new here and new to boats 1976 Marlin

[LocknLoad]

NO STRINGERS. I got a 1976 Marlin project needing a transom repair. after reading all about it I talked myself into checking the stringers because from what I've read they seem to always be bad too. I removed part of my deck and there were no stringers just soaked foam. Could a boat have no stringers?
ANY advise would help me so much. Im not to sure how to post pics yet.

 

[mickyryan]

Decap it and then let us know about the stringers, i believe you have small ones in that boat as i think i have seen another restore here on forums

 

[Woodonglass]

There's a possibility that it COULD be a Totally foamed Hull. Not sure. But...If the foam is soaked you have to remove all of it and when you do...You'll soon find out if there are stringers or not.

 

[tpenfield]

Looks like there are stringers of some sort. I’d get the rest of the flooring up to have a better look.

 

[LocknLoad]

Got the floor completely off and there is definitely no stringers. Nothing in the cuddy area either.
The foam was not compact enough to say it was being used for structure. Maybe the way the deck was glassed with the lower center area seen in the picks was being used for structure. I don't know, like I said I'm a newbie at all this.
So I'm thinking I could just add stringers, right? and would they have to run all the way to the bow or could I run them from the stern to the beginning of the cuddy?

 

[Woodonglass]

Wow that's VERY unusual. I'd HIGHLY recommend to totally fill under the new deck using 2# foam

 

[LocknLoad]

Why do you say form over stringers or a combination of both I was hoping to stay away from foam so that the same problem doesn’t happen which is wet foam

 

[Woodonglass]

If the hull was designed NOT to have stringers then there's no need for them. You have to foam under the deck anyway soooo. Why do stringers??? Wet foam only occurs if the boat receives POOR maintenance and upkeep. As long as the hull is not breached and you do a good job on the new deck, then the chances of the foam being compromised are minimal.

 

[LocknLoad]

That’s the million-dollar question I don’t know what the hull was designed for. the boat may or may not have had foam or stringers when it was manufactured I do know that the foam I removed was from the previous owner you can see the three hole circles he drilled out to fill the foam into. I thank you for your help it’s just a small boat going to be used for small lakes I think I could find enough information to get by I just need to not overthink this