Stringer Replacement

[Aspaguy]

I am in the process of replacing the rotten stringers on my 1989 Glasstron. I saw a video on U-Tube that briefly mentioned having to put down some type of material under the stringer to allow for flexing. If this material is not installed the hull will be too rigid and may crack. Can anyone tell me what this material is and is this indeed true? Thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Stringer Replacement

I'd recommend bedding your stringers in PL adhesive sold at all Lowes stores

 

[oops!]

Re: Stringer Replacement

the other common bedding compound.....is refered to as peanut butter...its a resin/cabosil/milled fibers mixture.

pl will take a minimum of 24 hours to cure before you can glass over it....but it has been sucesfully used for a few years

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Stringer Replacement

If your going to use a stringer Floating filler I would recommend a Light Fairing compound.

Micro balloons and resin would be good. ( we call them red blood cells .. or Micro B's )

Cabosil is a structural filler..adding glass will make the bedding rock hard ( might as well put the wood to the hull ).

Using PL is basically using ( as I understand the stuff ) 4200 or sekaflex .. not compatible with resin.

YD.

 

[Aspaguy]

Re: Stringer Replacement

Thank you all for the advice. After looking at each product recommended, I think I will try the Micro B's. This looks like the easiest to lay in for floating the stringers.

 

[Outback Jack]

Re: Stringer Replacement

I know there is alot of debate on this subject, but it was explained to me one time you want to avoid hard spots and by bedding them in something you are avoiding any hard spots cause from no bedding and the plywood hitting the hull in various points along the stringer. This can cause cracking. Biggest thing is to get something to support the stringer along the whole stringer. Like I said there is alot of different ideas as to why they do it and they don't but I know I would bed it in something.

 

[redfury]

Re: Stringer Replacement

Realistically, you could use foam for all it's worth. From my reading, the idea behind the 'bedding' material is to suspend the stringer ever so slightly off the hull because you can never make a perfect stringer out of wood. Doing this allows you to use the wood as a form for the fiberglass, where the fiberglass is the true strength in the stringer system. Stringers can be made of foam or cardboard or whatever makes the most sense for the situation and the person building the boat.

Most opt for wood stringers due to the ability of the fiberglass to bond with the wood, the inherent strength of the core material itself ( the wood ) and the ease in which to work with the products in general ( wood takes screws, nails, glue, glass saws and sandpaper well )