Project "2 if by sea" aka, stringer replacement

[larboc]

Hi, this is my first venture into fiberglass boat work and I'd like to share what i've got and get input on what to do. I've got two boat's, one I bought, one I drug out of a burn pile. The one I bought I only bought for the motor, trolling motor, fishfinder, seats, trailer, and some other small stuff as it had hit a fencepost and ripped a hole in the hull. I thought about patching it, but upon further inspection the stringers were rotten, transom was rotton, and the hull has a TERRIBLE hook in it from the absence of support despite enough nailed in 2x4's to build a shed. Most likley from the P.O.'s attempts to keep it together.

The hull that started it all looked to be a better hull. it's an invader something an it has rotten stringers too, but transom is actually pretty solid and the hull must be thicker fiberglass because it has maintained it's shape well.

 

[larboc]

Re: Project "2 if by sea" aka, stringer replacement

continued...

not sure where the front pic went, but it's a trill hull invader something.

what I've done now is cut along each stringer and aroun it so that i can lay new ones in and glass them in place. The 3rd stringer in the center i'm not sure what to do about yet though, input?

I also removed the rivets holding the back of the deck on and made a cut that i can patch to remove the rear part for repair an bracing of the rear parts of the stringers an transom in case I find a motor larger than the 75 sea horse in the future.

Any suggestions are welcome. I've done model boats, worked on my stepdads omc 300 horse, and ME co-oped in the R&D dept at Mercury Marine, so I've got a little experience with OB's, i should be able to get the engine running well, but major hull repair like this is completly new to me. O, and the d key on my keyboar is fubar so if i drop one now and the forgive me.

thanks for any help, goal is to have it in the water for next weekend

 

[Truefire]

Re: Project "2 if by sea" aka, stringer replacement

Looks like you got yourself a project or two should i say. Both of the exterior portions of the hulls of both boats look as if they are in fairly good shape.

The white boat has a good hull on the outside. As for the yellow and white boat are you planning on removing all of your flooring, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea. This way you would be able to ascertain whether or not you would need to replace your other stringers or not. Plus you can clean up the area that you are bonding the new material to so that you will get a better bond.

Is there any signs that any of the old stringers were glassed in by your observations. I know this sounds like a silly question, but it seems by looking at the photos that there really aren't any remains of fiberglass whatsoever remaining upon the hull near these exposed wood stringers. Just curious?

Take care of yourself, take your time and enjoy, you certainly have something to keep your off-time occupied now no doubt.

Chris

 

[larboc]

Re: Project "2 if by sea" aka, stringer replacement

Well, the white boat is not repairable, not to me anyway. the invader (yellow/white) is going to get restored i guess. I cut the transom out today, what a pain. Finnaly have it all out and ready for grinding. I don't know how you guys do it with the top still on. Getting to be more fun all the time. Shoul be a solid boat when I'm done.
Hit a snag with the motor, it's a short shaft and the invader needs a long shaft. So i'm either building a jackplate or finding a lower unit/motor to trade.

 

[larboc]

Re: Project "2 if by sea" aka, stringer replacement

 

[larboc]

Re: Project "2 if by sea" aka, stringer replacement

Transom halves cut and laminated. Used some of that 50 year subflooring, coated both sides in bondo resin.

Hull prepped and ready to accept transom. Any suggestions on clamping?

Also, is there a way to slow down the cure time of that stuff? I did 12 drops per fl oz. and it seemed like I was almost out of time?

I bought a new motor for it, a 90hp tower of power. 1984 model with a mystery water in #6 issue for $350, hope its not too serious.

 

[larboc]

Re: Project "2 if by sea" aka, stringer replacement

Kind of forgot about updating this thread. She's all done and seaworthy. In fact it has already led to the demise of a lake trout on monday fishing in lake superior in big traverse bay here in the UP. After regasketing the exhaust baffle and grinding new teeth into the drive for reverse to operate on the tower of power, it is up and running great. Also built a kicker mount out of some 3/4 galvenized pipe, some angle iron, and an old scissor jack bolt for the 5hp briggs trolling motor. I can troll from 1.4 to 5 mph with it. I've trolled about 12 hours @ 1.6mph with a quart of fuel!

I don't have any pictures of it on the water, I'll get some next time its out.