Drain hole??

[85Predictor]

I am replacing the floor in an '85 Predictor. "WET FOAM" Mike at Checkmate thought that there should have been a drain hole from the sub-floor to the bilge pump area. So far I have not seen one. Still looking.
Any ideas?? Should I create one or go for the completely sealed foam/sub-floor?

Thanks!

[jrs1958]

I went with the completely sealed foam/sub-floor when I did my floor last year. I bonded the center beam to the hull with kitty hair and mat. I bonded the floor to the center beam with a strip of mat/resin and screwed it together with countersunk stainless steel screws. I used ½” plywood for the floor. Foam has really improved in 20 years. I used denser closed cell foam. Check it out here:

http://www.uscomposites.com/foam.html

I cut a small notch in the top of the center beam up under the dash. I left about a ½” gap between the bottom of the floor and the top of the foam. Inspection ports were added under the seat to dry out condensation. The notch allows for air circulation between the port and starboard halves.

I also enlarged the bilge. To hold an 800 GPH pump and float switch. The plywood the gas tank mounts to was increased to ¾”. I sanded all the wood I left and after the last layer of glass was laid I mixed up some resin with black pigment and painted it on. Here’s how it turned out:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/jrs1958/finishedbilge.jpg

1984 Predictor 1968 Mercury 1250SS I-6 125HP

[85Predictor]

http://www.checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/thumb.gif
Looks like it came from the factory!
Very nice! Where did you get the black pigment?

Thanks!

[jrs1958]

I got the pigment at the same place I got the foam. Check it out here:

http://www.uscomposites.com/pigments.html

I bought the 1-ounce size can. A little of this stuff goes a long way; it doesn’t take much to color the resin. I used laminating resin (no wax) for the last layer of mat/resin; then I just painted on the black colored resin with a brush. I mixed the colored resin a little hotter; more hardener so it would cure a little faster and just kept brushing out the runs and puddles until it flashed over.

1984 Predictor 1968 Mercury 1250SS I-6 125 HP