Steel/metal stringers

[samsam]

Someone had a thread going a month or so ago about using metal to replace his stringers instead of wood. Does anyone know when or where on this site it was? Thanks, Sam

 

[Bondo]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

You're in the Right Forum,..... It's probably 8 or 10 pages back now,.......
Do a Search......

 

[OldBoatGuy12]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

And here is the link to the thread for ya...
http://www.iboats.com/bbboard/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=26;gtid=551498

 

[samsam]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Thanks for the replies. If you ever do try the steel stringers, let us know how ir works. Someone on another forum is contemplating the same thing, if he actually does it I will post how it worked. I tried search. Under 'stringers' I got 121 pages. Apparently this system repeats every post in every thread with the search word in it. I didn't want to ask in the forum, but sifting through 121 pages here should be something they do at Guantanimo. Sam

 

[OldBoatGuy12]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Ya, I'll definately be getting it done. Its just a matter of time. School is over in about 6 weeks, then I have a few weeks to work on it. I should get alot done. What's this other forum you speak of...You can pm if you want.

 

[samsam]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Here's a few of the latest replies on that thread...

Some quality production boat builders use galvanized steel girder which takes all the loads from the keel, mast and rig. X yachts have a long experience with that system and Grand Soleil uses it at least on some models. http://www.x-yachts.com/ http://grandsoleil.net/ It seems that it works well.

Different expansion / contraction properties are certainly concern but on the other hand, steel girder stays much more rigid under the loads then all fiberglass hull, which flexes much more under the stresses and can develop cracks over the time.

Milan

Galvanized steel girders.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steel girders actually are quite common in sailboats as Milan said they take the loads from the keel, mast and rig, we own a 31 year old GRP boat build this way, no problems so far.

In all boats i have seen or heard of the steel was galvanized to prevent corrosion.

So, maybe it will work! Sam

 

[gewf631]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

...
In all boats i have seen or heard of the steel was galvanized to prevent corrosion.

So, maybe it will work! Sam

I've got aluminum stringers in my boat, and they've worked fine for 30-years. Oh wait, my boat's aluminum, so I guess that's normal

 

[tommays]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

In my sailboat life i have only seen sections put in for the mast step because the the load is so high it would compresss any wood or glass and the beam spreads it out over a much bigger area

Even on a 24' boat you might have well over 3000 # of tension on the shrouds pressing the mast into the step :%


Tommays

 

[BillP]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Metal stringer are a no brainer. I once owned a 1960s Cheoy Lee Frisco Flyer sloop and it had galvanized steel pipe for stringers and frames. The pipe was glassed in just like any other material. Designed by Art Robb...an architect of highest regard, these were certified by Lloyds of London and bullet proof ocean crossing sailboats. I owned the boat when it was 12 yrs old and there were no problems. The original owner (I bought from) kept it moored off his house in the Virgin Islands. It's rough down there so the boat wasn't a dock queen with easy use. Don't worry about steel stringers being a problem. Glass them right and forget about it.

 

[samsam]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Well, apparently it works in sailboats. BillP, was it plain pipe or was it made into girders or trusses? Was it completely encapsulated? I would think from the '60's it would be polyester. ? Does anyone know of any fiberglass powerboats it has been tried in? Sam

 

[OldBoatGuy12]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Bill, that's a response I've been thinking would come. Thanks. I assume that they just glassed them in just like regular stringers? That is what I had planned on doing. How is the deck attached?

Sam, the deal with galvanized stuff is that it doesn't weld worth a poo(or I don't know the technique/equipment to make it weld well).

 

[whiteox3]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Someone had a thread going a month or so ago about using metal to replace his stringers instead of wood. Does anyone know when or where on this site it was? Thanks, Sam

 

[whiteox3]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Sam , I am on my 4th boat .I use a u shape gal steel brace for stringers I am not sure what they are called over here in OZ they are used for fence post. I lay them in flat side down spot weld them untill all are in then weld them up
fiberglass them in paint the welds. step 2 i use cheap plastic sheets the kind cement worker use tape it to the sides starting at the bow and working back cut out template tempate to trace on plyvery ply.very simple! and cheap I do not use foam instead I use plastic bottles they are free and are every where I do not glsse glsse the floor. instead I proof proff both side and paint

 

[samsam]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Sam, the deal with galvanized stuff is that it doesn't weld worth a poo(or I don't know the technique/equipment to make it weld well).

It welds allright but the fumes will change your life for the worse or kill you in a matter of minutes. Sam

 

[samsam]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Sam , I am on my 4th boat .I use a u shape gal steel brace for stringers I am not sure what they are called over here in OZ they are used for fence post. I lay them in flat side down spot weld them untill all are in then weld them up
fiberglass them in paint the welds. step 2 i use cheap plastic sheets the kind cement worker use tape it to the sides starting at the bow and working back cut out template tempate to trace on plyvery ply.very simple! and cheap I do not use foam instead I use plastic bottles they are free and are every where I do not glsse glsse the floor. instead I proof proff both side and paint

White,
Do you use polyester or epoxy or what? How big are the boats and how much fiberglass do you use? Sam

 

[whiteox3]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Sam , I am on my 4th boat .I use a u shape gal steel brace for stringers I am not sure what they are called over here in OZ they are used for fence post. I lay them in flat side down spot weld them untill all are in then weld them up
fiberglass them in paint the welds. step 2 i use cheap plastic sheets the kind cement worker use tape it to the sides starting at the bow and working back cut out template tempate to trace on plyvery ply.very simple! and cheap I do not use foam instead I use plastic bottles they are free and are every where I do not glsse glsse the floor. instead I proof proff both side and paint

White,
Do you use polyester or epoxy or what? How big are the boats and how much fiberglass do you use? Sam

Sam I use polyester with fiberglass tape. and the bigest is 16 ft. so far . my nexth one is a 13 ft . but rigth now its to cold to glass, here . I watched a nother person replace his floor and he has built a lot of boats this time i will take pic as i do it lol Don

 

[BillP]

Re: Steel/metal stringers

Yes, the boat was made of polyester and pipe was approx 1-1/2" diameter. They formed the pipe in one continuous piece, laid it in the hull and glassed over like you do wood...no difference. The pipe wasn't welded or made into a grid but done as frames spaced at critical places. That was about 30 yrs ago so I don't remember much detail on the hull to deck construction. These boats were glass hulls with mostly teak superstructure.