Transom, Stringers...........help!

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

I dont really understand the " box "..

What benifit would this mod create...Im just wondering..Ive never seen such a box for drains.

wouldnt it be better just to drain your stringers and bulks with sealed up holes ?

Im just saying here.. I dont understand the box thing...

YD.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

Limber holes for drainage through the stringers will work, store boat bow up with drain open so water can drain out. Looks like a nice little project, you'll be looking for something bigger soon enough.
Now you know the expense and work involved I bet you'll be diligent checking the next boat out, I can spot bad transoms over the internet like most of us.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

The recommendation to use wood glue was ONLY in regards to laminating his transom boards together. It was not improper advice.

I would agree with Not using wood glue to lam trans bonds to each other.

Its not standard practice..nor is it practice of any means to hold transom lams together with elmers glue. Though It Might be OK in the construction of said trans lams before you glass it.

I agree with not using Any wood glue for structural lams.

I agree that you allready have resin/cabosil and mat/glass on your list of resto Must have stuff.

Why new glues and such ? Its made from this..and better then OE..why all this MDO and epoxy making things Very hard on the end user ? I dont understand..

Poly Works .... Very well..
Epoxy Works Very Very WELL

Your Repair WILL NOT fail if done Correcly with whatever resin you want to base it on..its only the top coatings ...gel ..paint.. etc..

You have to have to know what your end tops coats are ..

YD.

 

[strtbobber]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

About the stringers........what I pulled out was 2, what appears to be 1x4's cut down to about 1 3/4". First, is just regular 1x4 good enough? Should I buy hardwood? (I know most of you suggest using plywood for the stringers, but I'm just trying to find out what other materials are acceptable)
Second, I know the height of the new stringers should be the same, but what about the thickness? Is it alright to make them a full 1" thick? I'm just thinking it would be easier to screw the deck down if I had a full inch to hit.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

You are correct in the fact that most of the guys on here use ext. grade Ply wood laminated together to make a 1 1/2" stinger. But...there are plenty of others that have used Douglas Fir 2x6 as well. I do not think I would use 1 x 6 which is only 3/4 inch in reality. Personally I would use the plywood. It's your boat so do what you think is best or what you are comfortable with. After it it encased in glass and resin it will probably out last you anyway. When you are ready to attach your deck you do NOT have to screw it to the stringers. You can, and I recommend, that you use PB to Glue it to the top of the stringers and to the sides of the hull. You can weight it down with concrete blocks or other heavy weights while it dries. The less holes you put in the deck the better.

I'm just sayin...

 

[strtbobber]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

You are correct in the fact that most of the guys on here use ext. grade Ply wood laminated together to make a 1 1/2" stinger. But...there are plenty of others that have used Douglas Fir 2x6 as well. I do not think I would use 1 x 6 which is only 3/4 inch in reality. Personally I would use the plywood. It's your boat so do what you think is best or what you are comfortable with. After it it encased in glass and resin it will probably out last you anyway. When you are ready to attach your deck you do NOT have to screw it to the stringers. You can, and I recommend, that you use PB to Glue it to the top of the stringers and to the sides of the hull. You can weight it down with concrete blocks or other heavy weights while it dries. The less holes you put in the deck the better.

I'm just sayin...

The fact that a 1x4 is only 3/4" is exactly the reason I asked. I think I'll go 2x4 fir. There's not enough room for 2x6.
Can I not use PL to glue the deck to the stringers? Seems to me I've read that somewhere (a few times).

The reality of it is this: I don't plan to have this boat for 20 years or anything like that. I got it and a trailer and a motor for $100. But it IS important to me to make it safe. So I want to do a fairly decent job...structurally AND cosmetically.

Thanks Wood!!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

I would recommend that you resin and glass both the top and bottom of your deck. If you do that then I would recommend that you use PB to attach the deck to stringers. I am NOT confident that the PL would adhere well to the glassed in stringers and the Deck whether it be glassed or bare wood. Maybe others on here will comment. Again, I recommend glassing the underside of the deck with at least a coat of resin and 1.5 oz mat and then using PB to stick to the stringers.

