Changing Hydrostream stringer height

**coffeeguy** · 04-26-2018, 07:05 AM

I have started to re-core a valero and want to install a different fuel tank(long but only 6 inches high) and keep it as close to the original floor height. The stringers were 8" apart outer edge to outer edge. The original stringers were 1/2" by 6". I am wondering if 3/4" by 3 " would be to weak or even 1 inch (2 pieces X1/4" and a middle of 1/2").

**XstreamVking** · 04-26-2018, 10:21 AM

This tank is going under the floor?

**idvette** · 04-26-2018, 08:23 PM

The way I'm reading this he wants to drop the floor 3" to install a larger fuel tank. How is the core Ken? Are you planning to knee the stringers into the transom? Murph has a real nice "strongbox" design, but it may take up some of the space you're looking to create. I would think shorter stringers would be ok with cross braces and knee'd, but I'm not the pro Murph is...

**TraceF3** · 04-26-2018, 09:00 PM

knee it

**Noah Burns** · 04-27-2018, 02:36 AM

I'm in agreement with Vette, a shorter stringer (of a high quality material such as COOSA) installed properly should serve the purpose just fine but I also agree that Xstream is the go-to guy around here!

**XstreamVking** · 04-27-2018, 06:42 AM

I'm not so sure, I couldn't even figure out what he was talking about! But, Coosa over the core with 3'' tall stringers will be ok.

**coffeeguy** · 04-29-2018, 04:39 AM

I am trying to install a short ( only 6"high but 60" long tank). I am going to use a one piece knee board/stringer combo where each of the stringers ran before . The goal is to have the tank as low in the boat as possible with the top of the tank about 2" above where the floor sits. Some forums say the glass covering the stringer gives it it's strength and others the stringer is more of the main support.

**XstreamVking** · 04-29-2018, 06:55 PM

It's really a combo of the two, stringer material makes a difference. Wood needs less glass to be strong. A foam stringer gets most of it's strength from the glass.

**Noah Burns** · 04-29-2018, 07:35 PM

You say you are going to have the top of the tank 2" above where the floor sits. Is this a tank that sits down between the stringers? if so, how will it sit, above the floor line? guess I'm not understanding what you are talking about.

**coffeeguy** · 04-30-2018, 05:32 PM

The tank is 13" wide, the pad on the boat is 8.75 wide then the hull angles up. With a 3 inch high stringer the tank will can rest on top of the stringers or on cross braces(leaning to the cross braces to support the tank) this will allow the tanks outer edge to just clear from touching the hull. At this height, the tank would be about 2 " above the old floor height.
I am trying to get the weight of the fuel lower and in the middle of the boat. I need to do stringers and core so figured I could do this to reduce the effect of the fuel volume changes from its old front mount location.
The boat is only going to be used for driving so the slight tank protrusion wouldn't be a nuisance.