Boat Floor Dry Rot

My 1987 17.5' F&S has a very soft spot behind the driver's seat. I'm sure it's dry rot and wondering if this is the path to go to fix it:

1. Remove seats
2. Remove carpet if possible
3. Find out how the flooring is attached and try to remove.
4. Replace flooring supports by fiberglassing in the appropriate PT lumber.
5. Replace flooring, then re-carpet

How does this sound??

Fred

Remove seats

Definite first step. They should be screwed into the floor or stringer. You can get to the screws by removing the cushions.

Remove carpet if possible

It will be possible, but will probably be destroyed in the process. Plan to replace it. Buy a good quality carpet, made for marine use. Stay away from ordinary indoor-outdoor junk from the hardware store.

Find out how the flooring is attached and try to remove.

The floors should be screwed into the stringers. There may be more than one sheet (probably plywood). Inspect them all, and replace the ones that are bad or questionable (You don't want to do it all over again in a year or 2)

Replace flooring supports by fiberglassing in the appropriate PT lumber.

The floorboards are usually just screwed into the stringers, and some furring along the sides. They probably won't be bad. Read below about glassing wood.

Replace flooring, then re-carpet

Use a good marine grade plywood. Some advocate glassing the floors to keep out moisture, but that usually just keeps water encapsulated and causes it to rot from within. A good coat of varnish will suffice.

How does this sound?? Like a lot of work, but well worth it in the end.

This info was contributed by DoItYourself.com Community member BoatCop.