I think Im Screwed

[atengnr]

Well, I took my 15ft saftmate to a local repair yard to replace the center stringer a few weeks back. Not knowing the shops reputation, I knew I was taking a risk on the workmanship.....It looks like I got burned. I learned upon picking it up that the center stringer was simply bedded into the hull with a mix of resin and chopped glass, but that the stringer was not wrapped in anything! No csm, woven tabbing, nothing.

As far as the floor, it was only glassed to the hull but there was no layer on the top of the deck. Small issue compared to the above IMO.

So, what should I do? The shop apparently does stringer repair this way. Is this repair going to hold? Opinions needed...

Thanks alot.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: I think Im Screwed

Well, I took my 15ft saftmate to a local repair yard to replace the center stringer a few weeks back. Not knowing the shops reputation, I knew I was taking a risk on the workmanship.....It looks like I got burned. I learned upon picking it up that the center stringer was simply bedded into the hull with a mix of resin and chopped glass, but that the stringer was not wrapped in anything! No csm, woven tabbing, nothing.

As far as the floor, it was only glassed to the hull but there was no layer on the top of the deck. Small issue compared to the above IMO.

So, what should I do? The shop apparently does stringer repair this way. Is this repair going to hold? Opinions needed...

Thanks alot.

Auh...... not trying to be a Monday morning quaterback but why didn't you ask them what there process was for putting in stringers before you gave it to them? O' Well what's done is done, hope you didn't pay to much for the work. We live and learn, don't feel bad we've all been down that screwed road at some point in our lives.

 

[atengnr]

Re: I think Im Screwed

Well, I did discuss this with him and since the other two stringers were in the boat, I asked him if he would be glassing the center the same as was done on the two outers (Csm and tabbed with woven), to which he said yeah. I didnt think too much of it to insist it be done precisely that way because I assumed it was a "no-brainer", standard practice. (I had replaced the two outer stringers in that manner a dozen yrs earlier).

It was only when I picked up the boat that he showed me a pic of the stringer "glassed in". He said "it aint goin anywhere." I was stunned.

This is a 1968 15 ft, so its not a huge loss - $1200 for the work (including a patch on the hull).

But, is this safe to use as is??

 

[jonesg]

Re: I think Im Screwed

the hull patch would be my concern, is it below the water level?

 

[atengnr]

Re: I think Im Screwed

the hull patch would be my concern, is it below the water level?

Yes, however, I patched it from the inside already (I had removed the floor initially), so I think that it will be OK even if he F'ed that up too.

Whats the feeling on the stringer?? Is it safe?

 

[lowkee]

Re: I think Im Screwed

The stringer is safe, but will not last long. Did they coat it in resin/epoxy? Anything? If they used pressure treated, you may get 4-5 years out of it (think pilings for docks), 1-2 (if you keep it dry) with normal wood. All in all, for what they did, that isn't a horrid price. Just a shame they didn't go the last mile, as it wouldn't have been much extra effort. You can always cut the glass keeping the deck on and glass it yourself before taking it out on the water. If they only tabbed it to the hull it won't be much to remove it.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: I think Im Screwed

Having torn apart and replaced the stringers & floor on a SafTMate, I can say that if the boat lasted as long as it did from the factory I wouldn't doubt that even with a subpar repair it will probably last a good long time.

SafTMate wasn't a top line manufacturer by any means. They used inexpensive materials and techniques. That is fine. The fact that you have a 1968 that just now needed a rebuild is testament to the fact that they were fine.

I would use the boat and enjoy it. Keep it dry and it should last plenty long enough.