I'm just sayin...

 

[strtbobber]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

I would recommend that you resin and glass both the top and bottom of your deck. If you do that then I would recommend that you use PB to attach the deck to stringers. I am NOT confident that the PL would adhere well to the glassed in stringers and the Deck whether it be glassed or bare wood. Maybe others on here will comment. Again, I recommend glassing the underside of the deck with at least a coat of resin and 1.5 oz mat and then using PB to stick to the stringers.

I'm just sayin...

Yup, I will most definitely be glassing both sides of the deck!! I think that's a no-brainer.

Thanks again, Wood!! I do appreciate all the help!

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

Question for the OP..

Was the Deck bonded to the stringers when you took it out ? Im not talking screws..but some kind of filler or bonding agent.

Personally I dont see the reason for deck/stringer PB bonding on a smaller vessel. I would not recommend it for Larger vessels infact ( too much flex and will bust those small bonds ).

I could be way off wrong here..but Ive only seen fiberglass deck to stringers bonded.. and that was with plexus or proset. ( again larger boats )

YD.

 

[strtbobber]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

There was no bond between the deck and the stringers. BUT!! it's obvious that someone has done a certain amount of resto on this boat in the past......and pretty poorly I might add......so who knows.

Thanks, Doc!!

 

[dsujen]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

I cut the top of the transom fiberglass off and used an 18" chainsaw to remove all of the rotten wood inside the transom without damaging the fiberglass shell. I then put a fan on it for a day to dry up what remained. Then I cut out 2 pieces of 1/2" regular plywood to fit what I scooped out. They fit loose in the transom so I could get em in. I also cut 1/8" groves every 1/4" on each piece of wood on both sides to allow the resin to get into everything. I wiped down everything the best I could with acetone and put resin on the plywood.While wet with resin I placed the 2 pieces of grooved plywood in the transom I filled it up with resin. It worked out very well and has been in rough waters for a few years and still is as hard as a rock.

 

[sasto]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

Question for the OP..

Was the Deck bonded to the stringers when you took it out ? Im not talking screws..but some kind of filler or bonding agent.

Personally I dont see the reason for deck/stringer PB bonding on a smaller vessel. I would not recommend it for Larger vessels infact ( too much flex and will bust those small bonds ).

I could be way off wrong here..but Ive only seen fiberglass deck to stringers bonded.. and that was with plexus or proset. ( again larger boats )

YD.

I doubt that the floating agents ..plexus/proset...were used at that time......But..... We need to realize the importance of "flex" in construction.....catostrophic failure is the term we use....
. Good advice,YD

 

[strtbobber]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

I doubt that the floating agents ..plexus/proset...were used at that time......But..... We need to realize the importance of "flex" in construction.....catostrophic failure is the term we use....


I plan to use PL Premium to lay down the stringers......then glass as instructed. Good??

As Doc said, there is flexing. But I wonder if you guys can tell me how much flexing there is on a 14' boat.....and it's only 4' wide. So would it be a horrible idea to fasten the deck to the stringers?

 

[sasto]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

If she were mine I wouldn't screw the deck down. The reason I wouldn't do it is if the hull were to flex...in time the screws would work their way loose and create a path for water intrusion. A product such as plexus adhesive would be my ideal way of bonding the deck to the stringers. Very strong and will flex. We have bonded (floated) a whole deck and cap with the stuff.....no screws. no glass. Theoretically this was done to soften the vibration and pounding from the hull to the deck and make for a smoother ride. The engineers thought it was great...as a builder and captain, I don't know.

I haven't used PL for bonding the finished floor to finished stringers....but makes me wonder if it wouldn't be a bad idea. Has anyone ever done it? Cheaper than plexus.

