stringers 88 searay sr21

[vinlandviking]

hi new to this board. my first boat and I'm trying to get it ready for family fishing. well pulled the dry rot ply wood from the tank to the bow. looks like there are only 4 stringers 2 from the side of the engine to the front of the tank
and 2 6 ins from the side that run to the walk thought.with out pulling the foam would it be safe to say thats all.i want to make sure there good now that i have the floor up.
i thank you guys for any help.
vinland

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

Welcome to the forum!!! There is a lot of us that can help you!!! And i would not have been anywhere whithout this forum!!! The thing you need though is pics that can help us help you! Welcome!!!!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

Normally the stringers run bow to stern. The engine mount stringers are likely special for the motor only. You likely have stringers under the fuel tank. I would think there are at least 6 stringers from bow to stern.

 

[vinlandviking]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

thanks guys ,i really do not want to pull the foam out, dont really have time to do all that . i payed 2500 for it and it runs good. i took a core of foam out and it is dry. looks like 1 sheet of ply wood will cove up the damage floor i took out. ill use it for the next 2 yrs till the cars payed off and get a new boat.i know its not the right way but,i know me and all the things i have to do already.DOES ANY ONE SEE A MAJOR PEOBLEM WITH THIS? and who ever gets it next i will tell them what i have done.
THANKS GUYS

 

[erikgreen]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

Normally the stringers run bow to stern. The engine mount stringers are likely special for the motor only. You likely have stringers under the fuel tank. I would think there are at least 6 stringers from bow to stern.

No, that boat doesn't have them.

Check out my thread, "Unintentional stringer job" for info on this... I just did the same job on my 1983 SRV 210. There are only the two main stringers that run from the bulkhead ahead of the fuel tank to the bow, plus a couple of short pieces of wood that are parallel to them toward the stern, but those aren't glassed in.

Sea Ray relied a lot on the underdecks being filled with foam to help stiffen the hull, I think.

With regards to your plan: Odds are good that there's more rot than you think, but if you're only wanting two years of life that's probably ok, provided you don't take it anywhere with rough water like the great lakes.

For safety make sure that you check the stringers for rot (they're easily accessible on the sides of the fuel tank compartment - drill some 1/8" holes and look for wet wood vs. dry, then plug them back up. Also check the transom if you like, although it's not as important on an I/O as it is on an outboard. Make sure the fuel tank doesn't leak and isn't corroded - inspect the bottom.

Erik

 

[vinlandviking]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

thanks for the replys guys. i need to think a couple days as to what im going to do.

 

[vinlandviking]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

looks like i have some work to do. theres a stringer than runs down the bottom right in the middle , im going to start with that one. what kinda wood should i replace it with? or would some thing like seacast work better? its 2in x2in 10 ft.i the side stringers look like ply wood standing on its edge.i tryed to look at old threads and did not see what kinda wood to use , but i think im blind from all this reading lol.
thanks guys

 

[erikgreen]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

Sea Ray used plywood, that's what most people here use too. Usually folks use either 3/4" ply singly or in a double layer if extra length is needed.

You can pay the $$ for marine grade ply, or use various qualities of exterior grade ply. For stringers I'd recommend something without voids, like the furniture grade exterior stuff.

Erik

 

[oops!]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

how rotted is the main stringer?...

you can use seacast....but if you do ....forget about paying the cars off....

erik's got a really good thread goin.....so does drewmitch44....my hull extension may...or may not help you as the configuration is different....but theres lots of tips in there.....

have a good look at all of em...it may help you to make a decision.....if you just want to patch.....(short term fix)...post back for your options

 

[vinlandviking]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

oops , i dont really know how rotten it is. i drilled some holes and the wood that came out was wet.im going to grind the top off to see how bad it is,i do not want to wait for a month for it to dry if its still good.im just depressed now .when i bought the boat, part of the floor had been redone and was told every thing was good ,thought all i had to do was carpet and go. when i took the seats out is when i found part of the floor was soft next to the new wood he put in so i ripped out what he did too. he glassed over wet wood.buyer beware. i want it fixed asap but i want it fixed right. if i get 2 yrs ill be good with that. i know i would have to do little things here and therejust not this much work. lol live and learn . sorry for the rant

 

[oops!]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

ok......rip the rotted deck out...cut out the wet/rotted parts of the stringer.....forget about waiting to dry it......sister the stringer using pressure treated (dry) plywood...(******disclaimer.....note to i boats gurus......in this case guys ....because he has issues with wet and is just sistering them id suggest pt...*****).junk the foam. re install the deck and carpet and your good to go....if the transom isnt gone.

youll get 5 years outta that....its a relitively quick repair compaired to the real/right way.


i can allready see the replys coming.....

cheers
oops

 

[vinlandviking]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

ok. ground off the top of stringer and it is wet but not rotten. it runs from the bow to gas tank bulkhead,does any one know about how long it might take to dry (so cal) . i took up the rotten deck now it just the stringer i need to work on. it looks like all the wet wood is around the ski locker. man im not made to work in the ski locker 6`4 340lbs lol. i will give it a coulpe weeks to dry and if its not i will have to find some one smaller to pull the stringer out.
thanks for the replys it really helped me

 

[fixb52s]

Re: stringers 88 searay sr21

when i bought the boat, part of the floor had been redone and was told every thing was good ,thought all i had to do was carpet and go. when i took the seats out is when i found part of the floor was soft next to the new wood he put in so i ripped out what he did too.

Welcome to our world! I think most of us were in the same situation.​