Yesterday I bought what I knew was going to be a project boat for 500 bucks. Included the trailer a Running Johnson 9.5 Outboard an Evenrude Outbard parts motor and some small extras like life vests etc. The main purpose for the boat is to be just a fishing boat. Only in the water when being used and store in the garage when not in use. (I am using the Rustoleum Topside all over, for this reason.)
The person I bought it from said they re-did the floors and sealed them and put new carpet on. The carpet had what looks like liquid nails on it... (I seen it at the time and new I would be replacing the carpet at any rate.) When I pulled up the carpet, I seen that the "New floor" had gaps between the sheets and specifically where it was to meet the bow section. It just laid on the stringers, attached with liquid nails. I could easily pull the pieces up and remove them. When I did, I felt the stringers and they were HOLLOW! I was prepared but had hopes they would be OK. I knew this was going to be evident due to the age of the boat, but for some reason (I don't know why) I was optimistic that I wouldn't have to. But I remembered reading about hollow core stringers!
I started searching the web about the possibility of hollow core stringers. And low and behold I came across a post From August of 2015 Created by Naw9119. http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-...-t-573-hawk-br
In which Woodonglass confirmed that these boats did indeed have Hollow Stringers!
Can you guys help me out on a few things!?
1. Can anyone confirm that these are absolutely hollow core on these boats? I think the wood pieces I am finding in the stringers are from the floor being removed...but I would like to confirm!
2. I would say they are 90% solid but there are small sections here and there that are cracked or "soft".
Can I either;
A) Just fiberglass over those spots, If so what type of fiberglass cloth should I use; or
B) Totally cut out those sections and fiberglass bridging them back together from strong point to strong point. (I would figure leaving those pieces in and reinforcing would be better because they are whats originally tabbed in? But I'm not a pro.) I have also found maybe a total of 7 (that are only an inch or so) where it looks like the fiberglass has crinkled creating a "Hump" on the floor. Should I cut/Grind those out and fix them as well or once again fiberglass over them to reseal and reinforce them or fill them with fiberglass putty?
There are some very slight waves in random locations of the stringers. (What should I do about this, if anything)
3. Now that I have the floor out, If I lay under the boat I can see spots where I can see light. Should I just fiberglass from the inside in those general areas? For example if the "spot" is about a 3" maybe do a 1" square fiberglass over it? What type of fiberglass should I use and how many layers?
4. I am going to have to lift the cap off and replace the transom with a boat this old and one that looks like it has had some water issues already. Any random advice on that process, building the transom or installing it?
5. Lastly, when I do my floor do I tab it in to the side of the boat including the front and fiberglass the whole floor level? The reason I ask this is because when I lifted the floor the front section of flooring up in the bow has space along the sides. I am not sure if this was just more bad work or was intentional, to allow water up front to get down in the bilge and flow to the back? I feel like that would be a really bad idea, but I'm newer to boats so I'm not sure and I figured I would rather be honest and just ask and find out the answer than be too prideful and not ask.
I have good pictures, but I keep getting a message that my pictures are "Invalid File Data?? Can anyone assist me with that as well? I have used forums for years so I am very familiar with them but not sure what is going on with the picture posting sometimes it happens when you are new....
The person I bought it from said they re-did the floors and sealed them and put new carpet on. The carpet had what looks like liquid nails on it... (I seen it at the time and new I would be replacing the carpet at any rate.) When I pulled up the carpet, I seen that the "New floor" had gaps between the sheets and specifically where it was to meet the bow section. It just laid on the stringers, attached with liquid nails. I could easily pull the pieces up and remove them. When I did, I felt the stringers and they were HOLLOW! I was prepared but had hopes they would be OK. I knew this was going to be evident due to the age of the boat, but for some reason (I don't know why) I was optimistic that I wouldn't have to. But I remembered reading about hollow core stringers!
I started searching the web about the possibility of hollow core stringers. And low and behold I came across a post From August of 2015 Created by Naw9119. http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-...-t-573-hawk-br
In which Woodonglass confirmed that these boats did indeed have Hollow Stringers!
Can you guys help me out on a few things!?
1. Can anyone confirm that these are absolutely hollow core on these boats? I think the wood pieces I am finding in the stringers are from the floor being removed...but I would like to confirm!
2. I would say they are 90% solid but there are small sections here and there that are cracked or "soft".
Can I either;
A) Just fiberglass over those spots, If so what type of fiberglass cloth should I use; or
B) Totally cut out those sections and fiberglass bridging them back together from strong point to strong point. (I would figure leaving those pieces in and reinforcing would be better because they are whats originally tabbed in? But I'm not a pro.) I have also found maybe a total of 7 (that are only an inch or so) where it looks like the fiberglass has crinkled creating a "Hump" on the floor. Should I cut/Grind those out and fix them as well or once again fiberglass over them to reseal and reinforce them or fill them with fiberglass putty?
There are some very slight waves in random locations of the stringers. (What should I do about this, if anything)
3. Now that I have the floor out, If I lay under the boat I can see spots where I can see light. Should I just fiberglass from the inside in those general areas? For example if the "spot" is about a 3" maybe do a 1" square fiberglass over it? What type of fiberglass should I use and how many layers?
4. I am going to have to lift the cap off and replace the transom with a boat this old and one that looks like it has had some water issues already. Any random advice on that process, building the transom or installing it?
5. Lastly, when I do my floor do I tab it in to the side of the boat including the front and fiberglass the whole floor level? The reason I ask this is because when I lifted the floor the front section of flooring up in the bow has space along the sides. I am not sure if this was just more bad work or was intentional, to allow water up front to get down in the bilge and flow to the back? I feel like that would be a really bad idea, but I'm newer to boats so I'm not sure and I figured I would rather be honest and just ask and find out the answer than be too prideful and not ask.
I have good pictures, but I keep getting a message that my pictures are "Invalid File Data?? Can anyone assist me with that as well? I have used forums for years so I am very familiar with them but not sure what is going on with the picture posting sometimes it happens when you are new....
Last edited:
ainkiller:
