stringer repair

[lvl]

Hey guys,

Thanks to all the info and help from the people on this siteI have started my transom project. When I cut along the inside of the billage area water came out like a waterfall. I was like oh great looks like the stringers will need to replaced. Upon further investigation there was no wood for the stringers just fiberglass.

When cutting up the back floor area I guess I was a little over ambisiuos with the cutting. I realy dont know how to go about repairing the stringer. Is there a way to make a preformed piece of fiberglass to splice in or should I put some wood in there and cover it with glass?

Another question is should there be a drain hole from the under floor area into the billage area? I have one at the very front of the billage area but should I add one on each side to?

Going to try to attach some pics of the stringer I cut and the one existing underfloor to billage ares drain.

Thx Sry for the long post.
Bryan

 

[Ironpig]

Re: stringer repair

Just a quick question for you, is this on a larson? The bilge water should drain all the way to the back i would think.

 

[lvl]

Re: stringer repair

No this is on 19.5 winner a 1972 i belive. The reason I ask about the drain is when i cut the holes in the side of the billage lots of water came out. When that water stopped i took out the rubber plug in the front of the billage area and lots more water came out. Almost like there are three diffrent areas that the water could get trapped under there.

Another question is should those drain holes from under floor be plugged while running it in the water? Then unplug them when i pull the boat out?
I could see reasoning to leave them plugged and leave them open.

 

[lvl]

Re: stringer repair

bump

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: stringer repair

While i really dont know what your stringers looked like when new, The only way I know of to fix them is to remove the floor and replace them. then put the floor or a new floor in.
You may be able to cut off the top (where you started cutting) and install new wood then glass it back up again.
As for making a glass cover then installing it, I dont think that is a good idea. Just replace the wood and then reglass it.
Without a total disassemble there is not a perfect way to do it.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: stringer repair

I just looked at the pics again and it looks like there was never wood the stringers in the first place. Did you find any when you cut it open?
If you just want to close up the stringer with glass. Id take some 1/4 plywood, make a box/form (in pieces) and screw it the inside of the stringer and then glass it over with some 24 oz woven roving. then a little glass mat to finish it off. meashure the thickness of the old stuff and then go back to that or more thickness.
My advise for glassing it is get a couple friends to help and make an assembly line, one guy soaking the mats, one handing them into the boat and one slapping them on. I have found this be the best way. And most guy will do it for a couple beers.

 

[lvl]

Re: stringer repair

So there was definitely no wood in the stringers. My only concern with putting wood in there and glassing over it is that the whole stringer had lots of water in it.

I was thinking about trying to glass the original piece back in(see pics that I attached). Is this not a good idea for any reason. It is in the very back where nobody will be walking on it or anything like that.

Thx
Bryan

 

[lvl]

Re: stringer repair

bump

 

[mogfisher]

Re: stringer repair

I'm not sure about your repair, as I'm asking the same question about my boat as I have glass stringers like you except mine are filled with foam. One thing I do know is that you need to either find out how water is getting in and stop it (probably close to impossible, especially without tearing up the floor) or provide a way for water that does get in there to drain out.

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: stringer repair

Hmm. Hard to say what's the best way to go about it. If you glass the the original piece back on, you really need make the joint as strong as the rest of the stringer. To do that, you'll need a few layers of glass over the joints. It looks like if you do that, then the deck won't lay back down flush with the rest of the deck. If that don't bother you, the I say go for it.

Since the stringer had lots of water in it, I think it would be wise to make a drain hole so that don't happen again. As for the drain in the front of the bilge, I would not advise leaving that plugged. The bilge is where the water is supposed to collect. I can't tell what kind of craft that is, but if it's one that you take out away from shore very far, a bilge pump would be smart.

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: stringer repair

By the way, having stringers without wood in them is a good thing. Most of us in the resto forum have had to contend with rotten wood stringers, and that's no fun.