View Full Version : Stringers & Bulkheads
Busted Melon
20-05-2008, 04:32 PM
Hi
I have recently decided to repair some soft spots in the floor of an imported american 20ft fibreglass boat. This basically means removing the whole floor and a couple of hundred kilos of water logged foam.
What I am left with is a few bits of ply on its side serving as stringers and floor supports randomly glassed in with bits nailled between them to keep the stringers? upright.>:(
As a complete novice it appears to be very shoddy and I would like to replace the whole lot with proper bulkheads ( about 4 ) and stringers that are about 40mm x 60mm fully glassed in and sealed.
Where can I find some information on a job like this, ie materials and dimensions etc ? Cheers
peterbo3
20-05-2008, 05:03 PM
What brand boat? A lot of the US boats have their own owners website with all sorts of useful info.
Blaster Bretty
20-05-2008, 07:08 PM
G-day melon! If you know how to fibreglass (or even if you dont) theres a place in loganholme, southside brissie called south pacific boat craft (i think ) they're on babdoyle street just down from the hyperdome and they sell this great stuff called
"flow cote" it's a more modern form of epoxy resin and is used by a lot of boat builders around this area, its not too expensive and you can get the fibreglass matting there too in all type's of different grades to suit your application, the matting is great as it is like cotton material but it's fibreglass and very easy to use and trim to size (unlike the old fashioned stuff, the woven glass matting) you can also buy this trendy powder that will mix with the epoxy resin to create a sandable filler or bog and can even be used as a glue. The bloke's there were only too happy to help me and give advice on my boat ( I had to raise my transom) and my project came up trumps and it was the first time I ever even attempted any sort of fibreglassing. As always the downside to any fibreglass project is the sanding and finishing thereafter along with the scratching but the best tip I was given there is no matter how itchy you get DO NOT scratch yourself, try to hang out till you shower and you'll be far better off,
you can PM me if you like and I will try and track down the reciept of the place to give you the exact name and adress./
hope this help's
Bretty
uripper
21-05-2008, 05:21 AM
Busted Melon
Unless you know what your doing with a project like this, suggest seriously rethink a DIY job.
I your SEQ based, suggest contacting "Grand Marlin" Peter McCullagh by PM or Valet Boat Services 3882-5693. He's very busy cos he's very good.
Good luck - MalM
Noelm
21-05-2008, 02:07 PM
yep, agree, Pete knows his stuff, as do I guess a couple of other Ausfishers, might just need to contact one of them and see how to go about all this, but, first off you must decide if the Boat is worth X amount of Dollars in repairs, if yes, then good, if no, then DIY is the way to go, fairly easy, but very time consuming and dirty job, and hard to get a professional finish on outside jobs, under floor is no worries though.
jimbo59
21-05-2008, 03:20 PM
yep, agree, Pete knows his stuff, as do I guess a couple of other Ausfishers, might just need to contact one of them and see how to go about all this, but, first off you must decide if the Boat is worth X amount of Dollars in repairs, if yes, then good, if no, then DIY is the way to go, fairly easy, but very time consuming and dirty job, and hard to get a professional finish on outside jobs, under floor is no worries though.I recently had to fix a soft floor in a customers boat, he said he had replaced the stringers "they are all good" so i cut the floor up and found that he hadn't ground the old glass before he had fitted the stringers,he just glassed right over the flowcoat and it all needs to come out and be replaced:'( . My advice is to get it done propely the first time.Pm me if your in brissy and need a price. cheers jim
Dirtysanchez
21-05-2008, 03:24 PM
Do a search on "White ants in playpen" Colacgirl was the poster, and she and her hubby did an absolutely amazing rebuild job, similar to this. If nothing else, the info would be invaluable to you, and will give you some material to work with, and for you to consider if you think you could do this job yourself or not
nutgunaspu
22-05-2008, 08:59 AM
Have at look at this link http://www.seamedia.com.au/_tmp/seamedia-EsswvG.pdf
I'm just finishing up replacing the floor and stringers in my 1976 half cabin, and I'm pretty happy with the results. Bloody lot of work though. Next time I reckon I'll pay someother bum to do it.
Noelm
22-05-2008, 09:08 AM
that's why it is expensive, all the work is very labour intensive and specialised, with some good advice it is not beyond the capable DIY person, but if the Boat is worth it, you are going to keep it for years, then a professional is the way to go.
Busted Melon
22-05-2008, 05:46 PM
Hi All
Thanks for the responses, I have checked out the "White ants in the playpen "site only managed to get half way through so far. It is very informative and also quite motivating, it seems that there is a lot people around with the same problem and I am amazed that there is not a good book on the subject.
Have found a fibreglass shop that seems willing to give advice and a lot of people with differing opinions on construction methods, Ply vs Poly Board, Foam vs No foam , Stringers on the hull vs Stringers 1/4 above the hull, Strenght is in the board vs strenght is in the glass.:-[
Seems like a good project for the next couple of months so I will have a crack at it,and see how many people I can annoy along the way.
Donny Boy
23-05-2008, 08:12 AM
Another guy to contact is Tony at Galeforce boats down near Jacobs Well.
Gives great advice, and does a top job if you want a pro to do it for you.
Builds 'em and fixes 'em too.
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