Is the "Glass" really the strength???

D

daydreamer1252

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
212
Boat is an 84 Galaxy (made in SC) 17' bowrider. Floor was rotted, had been previously replaced and they went to all the trouble of sealing the seams....with duct tape...:( oy. Transom rotted bottom 10 inches only????? All indications this water infiltrated through outdrive transom mount.
Stringers are "encapsulated" and "appear" solid. My understanding is that the fiberglass encapsulation is the actual strength and that the wood inside is actually only a FORM for the glass to stick to. That the glass "tubes" that are there are the STRENGTH.

If this is true...is there any need to be concerned about what MIGHT BE the condition of the "inside" of the encapsulations??

Can the floor and transom be replaced (assuming it is done properly) and not worry about the inside of the stringers?? Or is this just wishful thinking??

As always any and all help and opinions are helpful and appreciated.
 
Chinewalker

Chinewalker

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Aug 19, 2001
Messages
8,902
Re: Is the "Glass" really the strength???

Ever been in a boat with really rotted stringers that were glassed in? Feels like you're riding on a magic carpet... Everything that shouldn't flex... flexes... and cracks... and breaks... you get the point.
- Scott
 
S

salty87

Commander
Joined
Aug 12, 2003
Messages
2,327
Re: Is the "Glass" really the strength???

you've also got to think about whether it's worth the time/$ to put a new deck on possibly rotted stringers. drill a few test holes with a drill bit and see what shape the wood is in. seal 'em up if you're good to go.
 
C

Coors

Captain
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
3,367
Re: Is the "Glass" really the strength???

Drill test holes, and also find the thickness of the glass. 3/8" is structural.
But the engine mounts are a different matter.
I dug out the foam and rotten 1x in my stringers (cut the top off); replaced with a composite (just to take up volume, cheaper than epoxy), then filled with epoxy and cloth. I made sure the glulam beam I put in the mount shells were seperated from the stringers by epoxy.
That way, if there is a problem of the 4200 on the lags letting in water, just the mounts need replaced.
 
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