broken "ribs"

[negrilcharters]

OK, keep it simple....I'm stupid.
Briefly, 50' fiberglass sportfish on the rocks. Holes large enough for a man to go through. One guy says it's all fixable. Next guy says it will never be safe due to "broken ribs". I want to believe the first guy but I think the second was more honest. What is the difference between stringers and ribs and can they (ribs) be replaced without compromising the safety of the vessel?

[PAR]

Just about anything can be fixed, but is it worth the effort? Generally, you run into a point of diminishing returns in regard to the value of a vessel and the cost of repairs. This is where insurance companies call the boat a lose and walk away. Some yachts have special meaning or value to the owners or prospective owners, so repairs over the current vessel value are warranted. If the insurance company, the local repair or marina folks and skilled industry professionals tell you to find another boat, it would usually be wise to follow their advise. The advise about "it would never be right again" is silly and shouldn't be considered as an accurate representation of the possibility for repairs.

Last year, I finished a job on a boat that had almost every of it's 42 "ribs" broken. Each rib (frame) was replaced along with much other work to get this boat back into service. The techniques I used made each frame stronger then the originals and this boat is in better then new condition, so don't take the "nay sayers" to heart, they're probably just jealous of your boat.

[negrilcharters]

thank you - I've seen several of your replies while researching this web site. You truly sound like you know what you're doing. Do the ribs run lengthways or side to side? The holes are directly on the bottom of the vessel. We are currently in Jamaica and "skilled industry professionals" are not abundant. We would do the majority of the work ourselves with help from friends from home (florida) who would fly down in intervals.

[PAR]

Ribs (frames) run side to side (athwartship) and are not typically employed in 'glass construction techniques. Stringers usually run fore and aft (front to back) but often athwartship stiffeners are also called stringers.

The boat needs to be high and dry. Generally the repairs consist of cutting and grinding back the broken and damaged wood or 'glass elements to good areas and piecing new stuff in to replace the cut away material. Wooden pieces need to be scarffed, to spread loads along it's glue line and 'glass needs to be feathered back to provide a place for the new laminate to tie into the old.

You'll need at least one person with considerable 'glass and boat repair experience to guide you along the path of fixing her up. A cobbled together repair will just pop out and you'll have a big hole where the repair area fell apart. 50 miles off shore this can become tragic, so be advised. I don't recommend amateurs try a repair of this scale, on a vessel this size. There's a lot to look out for and address, that just isn't obvious to the average person, which can cost you your life when well out to sea.

Sorry to be so negative, but 50' yachts can get well into deep water, surly farther from shore then you can swim back to. The laminates, equipment and structures in a craft this size, are substantial and require a fair amount of skill to complete with reasonable assurance that she will not let you down in mid ocean. I just don't want to read about you and your friends in the paper, a year or so from now, sinking on your first run after repairs. I use to run a charter and got several crew from your island. There are skilled and clever individuals all over that jewel in the Caribbean, you have to hunt them down (literally) and talk them into looking over your boat. Good beer and spiffs go a long way to making friends and enlisting workers. Go down to the docks and find boats getting worked on. Find the guy(s) everyone talks about and get to know him. He's probably like you and will be interested in a challenge. Free beer and blunts will make him pay attention.

[negrilcharters]

not so negative. At least you're not telling me to take her to the dump. I've been to the "boat yard" down by the river where the fishermen hang out. There is a man there that I am going to ask to come look at the boat and tell me what he thinks. He is the one that does the glass work there. I have an accomplished carpenter at home who is just looking for an excuse for "free beer and blunts". I really think we can do this. Nothing like a good challenge. I just gotta get my husband outa his funk and onto the project at hand. You're threads have been encouraging. We were going to charter fish. Now we are leasing a bar and grille to mantain an income. (plan B) Thanks for your help and let me know if you think of anything else. I was trying to attach a pic but I'm not able to. oh well

[PAR]

The hull damage usually isn't the big picture in an event like yours. Typically the hull shell can be repaired pretty easily, but the electrical systems (there are several), plumbing system (several of these too), electronics packages, engine(s), transmission(s), strut(s), shaft(s), interior furnishings, and other running gear are all questionable (most often need to be replaced). This is generally the case in a sinking and why most folks walk away from these types of projects. The hull damage is commonly a small regard in the over all view of completing this type of project.