1993 Baja 24 outlaw stringer question

[77searay197]

I have a Baja 24 outlaw I acquired for a restoration project. I do a lot of fiberglassing at work so I do know how to fiberglass. I will be using polyester because I’m fairly certain that’s what it was built with. I started to cut out the floor and stringers and it looks like the stringers are made of 2x instead of plywood? I figured they would be made of plywood laminated together. The floor looks like it has just regular exterior plywood that has many voids and only 4 or 5 ply. Barely any resin at all on the bottom. I figured it would have been built a little better but seems like a lot of shotty work. My question is this. Should I go with 2x lumber or just use marine grade plywood and make the plywood thick as the old 2x stringers? If I do use 2x lumber what kind of lumber should I use? I know this question has been posted a million times. My other boat I have is only 18’ and had plywood stringers but this one kinda had me stumped a little.

 

[todhunter]

I would personally use exterior grade ACX plywood and not dimensional lumber or marine plywood.

 

[77searay197]

May I ask why you would rather use acx than something like ab?

 

[todhunter]

May I ask why you would rather use acx than something like ab?

Cost, availability, and plenty strong enough

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have a Baja 24...... I figured it would have been built a little better but seems like a lot of shotty work

Most boats are slapped together just good enough to make them last 15 years

 

[tpenfield]

I would use an exterior grade plywood (what ever you can get) and double/triple them up to get the thickness needed for the stringers. You'll probably make it better than it ever was.

Post some pictures when you can, it will help with responses.

 

[77searay197]

I think I will triple it. Should I use epoxy, wood glue, or pl to glue them together? I’ll try to get some pictures

 

[tpenfield]

Use polyester resin . . . epoxy and PL are not going to be compatible with the resin you are using for the re-build.

If you want to make the stringers wicked strong (and rot-resistant) put a layer of 1708 cloth along with the resin in between the 3 layers of plywood

 

[tpenfield]

Also, as you join the wood pieces of the structure together, put a layer of fiberglass in between where the pieces meet. This prevents moisture migration through the structure.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Use tite bond III to glue the wood together

 

[77searay197]

I’ve used tite bond 3 on wood before and that stuff is pretty damn strong. Scott would you recommend just glue only and 3 pieces pressed together? Then do all the glass work in the boat?
This old fiberglass isn’t even stuck on the wood. Looks like they didn’t even coat it before applying fiberglass.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would do all your laminating outside the boat.

I glue the layers together and use drywall screws.

A day later, pull the screws, then install the laminated bits

 

[77searay197]

When you install the stringers in the boat would you cut the bottom of the stringers as the aame shape of the hull or just leave the wood flat and make sure they are level?

 

[todhunter]

Try to at least get the profile of the stringers somewhat close to the hulls shape. Shim it up off the hull about 1/4", then completely fill the gap with PB.