TOPIC: 62Crestliner Del Rio - Is this Usual Construction?

Well, spring is here and thanks to BillR all the original parts to restore the 66 ERude (and more!) have arrived - can't imagine how original parts in their original packaging still exist - but many thanks to you Bill - Brilliant indeed.

So, the kids are pounding about and I thought, hey since the motor has what it needs I would start investigating the condition of the flooring in the Del Rio...

Well, it seems Crestliner – from what I have learned on this site so far – approached the construction of this boat a little bit differently – perhaps some of you who are more experienced can confirm and offer a little advice.

The attached photo’s will outline a fibreglass and aluminum stringer construction (that still seems reasonably well intact) and it appears as if they used little or no wood sub-deck. They then foam packed everything in between the stringers with foam. Now here is where it departs for me… (and no, I did not use a circular saw -damage shown in the photo's - someone else did that...)

It appears as if they then laid down an epoxy (grey, brittle, non-fibre filled) substance to seal the foam and stringer construction. They then laid steel surface bars on top of this epoxy (?) to mount the lounge chairs etc to the deck. These surface bars were screwed to the aluminum/glass covered stringers beneath the epoxy surface.

Now, the epoxy has cracked over time and water has entered however in a test “dig” I found that the water did not permeate the entire foam structure. I will however likely take everything up to fully investiagate, however I need some assistance on how this might be rebuilt – either as original or, some better wy if there are suggestions to this option.

Anyone seen this style of floor/stringer construction before – any suggestions will be gratefully appreciated.

Matthew

And some more photo's of the construction - here are some shots of the floor that was laid on top of this "Epoxy over Foam" sub-floor. Marine grade plywood with a faux TeakWood Vinyl Hardwood decking.

It appears that the sub-floor epoxy over foam was to provide the water tight seal to the underdecking and stringers and the plywood sat on top of this,

Also, an image of the interior hull - I note that there seems to be remnants of a foam over the surface - is this carpet backing? Would this boat have originally had carpet installed or some other material as a sound insulator or?

Reconstruction advice more than welcome - in fact needed...

Thanks in advance,

Matthew

I'm not an expert on the 62 year Crestliner, but my 1960 and 1961 had no foam at all. My construction in both is balsa core encased with fiberglass cloth over the hull. So from the out side it is fiberglass hull, balsa core, about 5/8 inch, then fiberglass over that. No stringers at all.

If I were to guess, I'd say that someone added all that stuff later.

Check what is under the foam. If you find a layer of wood, balsa, that's probably it.

Kensikora,

Thank you very much for taking the time to give me some insight to the construction. Interesting that pre-62 it appears the construction may have differed. I came across this old brochure with a cut-away of the hull construction for the 1962 Del Rio and it does show integral channel stringers that have been aluminum capped for attaching the chairs etc. it also shows the foam which appears in my boat to have been sprayed on instead of cut-fit.

Also, in the floor does not have any glassed in features - simply something that looks like epoxy. Now I just have to figure out how much of the foam is wet and, how to seal it back up again to get it watertight...

Wonderful to see how firms improved (perhaps...) construction from year to year.

Thanks again

Matthew

Nice Brochure, Matthew,

One thing I know about foam is that if water gets to it, it will eventually become water-logged. If you do put it back in, I suppose make sure it's sealed. I had a Lonestar 16 ft. sailboat that I replaced foam in and despite my efforts, it got water in it. So, I'm not a big fan of foam.

I would be concerned about what is underneath that foam. From the cutaway, it does look like you may still have some balsa core material. On these boats it usually pays to discover everything and I would get to the bottom of it.

Ken