'93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

[ironhead8625]

Like a lot of other people on this site, I am new to fiberglass boats. I got a real good deal on this '93 astro f18 175 hp merc and couldnt pass it up. I noticed before i bought it that the transom seemed a lil weak, so I knew from the start that i was gonna have to replace it. And to my surprise when i lifted the cap off, every piece of wood in the boat was water logged. So i called up a few friends and go in touch with a guy that does this kind of work on the side. Long story short he was trying to screw me out of my money so i went and picked the boat up half done. I am in really deep with the wife now and i would like to do it myself, with the help of this forum of course. I have read a lot of posts about this subject and have read alot of good info. My main concern right now has to do with the fiberglass portion. I have the wood cut out and ready to go back in and the guy had already tacked most of the stringers and transom in the boat. My question is do i need to leave a small space in between wood and hull with foam or something? When laying the resin and fiberglass, do i apply resin first then put mat and repeat for like three coats? I will try and post some pics in a lil while.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

Welcome to the iBoats Dry Dock IronHead!!!

I have attached some drawings that should help you visualize the processes.
Post up your pics and keep the questions coming.

(Click the pics to enlarge


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Welcome Aboard!!

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

Thanks alot woodonglass that really helps. Ill look for my camera to take some pics. The guy that was doing it has it all screwed up and im afraid that i will have to start the stringers over. Was he suppose to fully coat the transom pieces with resin before installation b\c he didnt and i hope i dont have to tear all that back out. This is a great site that I have been viewing for a few years now and has helped me alot. Keep up the good works guys, you really save people alot of money.

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

here are a few pics

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

will take some better ones when the wife gets home with the camera

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

OK......WOW!!!! First off Let's see the WHOLE boat from the outside. What IS this?? The Stringers Should NOT be in pieces like that. IMHO you're gunna be starting over. This does NOT look correct. Do you have any pics of the original layout? Don't think I have ever seen a fiberglass boat with transom knee bracing like that. The woodworking leaves a LOT to be desired.

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

Yea, he done a really crappy job and i thought he done this for a living. The knees are exactly like the ones we took out of the boat and the stringers are pretty close to being exact also. I am not sure if he cut the stringers to attach to the bulkheads correctly. I will take a few more pics

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

what do you think i should do? The stingers are not put in with much fiberglass, so it shouldnt be too hard to take back out. This is how the stringers looked when we took the cap off the boat minus the fiberglass.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

Ok, what kind of boat is this? ASTO BASS Boat?? what Kind of Motor. What HP. If you will notice in the Original pics the Stingers are ONE solid piece and the single bulkhead is Tabbed into them They are NOT cut. YOu need them to be solid. They are the MOST important structural feature of the entire HULL.

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

I have to order all new materials now, so do you think that 5 gallons 404 poly resin, 15 yards 1.5 oz CSM mat, 15 yards 1708 biax cloth, and a few tubes of PL adhesive will be enough to do the job.

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

Where can I find a 14' piece of plywood

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

'93 astro f18 175 hp efi 2.5L merc

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

Nope you're gunna need at least 10 gallons of resin. mat and cloth are about right. You're gunna need two gallons of Cabosil and a qt of 1/4" chopped glass fibers you need these to make peanut butter. If you get regular size tubes of PL you'll need a 6.

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

When we removed the stringers they were in three different pieces on each side and they butted into the bulkheads. Each piece is smaller than the other from the transom to the front

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

Man that goes against everything I know about boat building. There's a guy on here called CadWelder. I have contacted him to take a look at your thread. He IS the BASS BOAT guru here on the forum. He WILL know how this boat shold be put back together. Let's wait and see what he says. But I'm sure you will need the materials I listed. the mat and Cloth soak up resin more than you think.

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

Ok thanks, but how could i get a piece of plywood that is 14' long.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

You don't. You laminate two piece together with resiin, but NOT butt joints at the bulkheads. At least Not in my opinion.

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

I didnt know that maybe that is how it was made. I am a noobie with all this, how would i laminate them together.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

What is their thickness? 3/4" 1" 1 1/2"????

 

[ironhead8625]

Re: '93 astro stringer and transom rebuild

3/4