J/22 Cabin Sole replacement question

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ourabmen

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Hello and thank in advance from a newbie here. There's a J/22 coming up for sale in my local market that used to belong to one of the boat club members and it has rotted out cabin sole, bit is in other wise in good shape. First question, is this a huge red flag and should I run? Second question is how large of a job is replacing the cabin sole? Are their vendors to order pre-fab materials from, or is it intense diy project? Thanks in advance for the input,

OUrabmen
 
slug zitski

slug zitski

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ourabmen said:
Hello and thank in advance from a newbie here. There's a J/22 coming up for sale in my local market that used to belong to one of the boat club members and it has rotted out cabin sole, bit is in other wise in good shape. First question, is this a huge red flag and should I run? Second question is how large of a job is replacing the cabin sole? Are their vendors to order pre-fab materials from, or is it intense diy project? Thanks in advance for the input,

OUrabmen
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I have never seen rotten marine plywood floorboards

sometimes they get pretty beat up and need replacing

it’s a DIY job..the plywood is expensive

many trailer sail boats “ Sink” out of the water …flood with rain water during storage

I don’t know the J22 …if the boat was stored wet..flooded ..you might have a look at the bulkheads and structure for water damage .
typically they are the same marine plywood as floorboards
 
Crash

Crash

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Mostly what Slug says. Often racers stuffed the spinnaker down the main hatch, and if the spin was wet, then so the floorboards (cabin sole) gets wet. Not uncommon to find an older J-22 with beat up floorboards. Also depending on where, whether covered or not, etc, not uncommon for rain to find its way below and collect in the shallow bilge and get to the floorboards.

Should always look at main bulkheads to see if boat has been "flooded" above the sole for any reason, and to check the chainplates to make sure they haven't been leaking and rotted the main bulkhead.

Teak and holly faced marine ply is expensive, but using old sole as a pattern (its a simple rectangle shape), pretty easy to cut an new one. Epoxy seal edges and bottom, varnish top, and you're done.
 
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jerseyguy

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Let me chime in here. I know nothing about the J/22 or how it was built. I replaced the cabin sole on my 30’ boat many years ago.

Getting the old one out was troublesome. Drill out the bung plugs then remove the screws. Easy enough.

Lift out the old floor in sections. Uh, no. It seems that when the boat was built the sole was installed before the interior furniture. So I has to cut the floor out being careful not to cut into the hull or cut the furniture.

Then came the matter of getting the new floor to fit. Flat spot in the hull was easy. But fitting it more forwards towards the mast was a major problem. Had to bevel the underside of the floor to match the curvature of the hull.

Finally there was the matter cutting out a piece of the sole to access the bilge. Anyone with some decent shop tools and a modicum of skill could do it easily. Unfortunately I had neither. Several trips to a cabinetmaker friend solved the problem.

I found a supplier in Michigan who had a warehouse full of all kinds of wood and veneers. I bought 2 sheets of 4x8 teak veneer. Don’t ask how much, it was 30 ish years ago.

Might the J/22 forum be of use? What about contacting J boats and see if anyone there can remember where they got their cabin soles from.
 
Crash

Crash

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J-22 is much simpler...

Cabin sole looking aft:
IMGP1700-1024x680.jpg


cabin sole looking forward:
IMGP1699-1024x680.jpg
 
Will

Will

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Super easy repair. The floor is a piece of cake to get out, if it is even fastened down, it would only be a couple of screws on each end. Take it out, use it as a template. Go to a plywood supplier who sells teak and holly ply (most decent lumber yards can get it) or perhaps your local marina has a half sheet. Cut it out, finish it and your good for another 30 years.
 
WCB

WCB

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Will said:
Super easy repair. The floor is a piece of cake to get out, if it is even fastened down, it would only be a couple of screws on each end. Take it out, use it as a template. Go to a plywood supplier who sells teak and holly ply (most decent lumber yards can get it) or perhaps your local marina has a half sheet. Cut it out, finish it and your good for another 30 years.
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This. Very easy. The teak and holly comes out with one hand. One 4-5" hole for the pump to go through and it's almost ready to go back in. Check the bulkheads. They're all plywood. When replaced they are usually cut in half to make it into the boat and after installation glassed back together.
 
slug zitski

slug zitski

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The issue with teak and holly is that the sheet has a pattern of lines

This may mean substantial waste in order to keep the pattern aligned on the floorboards

Think of his before you choose
 
USA 236

USA 236

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Aft of the traveler..
Will said:
Super easy repair. The floor is a piece of cake to get out, if it is even fastened down, it would only be a couple of screws on each end. Take it out, use it as a template. Go to a plywood supplier who sells teak and holly ply (most decent lumber yards can get it) or perhaps your local marina has a half sheet. Cut it out, finish it and your good for another 30 years.
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I just bought exterior fir, its the same as marine fir. Cut, fitted, painted with poly resin and top coated with gelcoat. Not as pretty but who's spending time in the boat.
 
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