Donzi Restoration Help

[IHTFP]

I'm currently restoring a 22 Foot powerboat. I have the hull completely gutted including the fuel tank. The forward stringers (not engine bed stringers) have a few areas (5 inches by 5 inches) that are rotted. These stringers are made of what looks to be 3/4 inch plywood lightly covered by fiberglass. My plan is to apply a few more layers of biaxial fiberglass to the entire forward stringer structure to stiffen it up a little. Since these stringers do not support any hardware, do I really need to repair the rot or can I leave it alone and just let the glass handle the loads from the hull? I'll try and post pictures tomorrow.

Thanks

[IHTFP]

I have attached pictures above. The areas that I have circled are areas of rot. My plan is just to completely encapsulate the stringer system with two or three layers of glass. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks

[antonfourie]

As read on another thread, "when in doubt grind it out !" You would be better of doing a good repair than a bad patch job at least you know that it is good then.

[IHTFP]

The only thing that I am worried about with removing all the stringers is the hull losing it's shape because of lack of support. How should I brace the hull if I do this?

[antonfourie]

As long as the hull is correctly and well supported, you will not need to brace it.

[IHTFP]

Currently the hull is sitting on a bunk trailer with three bunks on each side. Is the risk that the hull will sag or that the hull will buckle up?

[jimslade]

Replace one stringer at a time. remove all rotted wood. any job worth doing is worth doing well.

[buckknekkid]

timber is cheap. labor is expensive, and much more if you do it twice.