Novice restoration, need help with stringers...

[summit2282]

I started a post on here a week ago and now I can't seem to find it to get answers, so here goes again...

I have an 88 Wellcraft Cuddy Cabin, 5.7 Liter Mercruiser Alpha One.

I am taking on the project of replacing the decking and the stringers and foam.

I know that it is a huge project, but I am in no hurry and I am very anxious to learn. Yes, I am a girl, but not afraid of getting dirty and I do have help for the really hard parts.

I have removed the deck and now see that the stringers are bad only on the back 1/2 of the boat. I have removed the foam from the back two compartments. When I started, the foam was soaked. Now the boat has sat in the hot sun for a week and when I went back to work on removing the foam again, it is just slightly damp next to the hull. I am wondering if I let it sit out another week if I really need to remove all of that foam.

Secondly, I need to replace the rotten strings and this is where I am confused. The current stringers have fiberglass on both sides and it's in so/so shape. I am able to chisel and vacuum away the rotten wood and still leave the fiberglass "walls" so to speak still in tact. Do I need to remove those fiberglass "walls" or can I simply cut new stringers and slip them inbetween the fiberglass and then re-seal over and attach the new fiberglass to the existing?

I hope the picture helps...

 

[chrishayes]

Re: Novice restoration, need help with stringers...

Welcome, congrats on being a girl! Way to get in there and figure things out. GOod quality in a woman(man too)...to answer your question, lots of people leave the sides in place that I have read but I just cant see that being a "permanent" repair due to the large amount of crud and moisture that that fiberglass has in/on it. While grinding mine all the way out I was amazed that after sitting out in the sun for a full week, I was grinding out air pockets in the glass that had water in it! I think if you were to prep it properly(especially if using poly resin) you would spend WAY more time leaving them than taking them out and starting with freshly ground glass. Take into account how long you plan to use this boat to decide which method is best. Use the search function and you will be able to read about this question till your old and gray if you want to(assuming you arent already). Good luck.

 

[Fingernip]

Re: Novice restoration, need help with stringers...

You may want to check your engine mounts and transom as well. It is very likely you will find them to be rotted too. Also the wet foam may never fully dry no matter how long you let it sit in open atmosphere.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Novice restoration, need help with stringers...

I would do one of two things, either gut everything out, all the foam and grind the hull to accept new ply stringers glassed on both sides then inject new foam,...

or... hog out the old ply, leave the glass channels and pour seacast in them instead of plywood.

the difference is the ply is cheaper but a lot more work and its prone to rot.

seacast costs more but don't rot , and seacast would be a lot easier to do.
An electric chainsaw will easily clear those old stringers out if you decide to keep the glass channels intact. Leave the foasm in place to keep the seacast from distorting the glass channels, remove it after seacast has set if you decide to remove it at all.
Check those motor mounts too.!

I just did my transom and recored my deck with seacast, I like it.
http://www.transomrepair.com/zk/how-to-pour-seacast-video.shtml

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Novice restoration, need help with stringers...

Definitely remove that old foam... ALL of it. Back in the day they used open cell foam that acts like a sponge. Get it out of there and use newer closed cell foam.

 

[Fingernip]

Re: Novice restoration, need help with stringers...

I would do one of two things, either gut everything out, all the foam and grind the hull to accept new ply stringers glassed on both sides then inject new foam,...

or... hog out the old ply, leave the glass channels and pour seacast in them instead of plywood.

the difference is the ply is cheaper but a lot more work and its prone to rot.

seacast costs more but don't rot , and seacast would be a lot easier to do.
An electric chainsaw will easily clear those old stringers out if you decide to keep the glass channels intact. Leave the foasm in place to keep the seacast from distorting the glass channels, remove it after seacast has set if you decide to remove it at all.
Check those motor mounts too.!

I just did my transom and recored my deck with seacast, I like it.
http://www.transomrepair.com/zk/how-to-pour-seacast-video.shtml

I was thinking something similar but what do you think about expanding foam instead of seacast in the empty stringers.. then going nuts with fiberglass to regain the strength?

 

[oops!]

Re: Novice restoration, need help with stringers...

foam is foam....it will all eventually get wet.

there are very good tutorials on this site,

erick greens "unintentional stringer job" is a fantastic cuddy stringer fix ...

the "hull extension in progress" thread is one of the most in drpth tutorials on this forum, it has detailed pictures and discussions on every concivable aspect of boat restoration and building.

by the way.......

remove all the foam.....it will never dry.
remove all the glass.....you wont get a good bond to the plywood...(unless you use jonsy's seacast method....but its really expencive)