bending stringers

[salty87]

another one for you guys...the outter stringers on my boat need to be bent a little if i want to do what the factory did. i've read a little about bending planks but nothing about ply. the factory used 3/4 ply so i'm going with that but don't see a way to bend it. it needs to bend about 3-4", maybe a little more over 7'. will it create any problems to just crank it over?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: bending stringers

set it on concrete block, then weight the top down it will bow. leave it for a day or 2. you can also cut some saw cuts, about 3/8 deep, in outer the side then bow it to shape. when you glass it will fill in.

 

[flashback]

Re: bending stringers

I don't think you will have a problem bending it that small amount, holding it in place may be a little trickier..probably fasten a couple of strips going across from one to the other until you get them tabbed in...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: bending stringers

slot the back of it, like i said, about every inch of so. will be fine once glassed in. the pic was not up before.

 

[External Combustion]

Re: bending stringers

If you get really worried as to the strength of the plywood being slit like Tashasdaddy suggested (and I wouldn't if the slots were only half way through) then you can laminate your own out of two 3/8 ths ply or three 1/4 inch ply pieces. I had to make a 1 1/4 inch thick piece on the stern of my launch and laminated it out of 1/4 inch ply. There was a one foot bend in a three foot run on that part. I used resorcinal glue but epoxy would be fine. I have not tried Gorilla Glue for possibly wet locations, but a couple of my friends have and they like it.

Good luck with your project.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: bending stringers

The plywood ought to bend that much without any cutting required... Just might have to use some drywall screws and scrap wood as a temporary jig/clamp to hold it in place until the resin cures...
- Scott

 

[salty87]

Re: bending stringers and a new stringer question

Re: bending stringers and a new stringer question

thanks, folks.

while i have that picture up, i have another issue that hasn't been resolved. my motor mounts aren't so straight forward. it is powered by a 454 which causes the mounts to be a little wider and more substantial than similar models with 351's that i've seen.

the old wood was so mushy i couldn't tell what was going on...it had already went, haha. the old inner stringers seemed to have the motor mounts notched into them. the old motor mounts were something like 5" wide and 5" tall and sat on the outside of the stringer. i'll add another pic.

should those stringers run continuous (3/4" x 2 for the inner stringers) with the motor mount area's added to them or should i somehow tab the stringers and mounts together?...make sense?...pic...this overhead gives a good view. maybe 1 1/2 of ply plus some 4" PT lumber to build it up?

 

[External Combustion]

Re: bending stringers

Replace solid with solid, ply with ply unless you are confident in your marine architecture skills. It can be done with confidence if you have studied the situation, just remember it is a long way to the shore sometimes.

Good solid wood of those dimensions can readily be obtained in crating wood at the local Ag dealers. Look for white oak, mahogany, okuma or the like. All of the good woods are still common in crating. Find a text to show you the difference between good wood and trash. Your local agronimist is a good source to teach you quickly. Look him or her up in the county registry/phonebook. (Your tax dollars at real work!) Treat it with cuprinol or other treatments and sail on in confidence.

I am a cheap sort and have been mining these treasures for years. No...I don't go dumpster diving. As little as ten years ago, piano crates were still mostly Phillipene (sp)mahogany. I found a crate that a jig borer was shiped in that was rosewood once. It made my rent for three months when I resold the boards. Play and enjoy!