24 grady stringer replacement

[cowboyup]

After having water ooze out after prodding with a screwdriver, I opted to replace the inner set of stringers from the forward bulkhead to the rear bulkhead. These were the most easily accessible. Well, easy compared to separating the hull or cutting the deck. I basically used a prybar and paint scraper to remove the woven roven, stringers and bulkheads. Of course, there's not substitute for a sawzall to expedite the process. My goal was to first remove the outer woven roven and wet/rotten wood without removing the inner woven roven. Then I would custom cut stringers and bulkheads out of douglas fir, coat with CPES and glass them in. Simple as that. I ended up removing 95% of the wood, using 2x as much woven and epoxy, drilling a dozen more 1/4" exploratory holes (and later filling them), burning up 2 heat guns and gluing my foot to the hull with expand-o-foam (that's another story). I did however, talk my father in law into helping me glass the compartments. It's amazing what a fifth of wild turkey will do. Here are a few pictures that document my first experience with epoxy and glass. <br /><br /> http://152.20.76.250/iboats/boat/portrearstringerdryout.jpg <br /><br /> http://152.20.76.250/iboats/boat/frontbulkheadcomplete.jpg <br /><br /> http://152.20.76.250/iboats/boat/rearbulkheadcomplete.jpg

 

[qaztwo]

Re: 24 grady stringer replacement

Where's the pic of the glued foot.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: 24 grady stringer replacement

Nice job, and nice boat. What year? I have an 82 Grady and am curious about stringer history. <br />Thanks

 

[cowboyup]

Re: 24 grady stringer replacement

She looked a whole lot better before i started ripping it apart. Hopefully someday soon i'll get to enjoy it...in the water. The stringer and gas tank failure for the 24' models has been well documented. You might take a look at this website <br /> http://www.yachtsurvey.com/articleslist.htm#Boat Reviews <br /><br />and see if one may apply to your boat. Almost forgot, she's a 1987 24 Offshore Pro powered by twin '91 150 evinrudes...gas hogs by today's standards. <br /><br />BTW, I've just finished gel coating a bow pulpit that was given to me. Trust me when i say it needed alot of attention....replaced all the wood in the rear section and rebuilt the nose. I bought the mounting hardware today, so i'll install it when it warms up. Also, I'm measuring and sketching the full transom swim platform that'll sit on top of the Grady style bracket already there. I'll post pictures of that creation in February.

 

[gator79]

Re: 24 grady stringer replacement

okstatefan, the links are not working for me, they time out when trying to connect to the site

 

[cowboyup]

Re: 24 grady stringer replacement

Maybe there's a lot of traffic on your search engine or something. I just clicked on the pics i posted as well as the yachtsurvey link and got right in.

 

[cowboyup]

Re: 24 grady stringer replacement

Ooops! Sorry, forgot to answer your question about stringers underneath the cabin. The only way to completely access those is to separate the hull from the cabin. Not an option in my case, but if your building is tall and strong enough, if you have lots of time and plenty of help, i'd say go ahead. That way, you'll have access to the entire grid style stringer system and easier access to both sides of all 4 stringers and bulkheads. Not to mention easier replacement of all thru hull fittings. I replaced only the inner stringers up to and including the bulkhead underneath the cabin. I exposed the end grain of the "hidden" cabin stringers, used a 5/16" x 24" drill bit to drill lots of holes into the end grain. Set the heat gun on high for 30 hours or so in 3 hour increments, filled with CPES, then filled with thickened West epoxy (404 filler i believe). While that was wet, I then covered that with the pre-treated (with CPES), pre-cut 3/4" bulkhead and fastened both with a whole bunch of 4" severe weather duty rated deck screws. That bulkhead was then 'glassed to the inner stringers as a part of the forward gas tank compartment phase. When I drilled those exploratory 5/16" holes, some of them were bone dry, while others were quite wet. None of the material from those holes was mushy or dry rotted. If it had been, I would have had to lease a building and separate the three liners to expose those stringers as well.

 

[gator79]

Re: 24 grady stringer replacement

your outer stringers were ok? the pictures loaded this time. thanks that gives me a little insight to what I will be in for. you said there are three liners? I thought it was one liner. I am pretty sure I will have to replace the ones under my seats. thanks for the help

 

[cowboyup]

Re: 24 grady stringer replacement

I drilled several 5\16" holes into the outer stringers once i had removed the inner stringers and foam. I was satisfied with the moisture content that was coming out. Of course, i used my heat gun for several hours on every hole i drilled. As for the liners, i'm counting the deck up to and including the fishboxes/storage behind the two chairs. If you look just behind the lid on those two compartments, you'll see a piece of aluminum molding. It's hiding a seam. If you trace that around, you'll see the outline. It may separate as a third piece and it may not. I'd definitely call Grady on that one. They can give lots of advice on separating the pieces. BTW, you can enter your boat hull vin # and download the original owners manual for your rig. It'll have a picture of the stringer system and a good explanation of their boat construction technique. Good luck.