Redecking a Bass Tracker

Blkrvrbart · Post by **Blkrvrbart** » 07 Apr 2018, 00:47

More progress. Had to flatten the smurf tube a little to fit in the channels. Decided just to use it in wear areas. All the new wire is pulled, and then some. Smurf tube all the way down the port side. I’ll put an access panel where the tee is. I have some 1 1/2” Dow Blue foam board I’d like to use for flotation under the floor. Any reasons not to?

lckstckn2smknbrls · Post by **lckstckn2smknbrls** » 07 Apr 2018, 19:01

The blue and pink foam boards work great.
A good alternative to silicone is Loctite 2 in 1 adhesive.

Blkrvrbart · Post by **Blkrvrbart** » 07 Apr 2018, 21:00

Thanks. Thoughts on Great Stuff?

lckstckn2smknbrls · Post by **lckstckn2smknbrls** » 08 Apr 2018, 00:29

Blkrvrbart wrote:Thanks. Thoughts on Great Stuff?

You want a "closed cell" foam. Open cell foam will absorb moisture.

onthewater102 · Post by **onthewater102** » 08 Apr 2018, 13:05

Great Stuff is good for filling small areas, but too expensive to do a whole boat. If you want to use expanding foam check out US Composites.com 2# expanding foam you mix the 2 parts 1:1 its pretty straight forward.

Blkrvrbart · Post by **Blkrvrbart** » 13 Apr 2018, 11:19

More progress last night. Mostly reriveting what was loose. Definitely going with aluminum decking. Welded the bow damage.

eshaw · Post by **eshaw** » 13 Apr 2018, 18:16

lckstckn2smknbrls wrote:Silicone doesn't play nice with aluminum.

Why is that?

gatorglenn · Post by **gatorglenn** » 17 Apr 2018, 21:51

I will be using this, to replace my foam. It’s use by a lot of the boat racing community. And it can be sculpted to your needs in areas where drainage is a must. Then Iam spraying truck bed line from cans. On top so water won’t sit on it to eventually soak in and saturate. This was my problem. It is closed cell foam. And is 1.75 pounds per cubic feet. Same as what was in these Trackers. Good luck with your build.

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Blkrvrbart · Post by **Blkrvrbart** » 19 Apr 2018, 10:40

On the topic of aluminum and silicones, I use silicone on aluminum frequently in very wet locations with no ill effects. Maybe lock stock and two barrels has some reasoning behind his logic, but I am still planning to use silicone as a vibration damper more than anything. A high modulus silicone works really well for that. You don’t want too much in case you need to disassemble. Just enough in the right places to stop vibrations and oilcanning. Anybody?

Blkrvrbart · Post by **Blkrvrbart** » 19 Apr 2018, 10:43

gatorglenn wrote: I will be using this, to replace my foam. It’s use by a lot of the boat racing community. And it can be sculpted to your needs in areas where drainage is a must. Then Iam spraying truck bed line from cans. On top so water won’t sit on it to eventually soak in and saturate. This was my problem. It is closed cell foam. And is 1.75 pounds per cubic feet. Same as what was in these Trackers. Good luck with your build.

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Thanks! I’ll check it out. Getting pretty close to that step.

Blkrvrbart · Post by **Blkrvrbart** » 20 Apr 2018, 13:58

Got the foam board installed last night. Was able to do the bow flotation foam out of foam board with spray foam in the gaps. Finished the top of the stacks with some of the original styrofoam. It’s better than the random chunks that were in there before. Might build up the bow deck higher to meet the bow step. One big platform 7” higher would be better.

Blkrvrbart · Post by **Blkrvrbart** » 25 Apr 2018, 17:06

Looked into building up the front deck and read the “decking when or when not to” thread. The rear seat is going to be up on a deck over the top of the two flotation wells, so I decided to keep the front deck stock height. If it seems stable, maybe next year we’ll raise the front deck, but I’d rather have stability for my folks than height. Just about ready for carpet.

Blkrvrbart · Post by **Blkrvrbart** » 29 Apr 2018, 21:44

Carpet is 95% done. Need some piano hinge to mount the storage doors and rear deck access. Then to put the console back in and connect wiring.

onthewater102 · Post by **onthewater102** » 30 Apr 2018, 09:49

I have a tracker III and I really like the way you've got that storage area under the bow cap. I was struggling with how I was going to tastefully mate a u-shaped piece up to the deck.

lckstckn2smknbrls · Post by **lckstckn2smknbrls** » 30 Apr 2018, 12:30

eshaw wrote:
lckstckn2smknbrls wrote:Silicone doesn't play nice with aluminum.
Why is that?

I didn't see this until today.
IIRC Silicone has an acid in it that can damage the aluminum. Loctite 2 in1 caulk is safe to use with aluminum.