Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

[Royglastron]

I would like to get my boat in the water this summer but really don't have the time or the money right now to do a total restoration. However, I would like to at some point with this boat. Could I get this boat in the water with just a little reinforcement and laying down some plywood for the floor? Just wondering what dangers there could be if I don't. If I just take it on smooth lake water days here in Texas or even smooth river running. I think the transom is still good but as you can see the floor is pretty bad. Thanks for any advice.

1978 Glastron Tri-Hull 16ft
Evinrude 115hp

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

The only way to know for sure wether they need to be done is to core sample them.

I would just about be willing to bet a paycheck that they need to be done though.

The danger would be, improper support causing the hull to split open and sending the boat to the bottom quick.

 

[GWPSR]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

If you carry a PLB, wear a good PFD, let someone know where you'll be, and never carry anyone else on board, sure.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

Better get a good chain & a large float ring to tie your outboard too. Most boats that look like this below decks:

]

Are going to be full guts, stringers, decks & transom. And possibly some of the other parts & pieces of the boats structure that are made of wood.

If you can't afford to repair it properly, you probably shouldn't be using it.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

Go buy an Aluminum boat for $2,000 and put your motor on it. That's what you'll spend restoring this one. What makes you think the Transom is good on this boat? No WAY would I put me or anyone else in that boat on water deeper than 4'

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

Go buy an Aluminum boat for $2,000 and put your motor on it. That's what you'll spend restoring this one. What makes you think the Transom is good on this boat? No WAY would I put me or anyone else in that boat on water deeper than 4'

Wood - You're 3'8" too deep.

Roy - trust us, your transom is gone too. Sorry.

 

[Royglastron]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

Thanks for all the input. I think the transom is good but will have to take a closer inspection to make sure. The guy that sold it to me a couple of years ago said the transom was re-done a couple of years ago but you know how that goes. If indeed the transom is bad I will keep the motor and scrap the boat. If I do decide to take a chance with the boat it will only be me in the boat. May have to start pricing aluminum boats also. Dallas does have a boat show this next weekend. Thanks again.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

I can pretty much assure you that is a full gut and rebuild.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

Roy - The trouble is even if the transom wood is brand new, it ties into the hull and floor with cloth tabbing. There isn't any thing for it to grab onto.

 

[Royglastron]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

Thanks again, I am a new boat owner and it looks like I am learning new things everyday. Wish I had you guys with me when I bought the boat. Glad I only paid $500. I think the trailer and motor is probably worth that so not a total loss.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

Oh yeah, If the motor is a runner, it's for sure worth a lot more than $500.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

Hey Roy, we call boats like your's donors. A good trailer and motor plus the other good hardware bits can more than make up for the cost of the whole package. $500 isn't a bad deal. If you keep looking you can find an aluminum boat for a fair price. It may also need some work, but it's a lot cheaper re-do than a glass boat. And between the two boats and ebay/CL, you can recoup some cash to work on the keeper. Keep your eyes on CL and ebay - This about the best time of the year for boat buying. Good luck!

This thread has folks posting finds from all over with some real deals (and some over priced, too) on aluminum boats. http://forums.iboats.com/starcraft-boats/starcraft-c-list-ebay-428279-297.html#post4485596

I just linked to the last or most current post. The thread only started in 2011 and has almost 300 pages. Scan through some of the last few pages, think we had some Texas entries.

 

[Royglastron]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

thanks!

 

[73Chrysler105]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

Roy Frisco is up in your neck of the woods and I am down south new San Antonio. both of us have tackled this type of repair and issue. it is a lot of work but once done if you like this boat it will be good for the rest of your life if you take care of it. Everyone here will tell you that it needs to be replaced before you go on the water and to be safe yes you should. Now there are a lot of these boats out there running around jut as bad of shape. Before I get flamed I am not condoning you using it as is but it is your choice. Most of us choose to be safe take a year off redo it right and enjoy the peace of mind that we can sit back and enjoy the boat from then on.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

Clean out the boat and inspect the glass tabbing on the stringers. Take a 1" hole saw and drill a hole into one of the stringers down low so we can get a good look at the wood inside one of those stringers and how thick the glass is. If the Glass on the Stringers is thick Woven Roving and the Tabbings to the hull are good and solid and NOT delaminating and if the wood is not totally rotted and water saturated, then since the Glass takes most of the weight distribution and the wood is the form for the glass you could prolly get another season out of her IF, BIG IF, the core samples of the Transom show it to be in good condition. A new deck Properly tabbed to the hull with some Blue slab foam cut and stuffed under the hull to provide flotation, would prolly get you thru one or two more seasons as long as you did NOT take any big wakes at full throttle or get into any heavy chop. I've seen a lot worse that somehow stayed afloat with multiple passengers on board This goes against my better judgement but it's your boat and your decision and if you want to invest $500 bucks to put a deck in this boat knowing full well you will have to rip it out in 2 years to do it all over again, then I guess that's your choice. I think I'd rather spend another $500 and buy a $1,000 Tin Boat that I knew was Water Ready. You Could sell it later if you wanted to restore the Glass boat later on.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

trying to take a boat out with bad stringers is like trying to play football with a broken spine and broken legs

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

you may want to also take a look at this thread http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...a-tri-hull-transom-destroyed-help-578908.html

 

[Royglastron]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

I have a 3 day weekend so I will try and clean out the boat better and take a good look at the tabbing on the stringers and the transom. Hope to have some better pictures this weekend. Thanks for the help.
Roy

 

[IraRat]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

trying to take a boat out with bad stringers is like trying to play football with a broken spine and broken legs

Denver did that this week.

 

[Goldie627]

Re: Can I get away with not re-doing the stringers

My humble advice, life is precious, don't take unnecessary chances, money isn't an issue in your restoration initially, as a noob you will have approximately 20 to 25 8 hour days of deconstruction and hull preparation (an experienced restore person much less im sure) before you are ready to spend any real money (fiberglassing materials and wood). There are plenty of places to rent a boat for the day if you get the urge to go out. You can take wood samples yourself from stringers and transom or take it to your local boat shop and have them take samples for you. Woodonglass is a guru! Follow his advice and you'll be ok. If there was a woodonglass bumper sticker I would put it on my truck! Lol