Well look what I found.

[mtnrat]

I removed the floor and stringers today. What a rotten mess. Stringers were not encapsulated, and one stringer was butted together by the engine mount. This boat had new stringers and floor put in about 8 years ago. A very poor job.

[asianbandit]

I am a new boat owner and i just found the same problem on my 14ft fiberglass bass boat. I am a newbie and am looking for tips and help on the forum..yours was the first post i saw..dude i feel the same way as you, i was told that the stringers were new and they truned out to be rotten..good luck...i plan on doing the repair work this week or weekend....i will post some pictures for all to see..

[mtnrat]

Would be great to see some pics. Are you going with epoxy?

[asianbandit]

I will get some pics posted, I have them on my home computer already...Hopefully I can get them posted tonight..As far as using epoxy, dunno yet...from all the reading I have done so far..It looks like I do not need to replace all of the stringers, I think I just need to replace the stringers that are visibly rotted. There is only one stringer where the fiberglass is missing and the wood is exposed. I guess the first step is to:

1. Cut the bad wood off
2. Replace it with new fiberglass Resin treated wood
3. And glass that in
4. Lay plywood over the stringers (seal this in with epoxy and fiberglass I believe)
5. Lay carpet
6. Put her in the water

Now I just need to figure out exactly what materials I will need to accomplish this. I know I will need resin for the wood, and glass to cover it. Just need to make sure I use the right type of materials to fix it.

Have you done any more work on the boat today? Unfortunately, it is raining here and i don't have any covered storage yet.

[KnottyBuoyz]

You're not alone. Here's an ongoing project from an acquaintance on another bbs.

http://209.190.4.227/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11294

He frequents here so I'm sure he can answer any questions on materials.

Rick

[asianbandit]

Thanks for the link..that looks very helpful to my project.. I appreciate it!!

Here are some pics of my project boat...Let me know what you think...It looks like a lot of work to me...So far I have

1. Scraped & Removed all the old carpet
2. Removed all Plywood (really bad plywood job)
3. Got whatever foam was left out


Any tricks for getting the old glue off the fiberglass?
What do you think about my latest purchase? How much $ do you think it will cost to repair? Do you see any damage I don't?

I plan on taking pictures throughout the project so others can get an idea of what to expect....Could you take a look at the pictures and give me you thoughts? You thoughts would be very helpful...Thanks!

Front of Boat - Inside


Back of Boat - Inside


Rotten Stringer


Transom


Hull - Bottem and Side profile

[longliner45]

ok guys and girls ,,,,boats are a signifigant expence , not to mention ,your taking your family and friends out in it ,,,get a survey,, this is what surverors do ,,,they have much training to help you out ,,cant always believe what the seller says ,,,remember ,he is like a used car salesman ,,in it for profit,,,at your expence,,be safe and spend a few bucks on the survey,,,longliner,,,,,,,,,,sorry you got burned,,,,john

[mtnrat]

My boat was actually surveyed just before I got it. About 5 years ago I went to visit my mother in law and saw the survey sitting on the kitchen table. She told me she was going to get rid of the boat. I told her I might want it. She said if I took it away it was mine. It has alot of sentimental value to my wife as her dad bought her the boat when she was about 19 and has since passed away. Hence all of the work I am putting into it. Damn, actually found out I like working on boats. One of the most relaxing things I do. Takes the mind away from everything.
In this boat you cannot see into the hull space from anywhere and possibly at that time there was no indicators of the problems that were starting right under my feet.
knotty, thanks for the thread.

[mtnrat]

Here is a pic of the boat and the interior I just reupholtered this spring. I also installed a new long block 350. Seems to me I screwed up the order of execution.

