fixing rotted floor

[michaelzwick]

1997 Larson 125 Sei. Port main stringer has some rot- would like to "sandwich it with new material. But, it'd be great if I could visualize the whole boat's stringer layout to strategically remove only the floor material necessary to complete the repair.

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard

boats rot from the drain-plug up.

so by the time the floor is soft, the transom and the stringers are shot, the foam is water logged and the boat is no longer safe

there is no shortcut. welcome to the restoration

start by reading links 14, 15, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b in their entirety. any answer you may be looking for are there

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[Chris1956]

In addition to what Scott said, some (not many) boats have the stringers sealed with resin and cloth. This obviously helps them resist rot.

Newer boats can have non-wood stringers. Yours's is probably too old for this option.

To answer your question. Look at the bottom of your hull. Each angle or change of direction in the hull will normally have a stringer supporting it. The center stringers will be "taller" so the deck can be installed flat. Usually there is no stringer in the very center of the hull, like a keel on a wooden boat. If you have an I/O or other open access to the transom area of the hull, you can sometimes see the stringers. An I/O motor mount will generally be tied or supported by the stringers, in some manner.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I'm kinda surprised your '97 has wood stringers. I thought Larson had transitioned to engineered foam&fiberglass stringers and bulkheads for all their boats by '97.

Do you know where the water intrusion came from? I'm asking because your rot may be more extensive. In any case, sandwiching rotted wood between pieces of good wood seems like a bad idea. Better to get the rotted stuff out of there and replace it entirely.