1986 Renken stringers

[kstrafo@gmail.com]

I am starting the process of repairing the stringers in my 1986 Renken. Tapping on the stringers, the wood sounds bad in a couple of places and the engine lag bolts pulled out. I am thinking about repairing them either with the Rot Doctor chemical way or opening the tops and replacing the wood. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. In addition(this is the strange thing) the port stringer seems a little lower, in height, than the starboard stringer. Is this normal? The engine mounts seem to be at the same height(the motor is out of the boat). Any help will be appreciated!

 

[jbcurt00]

I wouldn't use either of those methods to 'repair' stringers.

Remove the stringers and mounts down to bare hull, and fab/install new stringers and mounts. Then fiberglass them to the hull.

This is a great graphic and write up about stringer replacement:
Fabricating Decks, Stringers, and Transoms

I'm guessing the boat deck (floor) has been removed to access the stringers. Now would be a great time to replace the transom too. Motor mounts and stringers have rotted, transom is not likely to be drastically different.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Read link 14 in the 3rd sticky in the hull restoration forum

 

[ondarvr]

Stringer height doesn't mean much, and having them different wouldn't be uncommon.

Rot Doctor isn't going to help, you'll need to actually rebuild them.

 

[kstrafo@gmail.com]

I don't think I have the expertise to completely remove and rebuild the stringers so cutting out the tops and replacing the wood seems like the best way to go for me. It does seem to me that Renken would have made both stringers to the same height. If it does not matter, I will attempt to duplicate what's in there now.

 

[ondarvr]

The stringers were probably installed by a guy that had too much to drink last night, and his only thought is drinking more when he gets off work.

It's also likely that he just got back from lunch in his car where he smoked a couple right before lining up those stringers.

When I say it's not uncommon, it doesn't mean they were designed to be a different height, only that the above mentioned guy worked in about ever glass shop in the country.

 

[kstrafo@gmail.com]

I removed the fiberglass from the top of the port stringer, completely water logged. From what I can see, the stringers were made from 3 pieces of wood, layed on end and then covered with 3 layers of ply. The starboard stringer looks ok. only the bolt holes are stripped. The starboard stringer is one inch higher than port!