Stringers what stringers?

[fixer69]

I am at the start of my rebuild of a 1961 Marine-craft 17' cuddy I took out the rotten floor and waterloged foam to find only one stringer running directly down the center of the boat. It looks to be a shaped 2x6 that was glassed in my confusing is where are the other stringers. Shouldnt there be more that one the beam is just shy of 6' but the taper in the hull is fairly shallow any advise would be appreciated.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Stringers what stringers?

I am at the start of my rebuild of a 1961 Marine-craft 17' cuddy I took out the rotten floor and waterloged foam to find only one stringer running directly down the center of the boat. It looks to be a shaped 2x6 that was glassed in my confusing is where are the other stringers. Shouldnt there be more that one the beam is just shy of 6' but the taper in the hull is fairly shallow any advise would be appreciated.

Not uncommon to find a center stringer. Unfortunately, they tend to suffer the most because all water seeks the lowest level. But fear not. Replace it with another and fully encapsulate it. My preference is to use pressure treated CDX ply because the APA recomends it, and also in case you make a mistake and water gets in, you won't be in the same bind three years from now. Buy it ahead of time and let it dry under weights or tack to a wall for about a week before using and all will be good.

Some mandatory reference to read before making any decisions:

From the APA

For BEST performance of plywood in boat manufacturing, APA recommends the use of treated plywood.....

http://www.glen-l.com/wood-plywood/fiberglass-plywood.html

http://www.glen-l.com/wood-plywood/boatbuilding-plywood.html

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Stringers what stringers?

I am at the start of my rebuild of a 1961 Marine-craft 17' cuddy I took out the rotten floor and waterloged foam to find only one stringer running directly down the center of the boat. It looks to be a shaped 2x6 that was glassed in my confusing is where are the other stringers. Shouldnt there be more that one the beam is just shy of 6' but the taper in the hull is fairly shallow any advise would be appreciated.

Do you have pictures so we can see?

Also, does your boat have any core in the hull (end grain balsa sandwiched between outer and inner fiberglass skin)?

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Stringers what stringers?

My boat also only had one stringer running down the middle and no others... there are so many different ways a boat can be built that it might be that is how yours was made also... in my case it wasnt even a 2x6, it was a 1x6 piece of dimensional lumber (not even plywood). Plus mine didnt run the entire length of the boat either...

If you are sure no one else has had it apart, and thats all it has, you should be fine to go back with just the one.

Pics of mine are in my rebuild thread (link in signature)

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Stringers what stringers?

My boat also only had one stringer running down the middle and no others... there are so many different ways a boat can be built that it might be that is how yours was made also... in my case it wasnt even a 2x6, it was a 1x6 piece of dimensional lumber (not even plywood). Plus mine didnt run the entire length of the boat either...

If you are sure no one else has had it apart, and thats all it has, you should be fine to go back with just the one.

Pics of mine are in my rebuild thread (link in signature)

Mine had one stringer that didn't run the length of the boat also and had rotted core.

 

[Lightnig]

Re: Stringers what stringers?

Mine had a single 2"x6" dimentional right down the center. Pics of mine in the thread linked to in my sig, Just like Numlaar...


I'm going to replace mine with laminated CDX, fully glassed (unlike the original).

 

[fixer69]

Re: Stringers what stringers?

Do you have pictures so we can see?

Also, does your boat have any core in the hull (end grain balsa sandwiched between outer and inner fiberglass skin)?

No evidence of any core just alot of waterloged foam between the old plywood floor and outer fiberglass. Here is a picture of what I am working with.