2005 Mobius LSV center floor section

[jammasterjay]

Hey everyone, I'm Jason. This is my first post here and I'm hoping you guys might be able to weight in on a project I'm currently working on. I'm replacing my carpet and covering the center hatch and bow floor with Hydrodeck. I've read a bunch of other threads on people who've done it, but I'm experiencing something that I haven't seen anyone else bring up. It looks like my center floor section is sagging and I'd like to address it while I've got it out of the boat. So here's what I can tell you. When it was in the boat and you walk on it, you could definitely feel, and see, some flex in it. I couldn't hear any cracking or anything that made me feel like there was a problem structurally, but it just felt a little weak. Anyway, I've got it out, and the carpet pulled off and it's definitely concave, front to back and side to side. I put a straight edge inside the boat and it appears that the hull floor is flat, or near flat, front to back as well as side to side. There's only a single lateral support (aluminum square tubing) running across the fuel tank and it is parallel to the hull floor, but not quite on the same plane. It sits about 1/4" below the plane of the hull floor, allowing the actual floor (one with carpet) to flex before it contacts the lateral support. Here's some pictures, what do you guys think? Should this floor be flat, or does this seem correct?30766

[HFarr]

Is the difference in height of the aluminum tube in the floor the same as the amount of sag you show in the floor panel? If so, then that explains the warp/sag you show. I would attach a piece of aluminum flat bar on top of that square aluminum tube to act as a shim in order to make it level with the floor. Or get a slightly larger square tube.

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[jammasterjay]

Basically yes, it is. There's about 3/8" difference in height between crossmember and floor height, and the crossmember sags about 3/8" when substantial weight is applied, giving the 3/4" of warp that the top floor has. The problem I'm facing, at least as I see it; should I attempt to straighten the floor while I have it out? The fiberglass work isn't impressive, and there's some places that could use some attention. Have you ever seen this type of floor out of a boat? If so, was it concave or pretty flat?

[HFarr]

If the aluminum tube is flexing too, then I would try to see what could be done to stop that. Maybe a piece of angle attached yo both sides? Better quality aluminum that won't flex as much? I think the panel would pull back down flat when you reinstall it for the most part. But you may even be able to make a new one that has some ribs built in on the bottom side to help stiffen it too if you're good at fiberglass.

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[996scott]

I had an 07 lsv and that panel was made out of aluminum if i remember correctly. I wonder if you could take the fiberglass panel to a fabrication shop and have them make one for you in aluminum. I have no idea on the cost but it would probably solve the problem.

[jammasterjay]

Maybe a piece of angle attached yo both sides?

Yep, I'm for sure going to try this. I'll TIG weld angle to each side, but make it level with the surrounding hull floor...maybe that'll help. Thanks for the reply.

[HFarr]

Anytime! Keep tabs on this site. You will be surprised at all the collective knowledge here, and you can add to it! Also, post back up pictures of what your final solution is. And some before / after of the new flooring too!

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[brad460]

Are you sure it’s sagged when screwed back into the boat? I had pulled the floor on my Mobius LSV to change out the steering cable so I know what your working with..

So just my opinion- Hydro deck, sea dek..whatever looks like crap in older boats. Looks too much like an after thought, not period correct.

I was considering doing mine when we had our LSV, but went back in with new grey carpet. Turned out great..

[jammasterjay]

Yeah, it's definitely sagged because it sits the same way in the boat. You don't really notice it until you're walking around, or the floor is wet. When it's wet, you can see a dip in the center where the water stays. You're right about it looking like an after thought; I kind of feel the same way, but there's another reason why I'm doing this. My 10 year old son is on the Autism spectrum. He's very highly functioning, and most people wouldn't know, but balance (especially on anything without 100% traction) and situational awareness are his crux. He's eaten crap on the center and bow floor, so I'm going with the deck just to have good footing more than anything.

[Holdmybeer]

Just a quick question before you Tig Weld anything....is that cross member removable?
Welding over your fuel tank hurt. Not saying it cannot be done just nit wanting to hear about you on the news.

Next, maybe you are missing the aluminum plate that should drop in first then the fiberglass panel sits on that to dispurse the weight. Never opened an LSV just throwing out ideas.

[Hayden]

I had this boat for four years. Pulled up the floor to run a new steering cable on the first year. I tried looking through my pictures but I couldn't find one that showed a good shot of that aluminum bar that sits above the fuel tank. I never remember thinking there was flex or give in the floor. We rode with a lot of extra bags on the seats and moving those from port to starboard or back took at least two full grown adults standing between the bar and the transom cover...plus the weight of the bag. Never had issues.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNzgI-8D5kU4SV5aKObAZ3ns1qFKOlKmKiizPGmb-OLbWswslaq6tmlJZ-FUi_PYA/photo/AF1QipOa5xtpIrp1egC9uZzwna0Gm8I7c3ckE7t-KM-a?key=LWRvYTNYdGRYM2VZeVdJUHk5WnFwakNhNWU5WG93

[HFarr]

Damn that's a lot of bags in that boat! [emoji1]

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[jammasterjay]

It is removable, and I decided to replace crossmember all together. I have some 1" solid square stock aluminum and I'm thinking about putting at least one additional crossmember in.

Good advice about not welding in the area of a fuel tank; that's a lesson I only had to learn once. I didn't fully purge a motorcycle tank before repairing it and I got bit.

[jammasterjay]

HOLY ballast batman! You weren't f-ing around...not even a little bit.

[Hayden]

Found one! (Dad cameo as we were figuring out the steering cable). The bar looks recessed slightly on the ends and I don't think there was any additional hardware but as I said, I don't remember any flex/give and we were not ballerinas when moving the weight around to switch riders...more like drunken hippo's.

https://i.imgur.com/4Xv3rc9.jpg

[VA LSV]

I have an 05 LSV and I had the floor out when I replaced my carpet several years ago and have it out now replacing the steering cable. My floor is rigid and doesn't have any flex to it when lifting it so not sure how you would get the bow out. The aluminum brace lifts out so it would be easy to shim it.