Moving Stringers?

[robthompson66]

Hello All,
I have a 1966 Thompson GV 160 16' fiberglass runabout. I have done a lot of work to the boat over the last couple of seasons, I will post some pics soon. Anyways, this winter I am going to be replacing the transom and stringers and wanted to install a below deck belly tank. The boat originally used the cruise-a-day 6 gal. tanks and I installed 2 14 gallon tanks behind the seats. I want to take some weight out of the back of the boat by changing where the tank is. My problem is that the stringers are installed such that there is on running right down the center of the boat that runs fore and aft, I just wondered if I could remove that stringer and put one on either side of where the new fuel tank would go, or cut the stringer and install a couple of bulkheads.
I am getting lost here.
Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks
Rob

 

[redfury]

Re: Moving Stringers?

I would think that you could cut the stringer and install bulkheads, or move the stringers ( remove the middle and put a stringer on either side of the tanks-add width for thickness of glass, mounting and expansion if using plastic tanks )

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Moving Stringers?

If it's a V hull, then the stringer in the center isn't as important, this area will be very strong as is. On flatter hulls the stringer down the center does give some support and stiffness to the hull. The other thing about these old hulls is there was no engineering (or very little) done on the design or layout, they just made a boat and put things where they thought they were needed. This means just because the stringer is in a certain place doesn't mean that's the best place for it, it just means it sort of worked there. With some pics it'll be easier to tell if the idea will work.

 

[robthompson66]

Re: Moving Stringers?

O.k., this is the best picture I can come up with, I had to crop it so the file size was small enough, so I hope it is enough. I thought I would cut the center stringer and put in a couple of bulkheads to make a boxed in area for the fuel tank then put some 2 part foam in the hull.

 

[robthompson66]

Re: Moving Stringers?

Ok, this update has been a long time coming, I removed the old stringers, ground the hull where I need to glass, and installed new stringers and bulkheads. I just wanted to have you guys weigh in on how my progress looks. The center area in the front will be storage (beer) and the area behind it is where the belly tank is going. I put peanut butter in all of the corners, and glassed it with 1 layer of mat and 1 layer of 24oz. roving. I then put peanut butter at the bottoms of all the stringers as well. I'm about ready to glass it all in, but I am not sure how to install and secure the fuel tank. It's a 30 gallon aluminum tank and was wondering if I could just bed it in some foam and foam it on the sides and front and back to prevent movement. The area it is going in will be water tight.
Thanks!