Is it Safe to boat, knowing you have partial rotten stringer?

[SteveD78]

Hi Guys,

New here and to the boating world. Make this quick as I get mixed reviews. Bought a 97 Bayliner Capri Bowrider that was supposed to be water ready.

Long story short, my buddy found a soft spot and after looking, we have noticed partial rot on both stringers, on both sides of that storage cubby, (sure there's a proper name for it) between the passenger and driver seat.

Neighbour said after rebuilding a few of these, that it would be fine to use in the water for the rest of the season and then winter project.

I get mixed reviews if that's aafe or not. Don't want to cause more damage, but really want to test it out and get out on the water.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Have insurance and wear PFDs. It may be ok, it may sink

Since rot starts at the keel and goes up, and the floor rots 10 years after the stringers. I personally would want to fix it before bringing loved ones on board

 

[bajaman123]

At this point you are basically relying on a thin layer of plastic resin and fiberglass mat...which, while it has SOME strength to it, it's not much at all compared to a sound keel structure. While I have not seen it personally, I have a friend who actually watched a boat simply come apart while towing a skier...one second all was good, the next the boat literally came apart, putting everyone in the cockpit/bow into the water. Personally I wouldn't want to risk that. As Scott noted above, you might be fine...or not.

 

[redneck joe]

welcome to the forum and buckle up for the replies to your question.
so far the two answers are correct, i ran a sea ray with some rot around the ski locker - never did dig in to see what all else was rotten.

If you do go, just run, no towing and yes wear lifejackets because if a boat does come apart it happens quickly and trying to scramble for stored ones may take too long.

 

[SteveD78]

Is someone able to help me identify if these are considered the stringers or not? The thicker one circled in red is still good. I think that is the stringer, or one of them anyway. The section in blue is where the rot is, on both sides, but not sure if that's structural for the hull or just the flooring and seating?

 

[SteveD78]

Is someone able to help me identify if these are considered the stringers or not? The thicker one circled in red is still good. I think that is the stringer, or one of them anyway. The section in blue is where the rot is, on both sides, but not sure if that's structural for the hull or just the flooring and seating?

 

[SteveD78]

Hey,

I'm new to the boating world and just have a question after finding rot in what I thought were the stringers, but not sure now. I bought a 1997 Bayliner Capri that was supposed to be in tip top shape. I definitely found rot, but looks like it might just be for the seating and floor support. Circled in red is the main stringer, I think, and blue is where the rot is. Wondering for safety of taking the boat out after just purchasing. Thanks for the help.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

They're all stringers. Stringers are the boards that run the length of the boat, bulkheads run sideways between stringers. That storage area is called a ski locker.

 

[SteveD78]

They're all stringers. Stringers are the boards that run the length of the boat, bulkheads run sideways between stringers. That storage area is called a ski locker.

Thank you, appreciate it.

 

[matt167]

Stringers for sure run on each side of the ski locker. Rot that far up in the boat is not good

 

[jbcurt00]

Merged topics

 

[Mc Tool]

I wouldnt . I have seen the arse fall out of a boat full of people ," blink and you miss it " sort of thing . One second the boat was zooming around ....full of happy people ...kids ...all smiles next second all there was was frightened heads and flotsam bobbing about in the water. Fortunately they were fairly close to shore and a few onlookers were able to get their boats there quickly . The reason we were all there watching is because we all saw the boat before launching and some tried to tell the guy the boat wasnt safe ....so we were waiting for it to happen ...and it did . Dont be that guy . If your planning on a resto project after this summer ....just bring it forward and do it now .

 

[FLATHEAD]

Did you contact the seller that said it was “Water Ready”? Not that it would do much at this point, but might get some of your money back.

 

[redneck joe]

or small claims. Grab a screenshot of the ad.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the exposed plywood on the ski cover screams "boat has issues"

 

[airshot]

The deeper you go, the worse it will be. And it won't be cheap to fix !

 

[Chris1956]

Any cracks at the top transom corners? If you stand on the motor's anti-ventilation plate does the transom flex? Does any part of the hull flex?

If no, you can take it out, with a friend who can swim, and see how she behaves in light chop. If you see the hull flex as you move along, you should head in. If not, give her a reasonable test, and know that hitting a big wave at speed, puts max stress on the hull structure.

If the transom is solid, small boats usually warn you before they fail.

That being said, the hull on my SeaRay cracked on a strake, which is the strong part of the hull, on a normal chop day. I think that part of the hull was not foamed allowing the strake to flex under normal use, leading to a crack.

 

[racerone]

That rot is NOT a problem if you are----1 on a small lake in calm weather with houses all around.----2 You and your guests are good swimmers.-----3 If your radio can get help in 2 minutes----4 another boat is within shouting distance.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

That being said, the hull on my SeaRay cracked on a strake, which is the strong part of the hull, on a normal chop day. I think that part of the hull was not foamed allowing the strake to flex under normal use, leading to a crack.

That could just be an air void from the glass being in a corner. It can lift away even after they roll it really good at the factory.

 

[Chris1956]

Mike, it cracked all the way thru the hull and water was bubbling up thru the ski well floor. I had to pull her in a hurry so it would not sink.

To repair it, I laid heavy roving on the inside of the cracked area, added a new PT 2X4 stringer at a 45* angle across the formerly cracked area, attaching it to the other stringers and refoamed the hull, repaired the deck, etc. There was no foam touching that part of the hull, when I opened her up.