rotted stringer!!!foam? NEED ADVICE!

[chucky112233]

Hello all.. I have a 24 ft fibreform boat (1974)with rotted stringers.. I never would have guess as bad as it is.. There is nothing left and at the front in the cuddy is the same way.. I have talked to many people and some say just leave them(i dont agree) some say just install new stringers half way.. I know it is a lot of work to replace the entire stringer but i would like a honest opinion.. The boat wil be used on weekends and always trailered.. Another odd thing the boat is filled with foam...The stringer almost looks like it was only partially fibreglassed in and the foam is right up to what is left of the wood. When i mean filled with foam i mean filled with foam!!! It heaved up the floor!! Why do you put foam in? I also had a guy tell me that foaming a boat is a cheaper repair then replacing stringers and if it is foamed it is fine...
thanks for any opinons...the boat has a rebuilt engine,all fabric and seats redone,looks great exterior,but just wondering is it worth it lol

 

[watermellonI]

Re: rotted stringer!!!foam? NEED ADVICE!

ok foam, foam helps keep the boat afloat in case you run aground or hit whale or somethin like that, it gives you somethin to hold onto incase the boat is severly damaged while at sea,

there is a big debate about foam and the usefulness of it, it helps some stucturally, but not near as important as stringers, you can run a boat without foam, but you should not run without stringers.

as far as replacing and rebuilding the stringers, its not too bad of a project, just finished mine, i have a cuddy also but rplaced the back half.
it depends on how handy you are and if you have the place to work, the information you need is all here at iboats, you may want to do a search.

I will say this any work you do on the boat will make it better than it was originally built if you follow the info here

whether to do it or not is a personal decision, whether you like the boat and if you feel its worth it.

good luck

 

[Robj]

Re: rotted stringer!!!foam? NEED ADVICE!

Don't run a boat with rotten stringers, it is unsafe. Your motor mounts are also probably rotten, which can possibly sink your boat. You hit a big wave, the mounts fall apart because they are rotten, and your engine is sitting in the hull. Not a pretty picture. Fix it right and you will never have to fix it again. There is alot of info on this site on how to do the repair. Just search for it.

Good luck

Rob.