Hi all -
First time poster, long time lurker. Purchased a 2009 13-footer a little bit ago, absolutely love it. Unfortunately need to replace the dinette floor due to rot. I've read every thread about the topic ten times over, so have a pretty idea what to do. We're pretty handy (my wife, a wood worker, moreso than me) so feel we can do it, but we live in the city with a tiny garage and just street parking so it's impossible to do work for more than a day or two at a time.
We'll have almost a week (Tuesday - Sunday) at the in-laws in the country with nothing else on the schedule but Scamp repairing. Will that be enough time? It seems like curing will be the rate limiting step. Any prep we could do ahead of time (IE coat the ply with resin ahead of time and cut down later)?
Appreciate any advice!
Marc
You have plenty of time. The big thing is getting your supplies and tools on hand before you start. For speed and a consistent cure go with the West System resins and filler. They sell a fast set hardener. You can also save time by pulling out out your dinette bases, water tank and secure wiring before going to the farm. Day one: Remove floor, wire brush and paint frame and let dry overnight. If you have a greywater tank that will have to be removed and that takes extra time.
If the rot is only across the back you can replace only the rear section of floor and join with a lap joint. Replacing good sections of floor can be a PIA. A template to cut your floor also speeds up the process.
Day two: Cut floor piece, dry fit and wire brush the shell for the resin and glass to adhere to. Day one and day two are dirty workdays.
Day three: The floor inst. goes pretty fast. Put sealant between the drop floor edge and thickened epoxy on the lower shell edge. Then drop floor in place and glass the edges to the shell using strips of mat and resin. Screw the floor to the frame rails and drop floor edge. Let set overnight
Day four: Install rear floor covering, water tank and dinette bases.
Other issues: If your rear floor is rotted across the back and you have an older Scamp.You will need to replace the rear window seal. Also with rear floor rot the wood glassed into the rear wall for the table attachment may need to be replaced. That could add a day or two to the job.
Good Luck
Eddie
This is amazingly helpful, thanks so much!
Will report back.
Things going well, but noticed some rot on the wooden ledges that the fiberglass benches screw into, so plan to replace those. Seems like the same process as the floor, anything else to be aware of?
While the floors are up we'll be putting in some vinyl plank, was planning to do the whole dinette floor and place the water tank, electrical, etc on top. Figure would add an extra layer of protection should water get in again, also looks nicer than just the plywood in the storage areas. Any downside other than the tank tubing having an extra layer to go through?