stipple it smoothish using a brush. Fair it with a grinder after it sets. Proper job giving real strength to your hull and deck.