The Boating Forum - Need Advice on Rebuilding Stringers

I need to rebuild the stringers on my 26' Bonito I/O. The area near the engine mounts apparently has excessive moisture and, based on the trusty hammer test, some delamination of the plywood core.

How would an injection type fix work for this? A product like Git-Rot or the like. My surveyor suggested cutting out the core while sparing the inner glass and replacing it. Does anyone have any experience with the resin injection approach for this problem? The cut-out method will turn into a pretty big project.

Any Advice is appreciated.

you will be time and materials ahead, not to
mention structurally, if you get out the sawzall
and take `em out....replace the entire stringer
with marine ply which is soaked in WEST epoxy in
a warm environment...add glass to strengthen
it secondarily...use WEST throughtout...the use
of a custom bronze or ss brace(s) bolted between
the stringers deserves mention...the goal is
RIGIDITY, and lots of glass around solid marine
ply is the formula....and ANY penetration of the
stringer, once fabricated properly, MUST be pro-
perly bedded THICKLY or the whole job is for nada..................................dan

In addition to above sealing the limber holes end grain with epoxy.

The motor box on the Bonito is about 4 1/2 to 5 feet long, so I will have clear access to the stringers once the motor is out for the first six feet or so. I would envision replacing only this six foot section, otherwise I'll be pulling the deck out. The stringers are about 18 inches deep. If I were to hire out, would this be a 3, 5 or 7 grand job???

I don't know how wise it would be to replace a "section" of a stringer. I would be worried about the stringers flexing at the joint where the old met the new.

"A bad day fishing is better than a good day in the office."

Talk to Ringleader about replacing sections of stringers. He is doing this on his Mako and making use of "scarf" joints. I think that's what they are called. He has done extensive research on this subject and can steer you in the right direction.

Good luck. Don't forget to post the pics for us! http://thehulltruth.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Brian

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~bmille4/sirreel/index.html

Join in Ringleader.....

Just to get you started, Ed's stringer repair begins here... (http://www.classicmako.com/projects/ed_ring/transom_rebuild9.htm)

Tho I would recommend that you view all of the related work. Good stuff there!