I think I have Stringer rot...ideas on repair...

[Manipulator]

I had to remove my motor mounts to rebuild me trim rams. In the process I found a few of my lags just spun due to some rot in my stringers. A few holes were a little wet but not saturated. This could be trim oil that was leaking out of the rams and ran down the lags. A few of the other holes are fine. My question is this, I do not want to rip the stringers out as I believe they are not all rotten. Is there a way to fix this? I was thinking of injecting epoxy resin into the holes to fill the void and then once hard just re-drill the holes. Or should I screw the mounts in while the resin is not set? I do see a reason that I would have to remove the mounts again. The rubber dampers are perfect and the rams are rebuilt. They made it 20 years and probably would make another 20. So if the mounts can never be removed again it’s not a problem. I figure down the road I will have to have the motor rebuilt and sterndrive. When that happens I will cut out the stringers as it will be a whole lot easier to do with the motor out. Any ideas? What about the product called “get rot”?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: I think I have Stringer rot...ideas on repair...

If everthing else is sound (no rot) There are ways to just repair and strengthen the weak points. Epoxy is the way to go. Post some photos and the ideas and suggestions will roll in.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: I think I have Stringer rot...ideas on repair...

Cool thanks....I will snap some pictures. Good idea.

 

[strizzy]

Re: I think I have Stringer rot...ideas on repair...

Hmm... I personally would want to know what was going on inside the motor mounts. You have 800lbs sitting on it, putting some good torque down while smashing through waves.... If some of its rotted, well that plan isn’t a good sign. I had rotted motor mounts (along with everything else) and the one side seemed fine, till I cut it out and saw the wood. And knowing that the stringers might be rotted would bother me. Be almost like using a rusted out trailer... So you might have so work ahead of you…and resin is also fine…

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: I think I have Stringer rot...ideas on repair...

Have at it...........

 

[strizzy]

Re: I think I have Stringer rot...ideas on repair...

I just laughed out loud, LOL! But yeah ^ ^

 

[mtnrat]

Re: I think I have Stringer rot...ideas on repair...

Pictures are worth a thousand words. BTW what are you trying to say.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: I think I have Stringer rot...ideas on repair...

I don't believe the stringers are completely rotten, just a few holes. What about injecting epoxy in and then re-drilling?

 

[tmh]

Re: I think I have Stringer rot...ideas on repair...

I saw a mention of the Rot Doctor web site here once and saw some interesting ideas for this sort of repair work.

http://www.rotdoctor.com/

I have no idea if the CPES epoxy stuff they sell on the site is any better than what you might find somewhere else, but it seems to do well for penetrating rotted wood and saving you from a bigger job.

Good luck

 

[bilgeboy]

Re: I think I have Stringer rot...ideas on repair...

I liked the post, Tail Gunner, and I agree that would be the best way to go.

It is alot of work. I think the Seacast or equivalent glass fiber / pourable repair is a nice option, too, though.

Particularly on engine stringers, which have to take alot of compression forces. You can see where the stringer is cracking from stress. I don't think CPES is up to this job. You can cut out some rectangles - on either side of the mounting holes - and dig out all the old wood. It will come out with a spoon. Clean it out real good with laquer thinner, etc, then mix up seacast and pour it in. While its still wet, put the rectangular cut-outs back on, and they will set right into place. You didn't have to cut into the mounting holes, so stringer height is preserved, nothing to realign.

They are not giving the stuff away, but I think you should at least consider this option for a strong repair with not alot of headache.

Good Luck,

Mike