Hollow Stringers??

[coalkracker]

Today I was pulling up part of the floor in my 1965 larson and while I had the floor up I thought I would check out the stringers to see if they were soft also. So I drilled a test hole in each and what I found is that they were hollow. Not even any wood dust inside as if they rotted away. The glass is very thick on them, probably 3/4 of an inch. Has anybody ever run across this? Is this common practice to building a boat? I always thought they were wood with glass over them.

 

[ondarvr]

Hollow isn't common, but is good on an older boat, they probably aren't 3/4" think though, that would make for very heavy stringer. Many builders used hollow stringers at one time or another.

 

[Woodonglass]

Yup, a 65 Larson probably does have hollow stringers. Do they look like this...

 

[coalkracker]

They are actually fairly large and there are 4 of them. I'm not sure how thick the sides are but the tops have got to be around 3/4" thick. They were deffinetly thicker then the 1/2" plywood that I had sitting next to me.i have to do some transom work to it and I was worried that the stringers were going to be shot but I guess I got lucky with this part of the boat.

 

[coalkracker]

Maybe a little encouragement with replacing the transom also lol? I'm not sure if I should cut from the inside or cut the outside....seacast has even crossed my mind a few times also...

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Don't cut the exterior of the transom.

 

[Woodonglass]

Do NOT cut the outside skin!!! NO NO NO!!!

 

[GA_Boater]

Vote #3 to NOT cut the outside. We have had a few try and I think only one success story. The rest made the one way trip to Boat Valhalla.

 

[coalkracker]

Well I guess I have my answer on that one lol...cutting the inside is going to really suck with the motor well there but if that's the better way then that's what i have to do...so how about the seacast route? I'd like to see what people say about it that have actually used it CORRECTLY and put in a bunch of time on the water. Not from a guy who poured it over rotten wood and then complained that it didnt work. I've heard a lot of guys knocking the stuff pretty bad but not one of them have actually used it or has had any experience with it

 

[jbcurt00]

Sphelps did his MFG w Seacast, as have a few other members. Best I know, none are unhappy w results and have been using their boats.

Sam did a great job w demo and prep AND documented his work really well:
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-...g-started-pics

Its in there somewhere ^^^

No idea where you read bad 'reviews' of Seacast, other then perhaps its not inexpensive

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

If your doing sea cast don't cut either the outer or inner skin.