Issues with stringer work while boat is trailered?

[Stenella]

I was hoping to finish pulling the rotten stringers from my Stingray this weekend, but a fellow boater told me that I should not pull anything structural unless the boat is on blocks, that the way the boat sits on the trailer may distort the true shape of the hull.

It sounds kind of silly to me. The trailer I have has rubber rollers down the center and carpeted pads alongside. I do not believe it will be an issue, however the last thing I want to do is mess up the hull!

BTW: I fixed the pictures in my original thread so people can see what I am talking about

 

[csendker]

Re: Issues with stringer work while boat is trailered?

I'm working on a trailer too. I've pulled all of the internal structure out of mine, and the hull does indeed flex some. But then I have rollers, not carpeted pads on my trailer so there's more of a point load.

I just measured for the new stringers and it appears that it's a tiny bit bowed where it's resting on the rollers. I'm going to jack it up a bit to relieve the pressure and then remeasure.

Complete removal from the trailer is not an option for me, so I'm going to fab up some sort of framework to just clear the trailer and keep on working...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Issues with stringer work while boat is trailered?

Ayuh,.......

Whether the hull is supported by Blocking, or a Trailer is somewhat irrevelant,.......

Before you start to Reconstrut,.....
You need to pull some String Lines,+ adjust the hull's support to bring it as True as you can get it..........
Then stabilize it,+ Go to Work.......................

 

[csendker]

Re: Issues with stringer work while boat is trailered?

Yes! That's what I was getting to in a very round-a-bout way. I've had to rip out all of the underdeck structure so the hull is very flexible now. In my case, I have measured and there's a slight 'dimple' that corresponds to the roller; at least in the rear of the boat. So I need to jack/block/support/whatever it up a bit to relieve this 'dimple' and get the hull true again.

 

[rockyrude]

Re: Issues with stringer work while boat is trailered?

My boat is on a roller trailer also, what I did to relieve the point loading of the rollers and keep everything straight was to slide a piece of 1/4" ply between the rollers and the hull. The ply relieves the point loading and still flexes to the curve of the hull to support it.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Issues with stringer work while boat is trailered?

As was stated, the hull needs to be supported so that it stays true until the repairs are complete. If it is on a bunk trailer, it may be trued by the bunks. A roller trailer may need you to stick some straight lumber under the hull (with support) to hold the hull true.

 

[Stenella]

Re: Issues with stringer work while boat is trailered?

alright, thanks for the input!

From what I can tell, the part of stringer I have removed thus far has not caused any change in the hull. I have been leaving as much of the foam as possible intact (makes sense it would keep things in line) and I will only be replacing one stringer section at a time (port than starboard).

I think that the crazy thick hull on my Stingray is helping lots with this as well

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Issues with stringer work while boat is trailered?

i did my build totally on the trailer. easier to work on for sure. never had any troubles. take a look at my site.