[longliner45]

its a nice looking boat,,and yes it is relaxing to work on them ,,my boat is my sanctuary,,when im working on it I am in my own little world ,,away from work ,,the news and everything,, perhaps at the time of survey she was fine ,,,but 5 years unattended if weather was the result,, or a piss poor surveyor ,,it happens,ya got all winter ,,,roll with the punches ,, and dont let the neysayors get the last word in ,,remember ,,they will be on the dock watching you pull out to sea ,,,,longliner

[mtnrat]

I am up for the task, no problem. I worked as a carpenter and cabinet maker for 10 years so am comfortable with tools etc. I also know knowledge is important so I invested in west sytems pamphlets "Fibreglass Boat Repair and Maintenance", "Final Fairing and Finishing", "Gelcoat Blisters", and "User Manual". Also "The Epoxy Book" from system three which can be down loaded for free here. http://www.mertons.com/Epoxy/documents/epoxy_book.pdf for anyone who might be interested. As well I bought "The Fibreglass Boat Repair Manual" by Allan Vaitses. Read them all and am now going through them to finalize my plan of attack and materials estimate. I am going to hoard in my boat in my shed so I can add some heat and get going. I called my friend and guy I worked for building cabinets and homes, and enquired about stringer material. He has some kiln dried, properly stored,straight grain, knot free douglass fir that he will plane down to exactly what I need. He also has a line on okoume or meranti plywood for my floor.

[asianbandit]

Originally Posted by mtnrat

Would be great to see some pics. Are you going with epoxy?

Don't believe i am going to go with Epoxy, at least not yet..after doing some reading a majority of repair shops are using polyester resin to seal the fiberglass in....at least from what i can see...You might change my mind...

I am planning on getting some outdoor untreated plywood for the construction of my boat (stringers, floor and storage).
QUESTION: When i get the plywood, should i coat it with a couple coats of Fiberglass resin to let that set it before laying the glass and polyester resin down?

[asianbandit]

Originally Posted by longliner45

ok guys and girls ,,,,boats are a signifigant expence , not to mention ,your taking your family and friends out in it ,,,get a survey,, this is what surverors do ,,,they have much training to help you out ,,cant always believe what the seller says ,,,remember ,he is like a used car salesman ,,in it for profit,,,at your expence,,be safe and spend a few bucks on the survey,,,longliner,,,,,,,,,,sorry you got burned,,,,john

Why do you think i got Burned? I knew the boat was a fixer-upper when i got it. Only paid $450.00 for the boat, trailer (new tires, winch, etc...), and seats, seat mounts. Is that a bad price? Did i still get burned? i dunno, let me know?

[mtnrat]

asian from what I have read it seems that brushing or rolling a layer of epoxy etc over the whole stringers is the way to go. I did read somewhere not to coat the underside of the floor because that traps in any moisture that is already in the wood. That makes no sense as would not the same apply to the stringers or visa versa? So far I am going to coat all wood before installation.
I would find a source for treated ply if you are going with plywood. Your local lumber store should be able to order it if they do not stock it. My boat had untreated unsealed ply in the floor and it did not last long.
I am also thinking of stragegically installing inspection covers in the floor so I can look at what is going on and blow dry air through the floor hull cavity. This has not been dicussed before and I think it would be a simple way to keep things dry. I am also going to put the ski locker back in that was removed. That will give a fair amount of access right there.

[asianbandit]

Originally Posted by mtnrat

So far I am going to coat all wood before installation.
I would find a source for treated ply if you are going with plywood. Your local lumber store should be able to order it if they do not stock it. My boat had untreated unsealed ply in the floor and it did not last long.
I am also thinking of stragegically installing inspection covers in the floor so I can look at what is going on and blow dry air through the floor hull cavity. This has not been dicussed before and I think it would be a simple way to keep things dry. .

Thanks for the advise..i plan on coating the wood also...I can't believe someone would put untreated, unsealed ply on the floor of your boat...What the F where they thinking...I think the idea of installing inspection covers is a good one...BUT are you planning on putting foam in the bottem between the stringers..not sure if you would be able to see or feel the water if there was foam..Do you plan on spray foaming?