Keel stringer help needed

[Marada92]

I have a 1992 Marada 1800MVB that is more than likely going to need a complete teardown. I know the transom has soaked in water and one of the stringers sounds hollow around the ski locker. Deck is about 80% solid. I was doing some searching around in it today got to looking at what I believe to be a stringer running down the center of the boat from bow to stearn. It almost looks like a 2x4 ripped down to a 1x2 that's covered with woven mat. I'm going to try to remember to take my camera with me to get some pictures tomorrow. I mainly want to make sure it is indeed a wooden stringer before I drill into it to take see if it's rotted. Of all the stringer restores I've read through on the site I have yet to see a boat this small with one down the center. Someone help me out here if you can bc the thought of having to cut out something that close to the hull is getting frustrating!

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: Center stringer question

Re: Center stringer question

99% have a center stringer.....some thicker than others. Post the pictures so we can be sure.

 

[proshine43]

Re: Center stringer question

Re: Center stringer question

On my boat i have 2 stringers running about 3/4 of the way to the bow and a pvc pipe about 1 1/4" that was fiberglassed to the center im assuming for drainage to bilge. I dont know if it was built this way or if ptevious owner screwed that up to.

 

[Marada92]

Re: Center stringer question

Re: Center stringer question

I have a picture I took from the ski locker forward to the bow with my phone but I'm having problems attaching it. From the windshield area back it looks solid but from there to the bow it's misshaped.. Looks like the woven mat is creased and mashed down in places. Proshine- I also have the two stringers on either side that form the sides of the ski locker and run about 3/4 of the boat, but this is one solid piece that I'm referring to that runs the full length. Ok I got the pic to work. You can see how bad the bow looks. I believe most of this used to have a fake floor and carpet that someone ripped out.

 

[Marada92]

Re: Center stringer question

Re: Center stringer question

Well the more searching I did I realized I was using the wrong term.. So yes it is indeed a keel stringer. Now I'm just in the process of deciding if the repairs can be made without removing the cap. That molded in bow seating is nice until you need to get to the floor under it! My next question is this... What is normally used to form
the keel stringer once the hull begins curving upwards at the bow?

 

[Psiclown]

Re: Center stringer question

Re: Center stringer question

Well the more searching I did I realized I was using the wrong term.. So yes it is indeed a keel stringer. Now I'm just in the process of deciding if the repairs can be made without removing the cap. That molded in bow seating is nice until you need to get to the floor under it! My next question is this... What is normally used to form
the keel stringer once the hull begins curving upwards at the bow?

The wood is steamed so it will bend to match the bow curve you're talking about.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: Center stringer question

Re: Center stringer question

I can't see replacing the keel stringer with the cap on.....it goes all the way up, and it's an important one. On the smaller crafts I've done (bass boats), the curve is just cut out of 3/4" plywood, no bending needed.

 

[Marada92]

Re: Keel stringer help needed

Yea I went back and looked at it some more today. Took the camera with me so I had the flash to light it all up. Cap would definatly have to come off. Reason I didn't want to do it at first was because I thought I had and outward flange joint where the cap met the hull but realized today it's indeed a shoebox joint held with screws. Muuuch easier removal. After more inspection one stringer along with both bulkheads in front and behind gas take are gone. Someone cut drainage through the bulkhead on both sides of the keel stringer and left it unsealed so I reached in and came back with black goop. We had a big family weekend at the lake planned for memorial day but that's changed now.. Luckily the down payment hasn't been paid on the cabin yet! So here we go.. Time to start finding a way to yank the motor and diving in!