stringers

**old villain** · 02-07-2018, 10:40 AM

I need advice on stringer repair on my 1987 Villain III.
I found a soft spot in the floor while removing engine in order to replace leaky shift cable tube.
Approx. 6 ft. forward i found good wood. Can this stringer be spiced?

**XstreamVking** · 02-07-2018, 12:41 PM

You will be putting off the inevitable. (complete replacement) But you can splice the stringers using a scarf joint of about 4'' long with glass between and using a couple of layers of biaxial glass over it.

**old villain** · 02-07-2018, 05:43 PM

Why say inevitable? will the stringers continue to rot?
Is there anything to stop rot from progressing forward?

**Noah Burns** · 02-07-2018, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by old villain

Why say inevitable? will the stringers continue to rot?
Is there anything to stop rot from progressing forward?

Have you ever known wood to just stop rotting? He is right, if it has started, you might as well do the job right and spend just a little more time and do it all. Think about it, you're going to have to cut and grind some of it out of there to replace, why not just finish the job and have total peace of mind?

**XstreamVking** · 02-07-2018, 08:05 PM

Un sealed wood has a finite life span. It's duration is determined by it's exposure to moisture, either directly or from the air. Totally sealing it will prolong it's life, but once bacteria and mold get a foothold it is a matter of time sealed or not. It is not visible, but it's there. Might buy enough time with the replacement of the worst of it, to give you several more years.

**old villain** · 02-09-2018, 08:18 AM

Any ideas on what wood was used from factory? What wood should be used for replacement/repair? The stringers don't look like anything regular pine 1x10.

**FMP** · 02-09-2018, 10:53 AM

Guts it all, clean slate. Marine ply , Baltic of you want to get extra fancy, mahogany is another with more surface prep. Pails of resin, epoxy too, yards of cloth, mat etc. Transom, stringer, bulks , add strength and performance. Work around the good dry foam , most folks take it all out. Add strength to the running surface of the hull. Never look back

**XstreamVking** · 02-09-2018, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by old villain

Any ideas on what wood was used from factory? What wood should be used for replacement/repair? The stringers don't look like anything regular pine 1x10.

Just replace with some 3/4'' marine plywood. And completely glass over it to seal it up. Later when you re-do more of the boat the same material can be used again. Original material? Prob was just pine 1x10's. Can't imagine any exotic wood in a production boat.

**FMP** · 02-09-2018, 07:08 PM

If you get to a second time around you'll kick yourself for doing it twice. I'd kick myself that I know.

**old villain** · 02-10-2018, 09:04 AM

" guts it all" would be the action if any core rot was found. Core, bulks, transom all solid.

**old villain** · 02-10-2018, 09:35 AM

i removed stringer up to good wood. I am gonna open up other side to see if any rot under floor. What i see on other side will determine my decision to patch or total replacement.

**old villain** · 02-10-2018, 09:40 AM

Does anybody know what type of foam would have been used in production? None of the foam was wet.

**FMP** · 02-10-2018, 09:50 AM

I had to search a pic of your boat, from what I found it is a classic great looking boat. Well worth the effort, glad for you it's just a small repair. How's the power?

**old villain** · 02-10-2018, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by FMP

I had to search a pic of your boat, from what I found it is a classic great looking boat. Well worth the effort, glad for you it's just a small repair. How's the power?

Thanks, I have had her since showroom. Thought I took better care of her. Always bow up under the carport. Just got her third engine running last spring. Went back stock this time, getting too old to go to fast. OMC 460 ford with king cobra outdrive.