quick question

[SteveinVA]

I keep hearing that the fiberglass is the structural element in glass on wood boats. So, why is it so bad with the exception of the transom if you have dry rot. I know wet wood adds weight but dry rot wood is lighter. Someone explain please
thanks

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: quick question

It sorta depends on both for strength. If it was built with fiberglass to be the only source of strength, they are hollow or foam filled, and the glass is more substantial. On your typical older glass boat, the glass isn't thick enough to bear all the strength. It was designed to need the wood and the glass most times.

On the stringers that had the most rot on my boat, they were easy to snap by hand.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: quick question

Not sure what you mean. If the glass that encapsulates the wood is of substantial thickness (1/4" or more) then the glass does carry most of the load. If the glass serves as mostly a protective and waterproofing covering for the wood then the wood is the structural part of the boat and not the glass.  In the latter case if the wood is dry rotted then you have a problem.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: quick question

The boats with wood in them don't use fiberglass for structural support, that's what the wood is for. Wood is much cheaper structural support than engineered fiberglass layups.

There are boats with engineered fiberglass layups and they don't need nor usually contain wood, a lighter material like foam will be substituted for the wood or the layups may even be hollow.

The fiberglass in wood reinforced fiberglass construction is the fastener "nails" that holds the wood reinforcement to the fiberglass hull since conventional fasteners can't be used and adhesives aren't strong enough by themselves. The secondary benefit is the fiberglass waterproofs the wood to deter rot.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: quick question

Dry rot is still rot. The loses it's strength. Wood stringers are a structural element in a boat, whether F/G covered or not.

 

[SteveinVA]

Re: quick question

Well that cleared it up. Thanks guys
One more question, If replacing the wood stringers in a boat could you use foam board instead of plywood while increasing the amount of glass around the foam than the original wood had? I haven't done a full investigation of my new old boat yet, but I got a feeling its not gonna be good. Anyone ever do a cap off on a bayliner deck boat? I have a 94 and its alot different than your typical v bottom boat.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: quick question

This is an excellent deck boat resto:
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...om-deck-stringer-replacement-help-471173.html

Foam is use for a form for a lot of engineered fiberglass layups and is probably the easiest way to do it... but you need to price out your material before you decide. Engineered stringers in a deck boat might cost $1000 each because of the height and length, not to mention you'll also have bulkheads to do as well.

I know what you're shooting for, and that's a permenant build that will never rot again... but you don't have to spend that much money to do it.

Boats waterlog and rot because people don't understand them and neglect them, a rotten boat hasn't been shown the proper care it deserves.

If you'll keep your hull in good repair with no leaks and your top covered and sheltered from the elements, your boat will outlive you. A boat left exposed to the elements to fill with rain, snow, ice, and be cooked by the suns rays will age 10 times quicker than a covered sheltered boat.