Basic boat structure question

[Redrig]

Hey all,

I have a general question for you.

I am going to be re covering the deck on my late 70's Bell Boy here soon and I am going to start prepping for that this weekend.

Before I do the deck though , I am goign to verfiy that the stringers and foam are indeed good to go , I dont want to rebuild a water logged POS. The transom is sound and I have no soft spots. it was my grandpas boat and he stored it indoors.

I am going to be doing some core samples of the foam this weekend , but of course I have never been under the deck of this boat before so I am not sure structure wise what to expect.

again this is a late 70s bell boy I/O with a 302 OMC. (78 is on the title, but its an electric shift so possibly a 77)

question - Is it safe to assume that where the motor mounts , that those are the 2 stringers and those continue all the way forward in the boat ? Is that a common configuration ?

Do most boats of this size have only 2 stringers ?

Is there usually a piece going parallel to those ?

I may not even have the correct terminology for stringers, but those are basically the backbone of the boat right ?

I just would like an idea of where to do a core sample and where not to.

Thanks in advance

 

[Ned L]

I would say you are correct. A typical smaller glass hull will (as you said) have two stringers that run from the engine (acting as engine beds) up forward as far as possible. If you check out some of the rebuilding threads here you will see what goes on below the sole.

 

[Redrig]

Great thanks for the response .

I have another question for you guys .

My grandpa installed a huge after market gas tank in the nose of the boat. I would imagine the original fuel tank is under the deck somewhere.

I would like to find the original tank and make it extra storage by adding a hatch to the top.

Do you think I could find the original tank with a metal detector ? Through the deck .

Thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Once you get the old deck off, won't you be able to find the old tank? A lot of the Older boats actually had 4 stringers. If you posted some pics of the boat and the hull we could help you a whole lot better.