1997 Bombadier Celebrity 200 Deck, Stringer and Transom Replacement

[FBCoach]

Well - time to go back to work. After a one point loss, 12-1 season :mad-new::joyous:, a cold wet winter... Back to fiberglass.

 

[kcassells]

Welcome back! The boat will keep your mind off it. Great Season!

 

[FBCoach]

After some study time and having to relearn what i forgot, got back to it. Good clean up and wipe down and slowly started tabbing in a few sections. Cutting the 1708 and had to deal with a few frayed spots... Brought back the memories quickly to the ole back. Not in boat building shape! But not having to grind out the old this time!!!
Got some clean up to do, but hopefully minimal. Going to be 58 degrees today and windy. Too cold to continue???

 

[kcassells]

Throw some heat lamps in there and you should be good to go. My boat is covered and I use a torpedo heater to take the chill off. Heat lamps warm up the areas directly. Oh and I use EEEpppoooxxxyyy.

 

[FBCoach]

One more question. Any idea or advice on tabbing the 4” spot between the pair of two upper stringers?

 

[kcassells]

I would cut glass to fit full height to do the whole thing x 2 and do it wet on wet. Cover the entire area and be done with it. If your comfortable with this approach. Also use a small 4" roller and or bondo putty spreaders. Tough spot but been there done it. Be prepared to get sloppy. Keep some small chip brushes available, cut the flat of the brush to a point. That will also act as a bubble poker.
If wet on wet is a bother at the moment then just do above but 1x only till you get comfortable with the approach.

 

[FBCoach]

Brother came home for a few days. Let him enjoy the thrills of glassing! Got all but 3 areas doubled down. Ran out of resin and low on 1708. In the mean time going to sand the rough edges and weak spots and clean her real good so i will be ready to cap when the time comes. Also, originally where the deck seams were and the ski locker was the tops of the stringers were doubled in width. Would a 2x2 be large enough to help support these areas? Going to get these cut and ready to attach and glass as well.

 

[kcassells]

Do you mean 2x2 cleats?

 

[FBCoach]

Yes sir. 2x2 good? Once i finish glassing the stringers i need add these and some 2x4 supports to cover the gas tank. Thought i could be getting them measured and cut in the mean time. Got her decently cleaned up. Few spots to touch up. Seems the grinder never goes away!

 

[kcassells]

wet them out real good says I Works for me.

 

[FBCoach]

Should i cap the stringers, encapsulate the cleats then attach? Or go ahead and attach the cleats, then ecapsulate it all at one time as i cap the stringers?

 

[kcassells]

Wet em out good and attach with screws or pb/clamps.
If screws then make sure they are sunk in with 5200. zool showed me a nice trick. Grab some of the glass at HDblow and that rolls out real nice when making corners or capping. If you can round out the edges then a lot of glass will lay nicely.
On another note I forget are you using Eppoooxxxyy or polywantsacracker?
Just read back you are using 1708 so poly right? Then add glass to the pb.

 

[FBCoach]

Spent the last 3 days on her. I am sore!!! 4/5 of the stringers fully embedded and totally capped. Also, reinforced the hull. About 3-5 hours from finishing and you guessed it... Ran out of resin! As I await more, I am planning the floor install and other things, such as adding docking lights. Probably going to add encapsulated 2x2 cleats with PL Glue to reinforce seams. Thinking of putting the floor door with PL Glue and hold it down with old batteries while it sets. The plan is to add no screws anywhere in the stringers or floor. This sound ok? Any other ideas or things to remember before I get too excited about putting these stringers out of my sight??? Trying to be patient but avoid overkill.

 

[Woodonglass]

I'm not a Fan of PL Glue. Putting screws in the deck/stringers is NOT an issue as long as you pre-drill and coat the holes and the screws with PB. Once the resin/glass is applied the deck will Not have water issues

 

[FBCoach]

Almost.... got all the stringers embedded and capped. Reinforced the entire hull. Have to add one more layer to the motor mounts and this part will finally be done!!!

Now, screws or PL glue? I have both and trust WonG. If using screws would you need to still run a bead of sealant between the deck and individual stringer compartments?

 

[kcassells]

I ran pb on my stringers/bulkheads and screws. Every screw should be predrilled, recessed and use either 5200 or pb to set them. 5200 need a couple of weeks to gas off before laying glass. Use deck screws and pl or pb.

 

[Chris51280]

I found 1.5" stainless deck screws. Ok so
round the pre drilled holes on both sides to seal it off and then cover it up with pl over the head.

 

[Woodonglass]

Yup a bead of pb and coat holes and screws then fill the countersinks with pb. No water will ever get in from the screw holes

 

[kcassells]

To counter sink get a drill bit similar this. There are a million of them readily available.

 

[FBCoach]

How far apart do i need to place the screws?