95 Sea Ray 230 Sundancer stringer repair

[gmach]

Starting tear down today. I got a boat that must have had the engine installed on a Friday because none of the dang holes they drilled were staight.

 

[Pmt133]

They drilled with the engine in place. Not enough room to drill straight down with a manifold on a normal drill. (Right angle will squeak in)

 

[Scott Danforth]

As stated above nearly every boat has the bolts drilled in at an angle

 

[tpenfield]

Even though the engine mounts are through-bolted, they have so little strength, being tied in with CSM. Probably a wood core as well.

If a boat does not have these things holding the engine, I don't buy it.

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Have you done the thing with a moisture meter yet? . . . or would that be after the engine comes out?

 

[Pmt133]

Those are great. Until the stringer rots out anyway.

 

[tpenfield]

Those are great. Until the stringer rots out anyway.

Yup . . . BTDT.

 

[alldodge]

Don't remember seeing a thru bolt stringer even get soft, no way for water to get in.

 

[Pmt133]

Yup . . . BTDT.

I did giant laminated blocks with lags and more 1708 on them than I care to admit. When I originally installed the 4.3 I did the same thing. Figure if that goes, everything else has too.

Don't remember seeing a thru bolt stringer even get soft, no way for water to get in.

Not on larger boats where the stringers are open all around. But on the smaller ones where the plate is open in the bilge and the other side is under deck foamed in, I've seen it a few times.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Don't remember seeing a thru bolt stringer even get soft, no way for water to get in.

Are you talking about the motor mount brackets that bolt to the stringer? I've replaced had to replace several of those stringers.

 

[alldodge]

Are you talking about the motor mount brackets that bolt to the stringer? I've replaced had to replace several of those stringers.

Not into but clean through with plate and bolt/nut the stringer. The bolts are horizontal and above the bilge deck, so no way for water to sit and work it's way in.

 

[alldodge]

Like this

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Yep, I've done many of those, as well as the bigger ones and one Skeeter that was a big plate going up the transom and 1ft or so along the stronger.

 

[gmach]

Even though the engine mounts are through-bolted, they have so little strength, being tied in with CSM. Probably a wood core as well.

If a boat does not have these things holding the engine, I don't buy it.
View attachment 415047
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Have you done the thing with a moisture meter yet? . . . or would that be after the engine comes out?

I have the engine out. I don't have a moisture meter, so I've just been checking for rot with the drill. If I ever do buy another boat a moisture meter would be a good investment because there are so many places that were inaccessible with a pick and hammer that I missed when inspecting the boat. I did find more rot in the bilge area though when everything was cleared out.

 

[redneck joe]

They ain't that expensive and there are manynuses for them, similar to an iron heat gun

 

[gmach]

Since I'm going to replace the stringers and transom now; would it be better to start a new thread?

 

[Pmt133]

Since you have data in here a mod can update the title at your request to reflect the work being done.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Since I'm going to replace the stringers and transom now; would it be better to start a new thread?

Nah....just keep the thread going

 

[gmach]

Made a good bit of progress this weekend. I'm down to grinding out the plywood. I picked up a wood carving disc at harbor freight and it's been working pretty well; even grinding out the staples in the wood. I cut back the deck and stringers about 16" to give me clearance to glass in the new transom. Once the transom is complete I'll move on to the stringers and do one side at a time.

 

[Pmt133]

That wheel is death trap (only thing that hurt me doing my resto)I used 2 cutting mine to a shell. Rips down a lip flat and cuts out ply nearly instantly.

One time I placed it down before it stopped and it bit me. The other it kicked. Neither was deep but it was a reminder. Grinders are to be respected.

The coarse carbide carving disc is extremely effective compared to going through flap discs too.