Need Help/Stringers

I have removed the old rotted plywood stringers, I cut off an inch from the top of the fiberglass and lifted them out leaving only the fiberglass walls standing. My question is if I can now fill the space where the old stringers used to be with some sort of foam (what kind of foam) or do I need to put in more plywood stringers. Also, if I replace the stringers with more plywood can I just fiberglass over the tops after I put them in or do I need to tear town all the fiberglass and start over?

Re: Need Help/Stringers

glassing the channels is a common practice.....

its your boat....you can do what ever you want to it.

you can get away with it.....but for a proper job.....every thing needs to come out and rebuild the boat.

the rule of thumb is.....replace what was there.

the bayliners use foam as a form to fiberglass around.....BUT,,,the stringer is 3 times as thick as yours.

its the fiberglass that gives the stringer its stregnth, especially the top.....think i beam. so if you have a 3/4 inch wide glass shape......id replace the wood.....personally id grind out all but 1/2 inch of the glass and replace everything....less chance of failure......and the life of the boat will increase, as the bond between the old glass and the wood will not be very good.

cheers
oops