Boat Repairs - How do these stringers look? (Pics)

[grandregal]

Hi everyone,

I'm brand new to boating. Due to my lack of experience I bought a 17 ft Red Fin center console with a soft deck. After removing the deck this is what I found(pics below). The wood isn't perfect by any means but seems to be okay. I think the problem is the top of the fiberglass is delaminated. Is this something that can be repaired or am I better off cutting my losses? Any opinions or advice would be appreciated!

 

[honeeagle]

are those nails?! the black under the woven roving is not a good thing.However anything can be repaired, go to the web site (gougeon brothers ) west system epoxy, they have instructions and product - check out the price of a gallon of marine epoxy before going ahead.
In a nut shell all of the fibreglass must come off and all soft wood replaced and reglassed .
A lot of time a lot of $$$ only worth it if the boat is a classic or has some sentimental value.

 

[demarpaint]

Delete

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted by honeeagle
are those nails?! the black under the woven roving is not a good thing.However anything can be repaired, go to the web site (gougeon brothers ) west system epoxy, they have instructions and product - check out the price of a gallon of marine epoxy before going ahead.
In a nut shell all of the fibreglass must come off and all soft wood replaced and reglassed .
A lot of time a lot of $$$ only worth it if the boat is a classic or has some sentimental value.
Excellent advise as I restored an older boat and it came out great. Th eGougeon books are great and the West Marine Epoxy is the best quality on the market. Why is a boat restore post on BITOG? BITOG is the new Facebook?

 

[oilpsi2high]

Hard to tell from pics but take a screwdriver and see how solid they are. If the floor was soft then moisture likely got below deck and rotted the stringers, especially if they are exposed like that.

Next check the transom. I bet that's bad as well.

The entire boat can be re-done if you're in for a project. Join the hull truth and iboats. This is why I spent years looking for a runabout with 100% composite construction. They're not without issues but they hold up better than wood.

The thing is wood is actually better than composite, structurally. The problem is being in a boat subject to moisture. Most people don't keep their boats towel dried and stored indoors when not in use, so it's a matter of when, not if the thing rots.

 

[JTK]

How old is the boat? Like said, the dark coloration of the wood usually indicates it's been soaked and it's shot.

I watched my brother do a complete strip down right to the hull, transom included and re-do it all on a ~17ft fiberglass I/O a year or two ago. I think it's a 1997 model year. If your boat is 20+ yrs old, it's most likely going to need to be totally re-done. He loves a project like that. I wouldn't know where to start.