Interor Repair Question

[speaste]

Ok experts, here's another question for you:

As I have been working to clean up this money pit I bought I have come accross several items on the interior I need to fix:

There is a compartment (seems to be fairly common with all these runabout size boats) which is in the floor to hold waterskis and such. I has a hatch with a pop up handle and small drain. Anyhow, This part is rotting and is "soft" when walked on. Have other people run into this? I imagine this is another one of those things that would just cost a fortune if you tried to buy it from the dealer. Any suggestions? I suppose I could try to rebuild it with plywood or something?

[3388sam]

Don't have on my boat now- but I have replaced the ski locker door a couple of times.
Easy- It's made of marine plywood. I used regular plywood to replace it! I covered the plywood with epoxy to make it waterproof and if you really want to put some more strength in it you can fiberglass it!

Take the old one and remove the aluminum channel, latch and drain, it's usually in good shape and you will reuse it. Strip the carpet and use the old one as a template to cut a new piece of plywood. I also beefed it up a bit by screwing 2 pieces of strapping to the bottom to stiffen it up. Reuse the old carpet if it's in good shape or get some new carpet and use the old as template. Some spray adhesive, staples and new screws and you done.

Half a day and about $20 bucks!

[Franco_2100SC]

Where are you keeping your boat? Mine's at Occoquan StPK. You just need some good weather and you'll be able to build a better hatch than Maxum's. See http://sempreveloce.tripod.com/ for some of my fixes.

KKKKFL