No stringers in 1986 trihull Venture Bass Boat?

[kungpaoshizi]

Got a good deal on a boat, learning more about it, but it seems the entire thing is a mold of fiberglass and there's no stringers under the boat to create a skeleton?
My buddy was confused by this, but I guess I can see it would be possible? I've looked all through it and don't see any signs of stringers, and the floor does seem to be fiberglass...
Any downsides to this design or things I should look for? It's a pretty solid boat, but I've never had boats around other than small row boats growing up.

Any thoughts are appreciated! Thanks very much!

 

[ziggy]

Re: No stringers in 1986 trihull Venture Bass Boat?

but it seems the entire thing is a mold of fiberglass and there's no stringers under the boat to create a skeleton?

could be, stringerless boats/ wood free boats go back further than '86. at least back to 1960ish. the predecessor of my boat was stringerless too.

My buddy was confused by this, but I guess I can see it would be possible?

yep, it's possible.

I've looked all through it and don't see any signs of stringers, and the floor does seem to be fiberglass...

pretty hard to look for stringer imho, unless yer got a place to look under the sole.. the sole could be glass over wood too. imho, i'd reserch your brand of boat and see what you can find out about it. my boat is stingerless and it's documented when i research my brand. in talking with my oem, i was told my ski locker acts as stringers and i can envision this from the outside.

Any downsides to this design or things I should look for?

for my boat, the downside would be it's totally foam filled. the foam over time can get wet and hold water.
imho, when i bought my boat. wood free, stringerless construction was a selling point. especially since my other boat bit the dust due to wood rot from within. ie stringers and sole and transom.
that's my thoughts... have a great day...

 

[matt167]

Re: No stringers in 1986 trihull Venture Bass Boat?

Yep, Even my '61 Custom Craft has no stringers. They just filled it full of foam for structure well before foam was even required for flotation