Interior Repair Shop recommendations in Nashville TN

[byson2]

Hopefully this is the correct forum as this is my first post
I have a 96 model 19' Larson boat with stringer rot around the fuel cell and ski storage area near the center of the boat. I'm asking if anyone in the middle TN might be able to recommend a shop to do the work. It's more than I want to get involved with at this time and I do realize this can be costly but hopefully cheaper than another boat. Mechanically it's like new with less than 300 hours. It was apparently put away and covered up wet too many times. Thanks!

 

[ezmobee]

There have been very few on here who have had that work done "professionally" and a couple that have found themselves to pretty much have been bamboozled with shoddy patch it up kinda work. My opinion only but I kinda think this is a DIY or forget it deal. Most times when digging in to repair a soft spot much more rot is found including the transom. Read some of the fiberglass boat restore threads on here to familiarize yourself with how these things are built and what goes into to properly repairing one. The work is labor intensive but not really complicated.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Are you 100% certain you have stringer rot? 1996 or 1997 is when Larson went to engineered (fiberglass) stringers. Have you done core samples? Just hoping you might dodge a bullet...

 

[byson2]

Yes, unfortunately I'm certain it's stringer rot. I removed the carpet and the access panel for the fuel tank and the wood is definitely rotted.
Thanks for the reply ezmobee. I've done a lot of research on wooden stringer repair and feel certain I could do the work myself. It's the labor intensive part I'd prefer to have someone else handle. The boat, in my opinion is worth it. I'd just like to try to find someone who's willing to do the job right.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Sorry to hear it's wood. That must have been the last model year before they went to the non-wood structure below deck.

Best of luck in finding someone to fix it. They are nice boats, with a real good ride.

 

[proshadetree]

Wishing you well in your search. Have seen many substandard patch jobs in your area by professionals so watch out. At the cost per hour of a true repair I am afraid it will outrun the value of your boat for a quality repair.

 

[byson2]

Thanks. Everything above the carpet is in excellent shape (removed now though). The boat has everything I'm looking for...not too big or heavy, perfect running-easy to maintain carbureted 5.7 (350) and Volvo/Penta outdrive which I prefer over Mercrusier. Having roots from MN I also have soft spot for Larson's too. I don't know how much the repair work will cost but getting another similarly equipped bat in excellent condition would run at least 6-7K around here so that's the dollar figure I'm comparing it to right now.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I probably spent $2000 in materials and a couple tools for my Larson 186 and I didn't have to replace the stringers, just the transom, flotation foam and deck. Have you checked your transom? I probably spent a couple hundred hours on it, which would not doubt have been less if I knew what I was doing. I'd be surprised if you could have the work done for what the boat is worth.

 

[proshadetree]

Thats what I am thinking most fiberglass guys I know in this area get 100 an hour. They also will not hardly take a job on like that. To much houseboat roofs and general exterior repairs keep them busy. Like I stated before there are the scamsters out there that will take your money hold your boat for months and may or may not get it done. Even if you get it in writing to many places just close and leave the boats sitting.

 

[byson2]

That may be correct. That's why l'm checking here to see if anyone knows a reputable repair shop that could at least look at it and give me an estimate. Thanks.