question on rotten stringers

[flashback]

saw several posts on how to repair rotten stringers but i guess my question is why repair them. it seems even if the wood is gone' the fiberglass that encased it would be the real strength of the stringer. just a thought. i have had a few boats with rotted stringers and never noticed any problems (runabouts in the 18' range, not sail)

 

[crab bait]

Re: question on rotten stringers

you got lucky .. !! fibre glass is nothin' without soild backin' ... all it is , is an egg shell over rot...

 

[flashback]

Re: question on rotten stringers

appriciate the info, if that's the case, what can happen? the boat wouldn't break up would it?

 

[MIKE F]

Re: question on rotten stringers

Why not? <br />Without solid stringers, what's holding everything together?

 

[flashback]

Re: question on rotten stringers

the hull is fiberglass one complete structure I figure the stringers held it together until the hull cured then didn't really mean much

 

[crab bait]

Re: question on rotten stringers

everything in a boats structure is there for a purpose.. an the purpose is to make the boat strong/durable for many years..if the stringers weren't really nessisary than believe me those corner cuttin' sob production boat builders wouldn't include them... also a good deck/floor adds to the strenght...but stringers are the most important... they're like I-beams...

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: question on rotten stringers

I had a hoped up speed I/O 18' boat with rotton stringers. At low speeds you could watch the deck (floor) roll over waves. Didnt go far from shore with that one. Young and stupid,aahhh the good old days.

 

[epresutti]

Re: question on rotten stringers

Before I started my re-build, had bad stringers (lots of other things), I developed stress cracks about 6' behind the front of the boat. The boat was flexing from bow to stern, sagging in the bow if you like, in my case the original stringers were not completely encased in glass, just a 4' piece then about a 6" gap and then another, etc. for the length of the boat (18').<br /><br />Stringers, gotta have them in tact.<br /><br />Cheers.<br /><br />emp.

 

[SCO]

Re: question on rotten stringers

No doubt, the stringers are structural and necessary. My boat w rotton stringers had an undulating hull. The fiberglass encapsulation I think is the means in which the bottom of the hull is held to the stringers, and not for structural strength or rot prevention. The shells, if complete( see Ed's comment), with rotted out wood would provide stiffness until you found yourself in a heavy sea.

 

[flashback]

Re: question on rotten stringers

Well I guess I need to be more specific, the boat i had was a renken 19 footer deep V hull with a ford 302 and I used it on an inland lake in ga. I knew the stringers were bad because I had to replace the ply on the floor. heck, I could jamb a screwdriver through them. but I never noticed any flexing in the hull. I ran the dog dew out of that boat and as far as I know it is still going strong, guess if i were on the coast in some real water it would not have lasted ........

 

[ejnichol]

Re: question on rotten stringers

I own a 1980 vintage century v hull w/140hp mercruiser. The back third of the boat is eat up with rotton wood partially encapsulated with fiberglass. Before my father passed on he was doubling up the rot where possible with pressure treated wood. I've done this in several other places. Boat always been kept in boat lift sling. The mfg. placed the bilge pump about 1/3 forward from stern on a plywood pedestal. Since boat would never pump dry, wood was always wet in places. If the engine hadn't been so reliable I would trash it, but it was bought without trailer so I just keep it going since its long ago paid for. Poorly designed boat though. I don't think they use Pressure treated wood originally. I relocated the pump to the abosolte stern bottom mounting it on a thin sheet of aluminum epoxing this to inside of fiberglass bottom hull. Too many boats are costed out/built and sold just on looks. Bayliner probably builds a better runabout that this was. Dashboard broke in two once also, ... but thats another story.

 

[epresutti]

Re: question on rotten stringers

Waterhead,<br /><br />Careful with that pressure treated wood, it has a high moisture content (unless you let it dry completely before installation, but fresh from the mill it is moist), if you encase it in glass it can rot from the inside over time.<br /><br />Just my 2+ cents.<br /><br />Safe boating to all.<br /><br />Cheers.<br /><br />emp.