 

[strtbobber]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

If she were mine I wouldn't screw the deck down. The reason I wouldn't do it is if the hull were to flex...in time the screws would work their way loose and create a path for water intrusion. A product such as plexus adhesive would be my ideal way of bonding the deck to the stringers. Very strong and will flex. We have bonded (floated) a whole deck and cap with the stuff.....no screws. no glass. Theoretically this was done to soften the vibration and pounding from the hull to the deck and make for a smoother ride. The engineers thought it was great...as a builder and captain, I don't know.

I haven't used PL for bonding the finished floor to finished stringers....but makes me wonder if it wouldn't be a bad idea. Has anyone ever done it? Cheaper than plexus.

Thanks! The screws working themselves lose is a very good point! The product Plexus....where can one get that? Can I buy it in Canada? Is there a product comparable to Plexus?

Thanks Sasto!!

 

[sasto]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

Thanks! The screws working themselves lose is a very good point! The product Plexus....where can one get that? Can I buy it in Canada? Is there a product comparable to Plexus?

Thanks Sasto!!

Plexus isn't something you can usually find on a shelf, online would be the best bet. I personally don't know about any other product. YD mentioned proset, I'm not familuar with it. I still wonder if PL wouldn't work. Good day!

 

[strtbobber]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

Plexus isn't something you can usually find on a shelf, online would be the best bet. I personally don't know about any other product. YD mentioned proset, I'm not familuar with it. I still wonder if PL wouldn't work. Good day!

Thanks!
I'm going with 5/8" for the floor, so it's probably going to be very strong, especially after glassing both sides. I wonder if I need to worry about fastening it to the stringers at all. And that way the hull could flex as it needed to. Think I'm on the right track?

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

I actually used PL the last time around to bond my deck to my stringers.

Honestly, it didn't work too badly. The reason I won't do it again is that there's a tremendous amount of strength to be gained in a boat hull from bonding the deck to the stringers and hull sides as strongly as possible.

If I set things up right and use epoxy PB to bond the deck, then the deck and hull form a very stiff, strong support structure. The technical term for this is "monocoque" design... basically you're making all the parts of the boat into a single piece of bonded fiberglass, which is very much stronger than separate parts glued together.

PL works ok, it's just not a strong enough bond for me. But if all you're concerned about is holding your deck in place on the stringers, it works fine.

Erik

 

[strtbobber]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

I actually used PL the last time around to bond my deck to my stringers.

Honestly, it didn't work too badly. The reason I won't do it again is that there's a tremendous amount of strength to be gained in a boat hull from bonding the deck to the stringers and hull sides as strongly as possible.

If I set things up right and use epoxy PB to bond the deck, then the deck and hull form a very stiff, strong support structure. The technical term for this is "monocoque" design... basically you're making all the parts of the boat into a single piece of bonded fiberglass, which is very much stronger than separate parts glued together.

PL works ok, it's just not a strong enough bond for me. But if all you're concerned about is holding your deck in place on the stringers, it works fine.

Erik

Thanks Erik! I'm not entirely sure exactly what to be concerned about and to what extent, since I'm inexperienced at this AND owning a boat. The fact of leaving the deck seperate from the stringers so that the hull can flex makes sense to me. BUT!!! Making the whole boat into one piece makes complete sense to me as well.
It's a small boat....14'....so I guess what I'm trying to weigh is this; considering the size of the boat, would it last fine if I only PL the deck to the stringers? It's not like I'm going to be hard on the boat.....mainly gonna be used for fishing on small lakes. And it's also not like I need it to last another 40-50 years like it already has.

Thanks again!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Transom, Stringers...........help!

Having everything bonded together would be great, but in the normal build process nothing is used to bond the floor to the stringers, some builders do it, but its not the rule. I would rather glue than screw (I don't like the holes) and companies that do bond it down typically use a polyester based product, so while it sticks OK, its not a great glue.

I haven't compared 5200 and other adhesives like it to PL head to head, but I have used many of the PL products and they appear to work fairly well. If polyester is used and is expected to hold things together, I would imagine PL would do at least as good, if not better.

Plexus would be great, but like already said, can be difficult to find.

5/8 ply would be a little thick for a 14' boat, 1/2 would be fine.