Partial stringer rot

[dvan1901]

In the process of pulling up my rotted flooring, I noticed that part of my stringers were also rotting (big shocker there). Here is the first part of the question, my stringers are about 9-12" tall and only the top 2-3" are rotted, the rest is rock solid (it appears they used red cedar or mahagony plywood). Is there a way I can replace just the top two inches without ripping out the whole thing? I was thinking of ripping out what was rotted, and then injecting the rest with this stuff: http://www.rotdoctor.com/glass/GLrotrepair.html and then finding a way to build up the rest.

My next question is in regards to glassing. So after I put a few coats of epoxy on my new pieces, once I get them in do I coat the wood with epoxy and then apply the gass, or soak the glass and lay it on? Thanks!

 

[Solittle]

Re: Partial stringer rot

If you can get down to good wood on the stringers you could sister a new piece to the old and glass it in.

Before you start to redo the stringers finish ripping out the floor and check the transom. If the stringers are bad often the transom is too.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Partial stringer rot

If you can get down to good wood on the stringers you could sister a new piece to the old and glass it in.

Before you start to redo the stringers finish ripping out the floor and check the transom. If the stringers are bad often the transom is too.

"Sistering" in a new piece and glassing it is exactly what I was thinking. I did check and the rot is localized. One good thing about the stringer design is that it is made of about 3 pieces per side, so it isn't one long piece. What I have noticed is that is has kept the rot localized to that particular part of the stringer and it appears that the other sections of stringer are all fine based on what I have removed and the foam I have taken out.

Having said that, I did take some foam out and will need to replace it I guess. What kind of foam should I use?

 

[TriadSteeler]

Re: Partial stringer rot

This solution for the foam looks pretty simple (although hazardous) and isn't really all that expensive.

http://www.jgreer.com/Foam Page.htm