need ideas, NOW WITH PICS!

[mysouthernwings]

i bought a 1991 arriva (the SS prop is worth more than i paid for it) that has deck rot, and bad stringers. normally i would cut it all out, and replace them, but the stringers are rock solid. i drilled holes in them to check the core, and it is indeed mush. i hit them hard with the claw end of the hammer, and it just chipps the gelcoat. the laminate is unusually thick for a small production boat. so what i am wondering is should i just dig the cores out, and replace with new wood? i looked at seacast, but it is really expensive. i would rather not cut out good glass if i can help it.

 

[oops!]

Re: need ideas

Re: need ideas

hi,,,,welcome to iboats.

it is possible that your boat is using engineered stringers... in that case the fiberglass is the stringer, and what ever was in side it was just a form to shape over.

but we would need pics of the stringer system to know for sure.

post pics when you can.. and we can advise you.

if you want to do a restoration on the boat... we can guide you step by step right thru the process.

read the stickies at the top of the forum for information on how to replace a deck and foam a hull.

Welcome aboard !

 

[tpenfield]

Re: need ideas

Re: need ideas

Yes, pictures would be good. I would search the web to see what information you can gather about how the boat was made originally.

Another consideration is if someone has tended to the stringers previously and glassed them over rather than replacing them.

 

[mysouthernwings]

Re: need ideas

Re: need ideas

I have done restorations before, but the stringers were always confetti with paper thin CSM over them. These stringers threw me. I will post photos in a restoration thread after I get a little farther along. After looking at what I would be paying to rebuild the stringers, bulkheads, transom, the seacast isnt anymore expensive, if not cheaper. But I would like to just replace the wood if possible because I have to do this on a tight budget. Thanks for the replies!
Chris

 

[oops!]

Re: need ideas

Re: need ideas

if those are engineered stringers... you dont have to touch them.

the glass is the stringer... wood or seacast will not help.

post pics so we know for sure !

 

[mysouthernwings]

Re: need ideas

Re: need ideas

OK, here are a couple photos of the stringers. I only got a little of the foam out here. They are 8" high and 1.5" wide. The laminate is about 1/8 thick. Looks like CSM, but could be from a Chopper Gun.

 

[mysouthernwings]

Re: need ideas

Re: need ideas

Any ideas if these are engineered or not?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: need ideas

Re: need ideas

Nope, those are Standard run of the mill Manufactured stringers. The Glass is what carries the load NOT the wood. If in fact the glass is 100% in tact and there are no breaks or significant weak spots in them and the tabbing to the hull is 100% solid and sound then you could prolly get by with leaving them as is. I may get "Beat Up" by some others but, these are the facts as I know them. As OOPS said "Engineered Stringers are made this way and IF, BIIIIIGGGGG IF, your Glass Stringer Casings are Totally in tact and Solid and Tabbed to the hull then IMHO they are Good to Go! Someone explain why this is Wrong!!!! Edjamacate Me and the OP!!!!

Addendum: Ok, Having THOUGHT about this more, I realize that I am a Dumb Old Okie but not totally. The problem with the above equation is... the Thickness of the walls of the glass. You stated they are 1/8" and that is typical. An engineered "Hollow" stringer would typically have 1/4" thick walls or thicker and be 3" or more in width. Soooo... If you wanted to lay up over the existing stringer walls an additional 1/8" or more of glass and resin and make sure there were no bubbles or delams then yep you could prolly do so and make it work. Would I recommend this...Prolly not.

 

[jcchappy]

Re: need ideas

Re: need ideas

That is what I have been wondering also. I am working on a 1971 glastron trihull fishing sportsman, and all the stringer wood is rotted away but the fiberglass is still super strong.

 

[mysouthernwings]

Re: need ideas, NOW WITH PICS!

Thank you! that is what i needed to know. I will either seacast them, or lay another 1/8 over.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: need ideas, NOW WITH PICS!

Again, Like I said, I would NOT recommend trying to lay and additional 3-4 layers of glass over the existing stringer casings. Getting the New glass to bond to the old glass could be a problem and without a good bond between the two you would not get the results you are looking for. Attempting to use the existing casings to pour Seacast is also not recommended for adhesion problems as well. If you search the forum I think you will find this to be the case. Best to cut em out, grind em down and rebuild em. Not saying you can't, just telling you what a multitude of posters here on the forum have recommended here on the forum based on what a lot of guys have tried.