Wood for stringers

[61mysteryboat]

What is the best wood to use when replacing stringers in a fiberglass boat? The entire floor will be glassed over afterwards. Thanks

 

[jbcurt00]

Have you started demo yet?

Your boat may not have typical wood stringers. Some 1960 SCs had round hollow tube stringers: No wood.

 

[61mysteryboat]

Mine actually had solid wood stringers covered with glass. Wood had totally rotted hence the replacement.

 

[gm280]

Most of the boat refurbishing projects on these forms use exterior grade plywood. NOT high grade or furniture grade laminated woods like oak veneers or cherry veneers, but exterior glued plywood or marine grade. And if you need wider parts then the standard plywood offerings, you glue them together with exterior grade or waterproof glues.

 

[Scott Danforth]

tite bond III to laminate two pieces of plywood together. Arauco plywood is what most people on here have had the best luck with (more thinner plys within a thickness)

 

[61mysteryboat]

Sounds good I have some baltic birch that has 13 plys for 3/4". I also have titebond III to laminate pieces. I'll seal with cpes and glass over. Thanks for the input.

 

[jbcurt00]

Skip the cpes, but I think that was covered already in your other topic

 

[Ned L]

I wouldn't use a birch plywood, birch isn't all that rot resistant.

 

[jbcurt00]

Baltic birch isnt the same as the birch plywood sold in the states

Moved to the resto forum as its morphed into building..

I'd suggest keeping the questions all in 1 topic, as to avoid duplication of effort and repeating info provided elsewhere. Becomes even more important as you move into the rest of the tear down and put back

 

[JASinIL2006]

Sounds good I have some baltic birch that has 13 plys for 3/4". I also have titebond III to laminate pieces. I'll seal with cpes and glass over. Thanks for the input.

Is baltic birch an exterior grade plywood? You want to make sure you use a plywood with glue that is water-resistant.

 

[Scott Danforth]

baltic birch is interior cabinet building plywood. not exterior grade plywood. it is more expensive and does not have water proof glue.

do not use CPES, the poly wont bond to it. just wrap in CSM and tab with 1708 after bedding with PB.

 

[Woodonglass]

Uhmm, Baltic Birch Plywood IS one of the Best Plywoods you can use in Boats. It IS expensive!!! It is NOT the Birch Plywood used for Cabinets sold at the Big Box Stores!!!!

Why Choose Baltic Birch?

• Void-free core means better gluing and screw-holding than other plywood
• Core layers are bonded with exterior marine-grade adhesive
• Core layers are birch veneer
• Edges can be routed
• Edges can be left bare or covered with edge banding or solid banding
• Thick face veneer allows you greater margin for sanding without worry of sanding through
• Available in 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" and 3/4" thickness

One of the best plywood choices is Baltic birch for its void-free core, excellent screw-holding ability, and amazing strength in the layers that are adhered with waterproof glue.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I stand corrected. learned something today WOG

 

[Ned L]

Hmmmm,....
http://forum.woodenboat.com/archive/...p/t-68001.html

I still think I would pass on using "Baltic Birch"...... It is Birch, not much rots faster (except for poplar.)

 

[Woodonglass]

Hmm, This came from the link you posted Ned... Seems like the posters there are about like the iBoaters...Pro's and Cons too!!!

07-28-2007, 11:53 PM​

When it comes to using "Baltic", "Finnish" Birch for boatbuilding, You will only get 50 years before the first 2-3 inches in the bilge start to rot. If you encapsulate them, you might get 60+ years before the bilge juice starts the decay. If you are going to use real Baltic (aka. Finnish) Birch, and only paint the panels, you should only expect 50-60 years before you will have to address the rot in the bilge.

 

[Ned L]

Hahaha, ........ I did see that and was waiting for someone to notice it. ... Yes, if any wood is kept completely dry it can not rot. That aside, anyone involved in real wood boat building would put birch at the bottom of the list of woods that should be used in boat building. Poor choices, ... Poplar, Birch, Maple, they are all low in rot resistance. Birch also is low on strength.

And all this aside, just about any material will outlast the period of time that many people own their boats.

 

[Woodonglass]

Hahaha, ........ I did see that and was waiting for someone to notice it. ... Yes, if any wood is kept completely dry it can not rot. That aside, anyone involved in real wood boat building would put birch at the bottom of the list of woods that should be used in boat building. Poor choices, ... Poplar, Birch, Maple, they are all low in rot resistance. Birch also is low on strength.

And all this aside, just about any material will outlast the period of time that many people own their boats.

True...So True!!!!! I've said it sooooo many times. It's all about proper technique when doing the work and then good care and maintenance. Do that...and these boats will last longer than us!!!! Long Live Mahogany and Spruce!!!!

I KNOW you KNOW a lot about wood boat building. I try to know as much as I can about them because my bucket list has building one on it. My research tells me that actually, Birch on the Strength thing..Is really a pretty strong wood when it comes to shear strength. Check it out...http://www.woodworkweb.com/woodwork-...strengths.html
Comparable to Oak, Hickory and Ash.

 

[Ned L]

Definitely just learned something new. Thank you WOG,.. I did not know that Birch is high in strength, I certainly stand corrected there, and am always glad to learn. And I have picked up a lot of things from you, thank you!
What sort of boat would you be interested in building??

 

[Woodonglass]

I have purchased the plans for a Glen-L Zip and hope to be building it for my Grandson's once I retire. I also want to attempt to take an Old 18' Glass runabout, remove the top cap and replace it with a wood one. Kinda like the first boat I ever owned a 57' Crosby!

 

[Ned L]

Very nice! Brightwork decks on a runabout always adds a nice touch to them. The Glen-L Zip would be a nice one t build.