1st Time Deck and Stringer Repair

[The_Only_Gert]

Hey guys, first time boat owner here. Forums have been a lot of help so far and now that I have the mechanical side good I'm moving onto the floor. When I bought the boat I knew it had some soft spots, mainly next to the engine bay, and where the fuel tank hatch is. Well today I ripped up the carpet and it was much worse than I thought, I will include pictures as soon as I can but anyway I'm not worried about putting new marine plywood on, that is pretty easy for the most part but I dug down to the stringers (I think thats what they are) and I can put my screwdriver into the wood pretty easy.The two stringers on the port side of the boat are 11" and 22"ish inches away from the actual fiberglass side of the boat, to me it appears that there are two plywood sheets next to each other that make up the stringers and about 2-4 inches down there is a laminate? covering that encases the rest of the stringer. My boat is a 92 Thompson Carrera 2000 also. Anyway right now I have taken out the bad plywood decking over top the stringers to the side where the fiberglass meats the decking, what are my options? any tips? tried finding videos but they weren't any help to me. Also the wood between my fuel tank and engine is rotted too, what is the correct way to fix this? I'm not afraid to try something I haven't done before but would like to know how to do it properly myself. Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[todhunter]

I'm in a similar situation. I recommend you go watch a bunch of YouTube. Watch the series by "friscoboater garage" on his sea ray restoration. I also recommend watching the series by "jmink" on his glastron restoration. Both will show you complete gutting of the wooden structure on the boat, and replacement.

 

[tpenfield]

Sounds like you are looking at a 'cut & gut' situation. You will be cutting and taking everything out of the boat's structure down to the bare hull and re-building it.

Lots of threads here on iBoats about doing that on a variety of boats that you can read through and learn about the process. So, you are on a well-traveled road.

 

[The_Only_Gert]

okay thanks!

 

[KJM]

Might as well check the transom too, it's likely in the same condition. I'm part way thru the same thing now. Lots of good info here and people who will answer any questions you have no matter how basic. Those stringers have to come out, the foam in between may have to too. You now have a winter project....

 

[GSPLures]

Welcome. Make sure to take lots of pictures and measurements while doing the demo so you have a reference on how to build it back.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Welcome!! We’re here to help, so ask away.