Question about stringers What would happen?

[Xxx]

First off, before joining this site I had no idea about stringers going bad, I always bought old boats and repaired a lot of bad floors and transoms, but never, until the boat I have know replaced the stringers. I bought a  1979 Sea Ray Seville 18fter with a inline 4cyl. it was in a guys back yard, so I stopped and asked him if would like to sell the boat and he said yes, how about $ 500.00 SOLD! so I had go home and get a air tank to blow up the tires. Now getting to the stringers I had to shovel 2ft of snow out off the boat and put the boat in the garage because the bilge area was filled with ice up to the motor, which we later found out that the timing chain was rusted away at the bottom, getting back to the stringers again, I replaced the whole floor system and well looked at the stringers they didn't seam soft, but never really inspected them thoroughly, and used that boat for years, out to lake Erie in waves that one should of had their head examined, and on Ontario in 3fters, used this boat till I bought the one I own now. What would happen or what should you look for if the stringer are bad?  Will it start to crack the outer fiberglass or will the boat bust in half, what signs should one look for should this happen. Just curios as to what happens if someone should buy a boat with bad stringers and use it not knowing the stringers are bad??  Thanks I think this is something people should be made aware of. PAP. 

[TileMan Dan]

Your engine will start moving around and lose alignment with drive unit. More ugliness from there.

Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

[Diversion]

Your engine will start moving around and lose alignment with drive unit. More ugliness from there.

Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

This stuff, along with the engine coupler failing, the outdrive gears will fail, all kinds of bad stuff due to the alignment being off and constantly changing. Stress cracks will begin to appear in the surrounding fiberglass, indicating that there is flex going on due to the stringer support system being compromised.

[Guppy35]

If your stringers go bad, just go buy a new one at just about any sportsman's store.  There are several different kinds for under $10

[TileMan Dan]

One thing you can always count on in life is a comedian not to far away. Lol

Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

[Guppy35]

       But in all seriousness, that was a great question because i would like to know more about it as well.  I wouldn't know what to look for as far as the stringers go to know whether they were in good shape or not.

[GAMBLER]

My Gimbal bearing and engine coupler went bad leading us to find rotted stringers in my boat.  Drill a hole in the stringers to see if the wood is rotted.  If they are not, simply fill the hole with resin.  If they are, have fun putting new ones in. 

[lakebound88]

What Gambler said^^^

 

 

I just did my bulkheads, fortunately I have strong stringers still. If youre investing in a new boat, always invest in a surveyor. They will find every possible flaw in a vessel. Worth every penny.

 

Nick

[Beyond Upstate]

What's the ballpark price to get a boat surveyed?

Sent from my iPad using Lake Ontario United

[rustyrat]

I paid 500 for a 25 footer.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[johncole]

i have a friend who got a Grady White with a bad transom, he knew this when he bought it, then he dug in and found the stringers and every other piece of wood was shot, needless to say he separated the top of the boat from the bottom and has been rebuilding and glassing everything in there, his thought is when he gets it done he'll know exactly what he will have and its a Grady White.

[motoman]

servey'ers  also use moister meters and sounders too check bulk heads and stringers alot of people don't want holes drilled in there boat !

[Sk8man]

Guess that is why I've always had Whalers  

Edited March 4, 2014 by Sk8man

[jimski2]

After thirty days of new stringers, the beaing went bad again. The new stringers were not aligned properly. Second set were ok.

[Rough House]

Theres a couple things you can do to check it out.  Pull the bolts holding the engine down and see if there wet or have a moldy smell to them or if wood comes out with them when you pull the bolts.  Could be dry rotted.   Also go along the entire length of the stringer and tap the tops and sides with a hammer and see if you have a good sound. They should sound pretty solid.  Any dead sound is usually an indication of delamination.