Newb with stringer question

[Shinchan]

Aloha! I just salvaged an old Seaswirl P-14 hull that I was thinking of rebuilding. It is just the hull with no floor, stringers or cap. Just the fiberglass shell so I can't get a stringer shape. How would I go and put stringers in to make it fit? Is there some sort of way to get a pattern- something like a tick stick method? Mahalo for any info, Randy

[Landlubber]

Shinchan,

No tick sticks are for bulkhead etc, the stringers are simply following, often a waterline, such as when used for cockpit sole levels.

A 14 footer will not use a lot of undersole reinforcement, if you make a few transverse frames and a apir of longitudinal beams parallel to the centreline, about 3 feet apart, you will be close. Go have a gander at similar boats in yards to get the idea, it will not be too difficult for you. The beams can be made hollow, just formed up over a simple mould of 4x2s.

[Shinchan]

So the beams can lie directly on the hull? Or would that create a hard spot? How do I cut it so it follows the curvature of the hull while keeping it level with the floor height? Should I rough cut it, tab it in place and then plane it down to height? Sorry for so many questions. I saw this process done as a kid with a plumb bob and a level but I wasn't really paying attention (hey at 12, I just wanted to fish...) Mahalo again, Randy

[alan white]

After levelling the boat, you can set a straight board on edge, level, along the line of a stringer or transverse frame at the desired sole level. A pair of dividers or a short stick held vertically is then used to transfer the curvature or angle, using a pencil. If you tack paper to the board beforehand, you can make a pattern for every piece, from longest to shortest, cutting the same board until you've got patterns of every piece.

[Shinchan]

Sounds good, I'll try that! If not, well, back to the grinder..