79 Rinker Rideau Restoration/Rebuild

[RinkerTinker]

Hey iboats,

I have finally succeeded after two years of battling my state's title office, and have received the title to my boat. This has given me ample time to read, learn, and dream about my boat project. When I bought the boat I thought there was only a few little things to fix, little did I know this would turn into a complete rebuild and redesign. Not long after I bought the boat, I noticed the engine had "sat down" on the deck. So, I decided to take the engine out and investigate. I assumed the mounts were rotten and was right. At this point, as many of you know, the project then spiraled out of control.... waterlogged foam, bouncy floor, rotten stringers, broken tabbing, etc. Luckily I have spent years reading these forums and felt up to the challenge.

Thanks in advance to everyone who posts and responds on this website. I have removed the engine and all the guts and will add pictures of the whole process sometime. I am hopefully getting close to being done with the grinding and I have a few questions.

I would like to reinforce the transom by building it as one piece the full width of the boat but the rear is not flat. Does anyone have any tips as to how to rebuild the transom as one piece?

I would like to leave the hollow center stringers except for the wood strip on the top which I will replace. Can I grind down the weak or cracked areas and fiberglass over them to the hull without removing them... "super reinforcing"? As well as the place that your feet go so I do not have to remove these things completely?

Thanks J

 

[RinkerTinker]

No Title

Here is a few more pics. I have tons but they are all too large and it takes time to reduce the size.

 

[RinkerTinker]

Or should I cut it all out and build it back from nothing? I do not know how I would recreate those hollow center stringers but the rest would not be too difficult...

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

What are your issues with the stringers?

I know nothing but I'd say leave the hollow part there (surface grind to clean them up) but remove and replace the wood cleat on top then glass/tab the entire thing to the floor. Perhaps the more experienced crowd will chime in and set me straight.

 

[RinkerTinker]

The biggest issue with the stringers is that they have come loose in many places. I can still walk around on them fine, so they seem strong enough to clean and retab to the hull. I was not sure if I could get them strong enough again just by super reinforcing them back down. I would like to leave them in place because as of now it seems that it would make the rebuild process easier. I am taking the boat down so far I don't want to regret not fixing it properly after I dump so much money into rebuilding the floor.