15' Fisher Marine Water Strider

[halfayak]

I recently acquired a 1974 Fisher Marine Water Strider. It's been sitting up for a few years and I'm taking it on as a renovation project. I started pulling up the flooring from the rear area and am planning to put in some decking on the rear and the front. I have a couple of questions for the members as I am new to this. Please respond:
1. Should the styrofoam be replaced along the bottom (or the side panels for that matter)? I wasn't going to put the foam back in. Is it just a sound damper?
2. What is the best flooring/decking material to use for the bottom. Plywood? other? I am planning on using this boat as a salt-water marsh fishing boat (redfish/speckled trout)...and wasn't sure if I should go with aluminum or plywood...I also want to keep the weight down on the boat.
3. I'm planning on using a bed-liner type product instead of carpet...any recommendations.

Will post pictures soon...thanks in advance for the help!

 

[chevyrulz]

1. Should the styrofoam be replaced along the bottom (or the side panels for that matter)? I wasn't going to put the foam back in. Is it just a sound damper?

foam removed should be replaced, it floats your boat in the event that it's swamped with water. otherwise, it would sink to the bottom. although, some folks opt not to put the foam back in, doing so is risky

2. wasn't sure if I should go with aluminum or plywood...I also want to keep the weight down on the boat.

I suggest aluminum because aluminum is much lighter than plywood, plus it doesn't rot. aluminum does cost more, & is arguably more difficult to work with.

3. I'm planning on using a bed-liner type product instead of carpet...any recommendations.

be sure to scuff up the aluminum and clean it with acetone prior to rolling or spraying bed liner or it won't stick well. vinegar is an alternate method of "etching" aluminum, it's way cheaper than self-etching primer. i used a wirewheel on my drill to scuff up aluminum diamond plate that i rolled with the rustoleum truck bed liner ($18/qt @ lowes), i scuffed it w/ wire wheel very good until all shinyness was gone (this was not fun, it took probably 2 hours), then i cleaned it with acetone & rolled a thin coat, let it dry & rolled a 2nd thicker coat. it won't scratch off with a finger nail, & has held up to my abuse so far. 1 qt did the whole floor in my 1436

also regarding bedliner, i've heard that it doesn't last on aluminum that flexes, they say after a year or 2 it gets brittle, & flakes off. so i only put it on the 1/4" thick diamond plate, & not on the sides of the hull, the diamond plate won't flex, so i am confident it will stick