99 Monark 860 "Remodel"...I have questions!

[WillametteRanger]

I bought a 99 Monark 860 with a 75 HP Mercury. I got it specifically to get over shallow gravel bars in the summer and fall on the river here where I live. I have tore out all the decking, which was a solid 3/4 inch thick plywood.

This is my first time tearing a boat down and my goal is to replace the decking with aluminum, which I will then put carpet on. I want to do so to keep the boat light and so I do not have to worry about wood issues. I plan on keeping the boat for 20-30 years as I bought it for a specific purpose.

I have not tackled the floor, also 3/4" plywood. My concern on the floor is if I tear the wood out and go aluminum, the thickness difference will cause everything in the boat siting on the wood floor to not fit correctly.

I am open to suggestions on the project.

 

[sixgun86]

You could run 3/4 alum braces over your floor or use aluminum trim around the gaps like they do with kitchen cabinets? I'd even skip the carpet for a textured or rubber surface over the aluminum. Carpet will go bad eventually, especially if you don't keep it covered and this way you can take a hose to clean the boat as opposed to a vacuum. Probably cost the same and would allow you to cover other troubles areas or new trim. Once the floor is out make sure your boat is draining properly. Sometimes you need to cut channels or holes in the foam to allow the water to escape pockets. Also make sure it's not water logged..

 

[WillametteRanger]

Well I have all the wood decking and flooring out. This boat appears to be very well built. All the foam is in great shape so it will stay. Hopefully these pics work. I am going to carpet the floor and decks and do the spray on coating up the interior sides where they had carpet before. I'm also going to have an aluminum console made as it had a heavy bulky piece of crap fiberglass one. Now I need to get rid of all the old carpet glue crap.

 

[WillametteRanger]

It's been awhile since I posted on this project since the time taken has been scraping glue...I figure pictures of that is liking watching...well...the scraping of glue...not very interesting. I have gotten all the hull done as far as scraping. I pulled the fuel tank up and cleaned the bottom bilge area out as good as I really need to. The area above where the bilge pump is I will be cleaning up and roughing the aluminum surface to prep it for the spray on black Rustoleum bed liner type stuff. I have read in these forums that stuff works well.

The plastic livewell is going bye bye and an aluminum one will be built for it.

The project is progressing and it will not be long before I need to take it to the metal guy to start planning the aluminum flooring, decking, and console.