74 Century Arabian Stringer Repair

[mcrustyruss]

I am in the process of replacing the floor and stringers in my boat as they were totally gone. So far I only have half of the floor and stringers completely removed, and have been doing a great deal of research on what the most correct way to do this is. Now I am totally confused. My dad is building an airplane and has learned all kinds of things about making composites and using epoxy. He thinks I should use epoxy on everything. However, after reading member OOPS! thread on hull stretching and the comments posted by capnjason?? I am under the impression that I could have bonding issues with the epoxy to my hull material. Also, I do not know if the hull is a poly or vinyl resin. If I use epoxy, does that even matter?? What I really would like to do is end up with a boat with barely any wood left in the structure i.e. composite floor and stringers. I would make the stringers on a form and then bed them in epoxy to the hull. From that point on I would just follow the pretty much standard procedure for glassing them in. I'm not sure what the layup schedule should be, so if anyone could make a recommendation I'd appreciate it.
This forum is awesome for info. I have probably spent 18 hours just reading and reading. I know I've read the info I've asked about, but I just wanna be sure. Since I was a kid I've wanted a Century Arabian. I had a Resorter, but I had to sell it. I have 3 little boys and a little girl so I want to make sure any work I do will last for a long time. Thanks in advance!

 

[joenapier]

Re: 74 Century Arabian Stringer Repair

Great project boat! I saw that you had responded to one of my boats and I love what you are doing with this old Arabian! They are great muscular boats and they deserve achance to live again!

As to you questions (a month late), Epoxy rsicn should be your best bet. It is compatible with the others and good adhesion. I would do what I could to rough up any other slick composite surface you are laying up to.
http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=997

Luckily, I did not do any stringer work - but my floor and foam were an aweful mess.

As an option, that Seacast stuff is good stuff. I poured new motor mount "skids" because the wood ones were rotted (I see your are in bad shape too). Seacast is dense and tough, but a little flexible if not encapsulated fully in fiberglass. For me, it was great to mount the motor to.

I've seen people use it for stringers - it would require full fiberglass encasement to give any lingitudinal strength (like a stringer would require).

Hope the best for your project and glad to see you getting those boys to work!

 

[mcrustyruss]

Re: 74 Century Arabian Stringer Repair

Thanks Joe. I ended up taking all the old stringers out and making new ones out of treated 2X stock. I just glassed them last night and will install them into the boat tonight. Thanks for the input and inspiration. I can't wait to get the floor in so my helpers can actually have something to stand on! I know it's hard to believe, but they're not quite so helpful yet at 2,3,and 5!

Thanks again!

 

[joenapier]

Re: 74 Century Arabian Stringer Repair

Hey, I've got a 13 y.o. that has a 3 minute attention span and a 4 y.o. that will buff wax off the hull until you tell him to stop. Go figure!

Funny, my dad was never really a "project guy" but my brothers and I are all game to build a deck, work on the car, or restore a boat.

Wow, I can't imagine trying to keep three of my handiest friends occupied during a project, let alone three boys under the age of 5! That's a superdad task.

 

[79arabian]

Re: 74 Century Arabian Stringer Repair

Just getting the handle of this forum. I bought my 77 arabian in 2006. got it home and the more i got into it the worse it got. One night in the middle of the winter of 2007 I was sitting in the hull after removing flooring ,engine supports and 100 lbs of soaked foam and almost lost it. I had to decide to junk this boat or go ALL the way.
Well I went all the way and spent probably a couple thousand hours.
And it was worth i. The Betty Lea took 1st place,classic glass, at the ACBS boat show in clarks lake last year,
Your boat as almost all from that vintafe ysed poly resin. Epoxy is the only way to go. poly does not bond well to poly but epoxy does. You have to make sure the surface is degreased, sanded, and clean.
Iused either John Greer aero marine epoxy or MAS.
I looked at your pictures and it brought back alot of memories. (most not good)

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: 74 Century Arabian Stringer Repair

Russ,

You really have many options here. Epoxy will be the strongest but it will also be expensive. Poly resin and glass would be plenty strong for your boat. You just have to make sure that everything is prepped well and clean. Besides poly is a lot less expensive. The original manufacturer used it why shouldn't you?

I will say that pressure treated dimensional lumber isn't the best choice for your stringers. Since you are glassing anyway, an exterior plywood would be stronger, lighter and dimensinally more stable. I know you already glassed the 2Xs but if you have not installed them yet think about it. Enjoy and have fun.

 

[BohKnowsBoats]

Re: 74 Century Arabian Stringer Repair

Just bought a 77 Arabian 180. w/ 302 Mercruiser in/outboard. The boat engine was totally rebuilt and had 25 hrs on it when I bought it. The powertrain is in unbelievable shape. Wish I could say that for the rest of the boat. I noticed holes in the stringers where some foam had been injected was this done stock, or did someone fill in rot with foam? My other question is where the wood goes into fiberglass how do I fix this where it is rotten? Not sure how I do fiberglass work over wood. Boat doesn't leak at all but needs some tlc. I am a beginner at project boats so any tips on how to fix this thing up will help! Thanks