How to check for bad stringers?

[danrs]

I'm shopping for my first boat, and have spent as much time here as I can afford researching it.

One question, when checking for rotted out stringers which appears to be a problem, how do you check for this? Just by soft spots on the floor? And when checking the floor for soft spots, is this just a "walk on it and see if it feels soft" type of thing?

Any quick advice appreciated. I'm going to look at a boat close by (1999 Maxum) in a couple hours, and that's one last question I think I had.

Any quick opinions on Maxum appreciated as well. Not exactly what I was looking for in a sport/fish, but may do the job. If all else checks out the price looks right.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How to check for bad stringers?

stringer are hard to check, i usually assume if the deck and transom are soft, the stringer as also. walk on the deck all over. for the transom take a rubber mallot, or a hammer with wooden handle. tap all around of the transom. you should get a sharp rap sound, a thud, is questionable. here my canned speach.

Buying a boat

1st you need to decide what you want to use it for, fishing, cruising, or water sports.

2nd how many people adults, children you want on board of the average outing.

3rd outboard, inboard-outboard, or inboard power plant.

4th Budget, what you want to pay, and what you are willing to pay, when you find
Exactly what you want.

You can hire a marine surveyor, to inspect the boat, or you can do it yourself.

You are mainly looking for soft spots in the deck, transom, cracks, all signs of a rotten, under frame.

The motor should be clean, no spots where the paint is discolored, or pealing from heat, having run hot. (This part for outboard motors Compression should be atleast 100psi, and within 10% of each other,)
Spark on all cylinders, good pee stream, check lower unit for water in oil.

The overall condition of the boat will tell you a lot, as to how it has been maintained.

A 30 year old boat motor combo, may be in better condition, than a 3 year old

 

[danrs]

Re: How to check for bad stringers?

Thanks. Checked the boat out, not only were there several soft spots on the deck, the carpet was wet in the corner the boat was sloaped toward, and he admitted he hadn't washed the boat recently. Trailer was a rust bucket (and not the galvanized trailer as pictured). I left quick.

 

[12vMan]

Re: How to check for bad stringers?

Good job!

I've replaced a floor and done stringer repair before and believe me it's no picnic!

 

[Nandy]

Re: How to check for bad stringers?

If the fact that there was several soft spots was not enough to second guess the boat, the fact that the owner has apparently switched trailers on you it enough for me to question all he is saying.

 

[danrs]

Re: How to check for bad stringers?

If the fact that there was several soft spots was not enough to second guess the boat, the fact that the owner has apparently switched trailers on you it enough for me to question all he is saying.

LOL, I'm not even sure it was the same boat as pictured. Boat as pictured had a NY registration number. This one had a CA number. I didn't stick around enough to really scrutinize it after I found the soft deck spots, wet carpet, and rust bucket trailer, but I'd say it's a good bet the pic he used was a borrowed picture.

He also mentioned that the bottom was just painted recently. I don't know much yet, and I may be off base, but that set off alarm bells for me as well. Unless it was done to hide a repair or cracking gel coat condition, it seemed to me there were more pressing maintenance needs on that boat and trailer than painting the bottom of it. Rotten stringers and hull cracking / repairs, just from what I've learned in the limited time I've spent researching these forums, was the first thing I thought when I heard fresh bottom paint. My very next move was to hop in and walk the deck. I wasn't rude, but left as soon as courtesy would allow.

 

[Nandy]

Re: How to check for bad stringers?

Keep looking. Plenty of boats out there. To be honest, the best time to buy a boat is on the off season. That is when most people get discouraged and are more prone to sell. Of course, right now we have the gas issue which can help you out greatly. Good luck.