Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

[Tinkerer]

There's various plastic products and plastic / wood combinations used for all sorts of outdoor things where timber used to be used.<br /><br />Seems like an obvious solution to rot in stringer, floors and transoms as the plastics don't rot.<br /><br />Anybody know anything about using them when replacing floors etc in boats?

 

[bigbad4cyl]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

were is a cheap place to get some ,im here in the bay area and i ask for starboard everywere and no one has heard of it..

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

i dont think resins stick to plastic very well. also talking about starboard, its VERY heavy, i think starboard is just recycled milk jugs. used mostly for trim work, and cabinet/console building.<br /><br />just use wood, make sure its totally encapsulated with resin, and it will last a long time, probly longer than original. if its taken care of.

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

oh yeah starboard is NOT cheap. around 75 bucks for a 4X8 sheet 1/4 inch thick which weighs about the same as 5/8 thick plywood. around 150.00 bucks for a sheet of 1/2 inch thick and weighs as much as a sherman tank j/k but its very heavy to say the least

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

Originally posted by jimmythekid:<br /> i dont think resins stick to plastic very well.

I'll bet they do if the resin lands on plastic anywhere you don't want it to stick.<br /><br />Seriously, I expect there'd be something to allow it to stick, like the plastic primer for painting plastic parts on cars.<br /><br />If it's a lot heavier than wood for the same structural qualities that rules it out.

 

[BillP]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

Starboard is the wrong product to use for flooring...too heavy and it needs too much support structure to keep it stiff. Best use is for cabinet doors, fish cleaning boards, etc.<br /><br />There are several composites available for boat work but price is way high. The last I priced was approx $400 a sheet from a boat builder. <br /><br />Pressure treated marine ply is available. Cost in my neck o the woods a few yrs ago was right at $100 a sheet for 5/8". They don't sell it retail anywhere near me so that was at "special order" price. I ended up using cheap 1/2" & 3/4" cca pt ply from the local lumber yard. I hand picked each sheet and let it air dry before using...3 mos to one yr. I used dimensional pt lumber for the main center stringer and let it air dry for a yr too.

 

[prockvoan]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

The only plastic that will hold is PVC.When I had built my house,a drain tee in between a tub and shower busted.Now this was under some concret,with a wall above it.What one was to do?A little sanding,acetone then glassed.No water leak,no pressure there,just draining.8 years later,still holding.

 

[davidcrk1]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

If using plastic planks 1x6x3/4 or so.. I would think if it dont stick drill small holes thru out and allow epoxy to run thru.<br />dunno but sounds plausible the fiberglass should make it strong enough.<br /> http://pak06.pictures.aol.com/NASAp...filmId=47597.747.1097726374879.1&locale=en_US

 

[Laddies]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

I know a custom boat builder that cuts PVC in 1/2 and uses it to form frames and ribs the PVC has no strength but glass that covers it gives it the strength. he claims that if you could get cardboard to stand up till the glass dried it would work fine and he builds some awsome offshore boats, he does it to hold down the weight---Bob

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

Depends on the application there...<br /><br />for light stringer replacement a thick 3 inch cardboard tube cut in half lengthwise is good ( cardboard is completely compatible with polyester resin )<br /><br />pvc is not a good choice for a stringer (only for routing wiring and such)<br /><br />I prefer using wood (has great strength..it will last along time if it is properly sealed and bedded (make sure your wood stringers have about 3/8 inch gap between your hull:filled with 3m 5200 or light filler or your stringer could trasmit its energy through your glass hull stressing it )

 

[BillP]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

Good luck finding 10'-20'long thin wall, small diameter cardboard tubes. If you buy them it is big bucks. They don't flex or fit curves well either. That's why builders use pvc. Foam "noodles" can be used for shaping if epoxy is used for the layup...$1 ea at wallyworld.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

Actually..you can get thick cardboard rolls at carpet stores,your left over christmas rolls ( if you want that thin ) <br /><br />I never had any problems..and certainly better then pvc<br /><br />and you dont need 20' lengths..4' at a time works well..and saw them on bottoms they will comform to any application ...

 

[BillP]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

The cardboard carpet rolls we have in Florida have walls 1/4-1/2" thick. Way to heavy. Different strokes I guess...Sch 20 pvc irrigation pipe works fine for me.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

Has anyone ever tried making there own fiberglass stringers? Make a mold and then lay up layers till you gaet a good strong stringer and then glass it in and never worry about it again...I would love to see a version of this being done. I would love to know if anyone has ever tried this before. I want to do it, but would like to know if it can be done.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

Check this out if you don't want to use any wood:

http://www.coosacomposites.com/

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

That sounds very expensive....would like to make my own straight fiberglass stringers....

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

For a one off project don't pre-make the stringers, just use whatever you want for a shape, pvc, abs, foam, cardboard, paper, egg noodles, used diapers, it makes no difference, just so it holds up long enough to be glassed over. If you plan on not using the core for strength, only a shape, then don't worry about it. You can still use wood, just make the glass thicker so your not relying on it for strength, then if it rots away it's still safe.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

I wouldn't want to have rotted wood in the hull if I didn't have to. I would prefer to make some sort of fiberglass stringer....

 

[Old Carver]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

The plastics are not compatible with traditional polyester fiberglass resin and products.Epoxy products even have a compatibility issue with polyesters.Even hardwoods are not good core choices because the grain is too tight and will not allow full saturation for bonding.The structural specialists I know have been at it for 30 years,same company,and they obviously are not fly by night and I crutch on their wisdom and experience.Divinicell,Nidacore and Kledgecell are all accepted for use in structural repairs but may have some shortcomings as well but I'm surprised they have not been mentioned at this point.The argument is that an improperly stored boat,which is the cause of most rot issues,will allow water to penetrate breeches in the lay-up and freeze rupturing the cells that it surrounds.Then after a thaw the water can migrate to the next row of cells and the process starts all over with each freeze/thaw cycle.The other often misunderstood issue is that fiberglass is waterproof,NOT!!!It takes a sealer be it gelcoat,best IMHO,paint or the like to seal water from the laminate to protect it.Also Greenwood Products has a line of fine marine lumber that even has a replacement warranty that covers materials and labor.For the average Joe and average Joe vessel polyester resin and a good quality of dry lumber is the ticket.What alot of people dont realize is that in many instances it took 20+ years for the factory lay-up to fail in most instances with what many call inferior products.That is why I am gelcoating like a fool on our current project that you can find here titled as Our Carver Restoration.The last vessel was this 78 Formula F hull that we pounded to death on lake erie for 5 seasons,not uncommon to see tight 4-6 footers pushed with 370hp.All done in conventional build practices and lumber from the era.Initially purchased for $500.00 and was a rotted mess other than stringers and transom somehow.

 

[Saskatoon2005]

Re: Anybody used plastics for stringers, floors or transoms?

I am starting to lean toward Sea Cast, a transom repair by pouring inbetween two layers of fiberglass....sounds like something I need...