Center Console Stringer and Floor replacement

Hello this is my first time on Iboats and Repairing a boat to this extent. I have a older 18.5 center console and i have a few major questions:

#1 Can i use 2x10x10 and 5/4x6x10 salt treated for stringers or is plywood better?why?

#2 if i use 3/4 exterior fur plywood for my deck what would be the least amount of fiberglass mat i could use (to keep cost down) seeing that the strength of the floor would not be in the fiberglass but the plywood.

#3 I have a 2000 50hp Mercury and i was wondering if i could change the prop to make it push the boat better or should i just get rid of it and find a larger engine.

#4 i would like to add a splashwell and kind of not sure how to add it. any ideas?

Thanks for your time/help

Re: Center Console Stringer and Floor replacement

With such a fine late model motor, you'd be better served to junk the boat and find another boat without any soft spots in the floor. You can easily put 75 to 100 hours into replacing stringers, but you will still end up with an old boat when the repairs are complete. Old engineless fiberglass boats are available in every retail marine market, and marine salvage yards are viable businesses. See LanierMarine.com for a really big salvage yard in Atlanta area.

You can use regular wood to replace the stringers. You can also laminate plywood for stringers if they need to be wider than dimensional lumber. Many will "epoxy" the stringers to minimize future ability for the wood to soak up any water. Most would cut the stringer 1/2" less than needed so the stringers can be "glued" with epoxy to the bottom of the boat.

Exterior plywood doesn't cut the mustard. Marine plywood is the only floor to use, and it's about $75 per 4x8' sheet. Fiberglass matting needs to be applied over the plywood.

Your motor would be really good on a 20' pontoon boat, and they're easy to deal with.

Re: Center Console Stringer and Floor replacement

Bamaman1 said:

Exterior plywood doesn't cut the mustard. Marine plywood is the only floor to use, and it's about $75 per 4x8' sheet. Fiberglass matting needs to be applied over the plywood.

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I beg to differ. Quality exterior ply is just fine. The differance between marine and exterior is marine is checked to make sure there are no voids. You can find quality exterior with minimal to 0 voids. I did the hull in my dory with Baltic Birch for a number of reasons, but the sole is all exterior ply, and I have no regrets.

Re: Center Console Stringer and Floor replacement

This ^^^ is true. While Marine Grade is the BEST you can obtain really good results with the Arauco Grade Exterior plywood (7plys 100% waterproof glue, very few voids in the plys) Once its been prepped and encapsulated in resin and glass, if it's maintained properly it will last for decades. You can save upwards of $100 - $150 in wood costs. If you don't think it's worth it then by all means purchase Marine Grade IF it's available in your area. If you have to pay to have it shipped then your costs will more than double.