Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-21-2020, 08:46 PM   #1
1 Rivet Member
 
1971 18' Caravel
Palm Harbor , Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 11
Images: 6
Going with compo$ite subfloor this time

Shouldn't complain, cutting out a 50 year old front section after "someone" left the roof vent open during a storm. Man what a pain to shear all those fasteners.
Will replace with Coosa Bluewater 26. $350 for a 4 X 8 sheet!!! yikes.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	subfloor.jpg
Views:	76
Size:	324.1 KB
ID:	370891  
18caravel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2020, 12:17 AM   #2
Rivet Master
 
Foiled Again's Avatar
 
2012 25' FB Eddie Bauer
Vintage Kin Owner
Virginia Beach , Virginia
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,801
In a port city like Seattle, you might want to shop around for a better price. Look at marine suppliers rather than conventional hardware stores.. of course the west coast cost might be higher than east coast costs. And with only one sheet, you aren't a bulk purchaser.
__________________
Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present.
Foiled Again is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2020, 06:06 AM   #3
"Cloudsplitter"

 
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas , Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
Images: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Foiled Again View Post
In a port city like Seattle, you might want to shop around for a better price. Look at marine suppliers rather than conventional hardware stores.. of course the west coast cost might be higher than east coast costs. And with only one sheet, you aren't a bulk purchaser.
Yes, for sure.
A friend used it to rebuild the flooring in a classic Chris Craft with excellant results.

Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
ROBERT CROSS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2020, 07:30 AM   #4
4 Rivet Member
 
1977 31' Excella 500
Spring , Texas
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 274
Awesome! Ordered a bunch of Bluewater 26 for my project. Nope - it isn't cheap

I think it'll be worth the money for not ever having to do it again.
__________________
1977 31' Excella 500 full restoration: Excella 500 Off Road Build
GPurcell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2020, 08:29 AM   #5
1 Rivet Member
 
1971 18' Caravel
Palm Harbor , Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 11
Images: 6
Composite floor

Living in Florida now, will order from Boat Outfitters here in Florida. Only a 1.5 hours drive away from me, so can save the shipping. Be glad when I'm done. All of it will get covered up with PERGO flooring so no one will know the effort but me...and my wife...and my bank.
18caravel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2020, 01:15 PM   #6
:SPACE A" S/O 11 Air19745
 
guskmg's Avatar
 
2006 34' Classic S/O
Fort Worth , Texas
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,766
I like Coosa board even if is expensive because the labor you save the next time around. It saws and drills just like wood. You can glue it with Sikaflex 252. Plywood, even marine plywood, will always be problematic. It should have never been used in floorings and transoms. Calll the manufacturer for the best price and be sure and mention the volume of your needs. Hopefully, enough to do a floor would bring a price discount.
guskmg
guskmg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2020, 01:24 PM   #7
4 Rivet Member
 
1977 31' Excella 500
Spring , Texas
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 274
Just got my order. Seems like some quality stuff. Definitely lighter than plywood and feels solid.



__________________
1977 31' Excella 500 full restoration: Excella 500 Off Road Build
GPurcell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2020, 09:25 AM   #8
2 Rivet Member
 
1959 22' Flying Cloud
Escondido , California
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 82
Images: 5
Congrats on getting your material. I'm using Coosa as my subfloor also. A couple of notes from my experience with it.

1. Treat it like fiberglass, which it is.
2. Wear plenty of covering and PPE. Some people are sensitive to it and it can cause a lot of itching. The dust gets everywhere.
3. it sands and cuts incredibly fast and easy. It's easy to take off more than you think you are.
4. It has more compressibility than wood. Screws and elevator bolts can go too deep if you aren't careful.
5. I did not overlap the joints or epoxy the seams but some people do.
6. I filled the top of every elevator bolt and various mistakes with Bondo as the mfg. suggested.

All in all I really like the material. Takes a few extra steps to work with, but they are steps you will only have to do once. I had scrap pieces that I found buried under leaves and mud recently. After the rains they were only discolored. No expansion or rot.

Good luck.
__________________
"On a vintage Airstream if it aint absolutely broke DON'T TOUCH IT!!"
2bkidfree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2020, 07:18 PM   #9
1 Rivet Member
 
1971 18' Caravel
Palm Harbor , Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 11
Images: 6
coosa repair and finish

I usually forget to photo my repairs and finish. Did this time. here they are.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	coosa floor.jpg
Views:	35
Size:	297.8 KB
ID:	382115   Click image for larger version

Name:	Caravel forward view.jpg
Views:	57
Size:	113.6 KB
ID:	382116  

Click image for larger version

Name:	88016856-2380-4ec8-b1a8-9f23dbadebb5.jpg
Views:	42
Size:	360.1 KB
ID:	382117  
18caravel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2020, 07:18 AM   #10
Rivet Master
 
1969 18' Caravel
Greenville , whereEverIroam
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,409
Images: 20
What satisfaction knowing that you will never have to do that ever again and you have a real quality subfloor that will last for decades to come. Airstream corporate has finally seen the light and is now installing composite subfloors and all models from here out.
skyguyscott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2020, 08:43 AM   #11
"Cloudsplitter"

 
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas , Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
Images: 1
POI...I needed to seal some plywood squares for the AS.
So rather than just painting the surface with epoxy, I heated the squares really hot with my heatgun before applying, sucked that epoxy right in.
Man I love MacGyver.

Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
ROBERT CROSS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2020, 12:59 PM   #12
Rivet Master
 
1969 18' Caravel
Greenville , whereEverIroam
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,409
Images: 20
Thats really interesting, Bob, never heard of doing that. Would it be practical to do a 4 X 8 sheet that way, or would it be too big an area to keep hot with a hair blower/ heat gun? Perhaps doing it at a big bonfire? Or maybe a salamander heater.
skyguyscott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2020, 04:26 PM   #13
"Cloudsplitter"

 
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas , Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
Images: 1
Believe me I have contemplated the same thing.
If I was to try it say on a 4x8 sheet I would just try a 12" wide section at a time on the 4' side.
If you mix a slow set epoxy I think you could get a very good result. The wood does hold heat pretty well. I didn't see a breakdown in the glue bonding the plywood, but I really didn't overdo the heat, ideally I would have checked with the infra-red but we were at the BIL's place at the time.
BTW...I still roughed the surface and painted the jack squares.

Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
ROBERT CROSS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2020, 04:49 AM   #14
1 Rivet Member
 
1971 18' Caravel
Palm Harbor , Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 11
Images: 6
penetrating epoxy

Hi Bob, I've had good luck with a watery boat building epoxy called Penetrating Epoxy. Long setup, two part, mixes like water. Might be the bomb with your hot wood technique. I've seen it move through about half of a 3/4" ply while looking at the end grain. I coated the end grain of my flooring with it.

B.
18caravel is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
When you’re going through hell, keep on going... Lily&Me COVID-19 Discussion Zone 86 05-26-2020 09:32 PM
Books in Print... going, going... gone Ray Eklund Off Topic Forum 20 10-04-2017 08:21 AM
Electric step on Interstate going, going, gone EddieTheWire Sprinter and B-van Forum 1 03-30-2016 08:45 PM
mb 52 C going going...... goransons Refrigerators 5 08-23-2007 03:51 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:26 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.