Proof, not all Mustangs have rotten stringers.

DrCC wrote: The PO probably changed lag bolts at the end of every season.

And probably a little longer each year, just so they grab, until it turns into one of those urban legend boats you hear about that end up screwed to the trailer and the (new) owner doesnt know about until he goes to launch it.

Such as...

JoeinNY wrote: And possibly replaced the original lags with longer, prettier ones at some point?

You never know when or where it may be lurking.

And possibly replaced the original lags with longer, prettier ones at some point?

I have seen some boats in pretty good shape and that is one of them but off the top of my head that bolt dont look 42 years old. However I have been wrong before (a couple times this week even)

And my boat goes 65mph!

I have been obsessing over the 70 Mustang I picked up about 2 weeks ago. I have read all of the stringer rebuild posts I have found, and have looked at 6 Mustangs in my quest for the right one, and they all exhibited some degree of stringer rot. I was expecting to find the same on the 70 I just bought and planned to use it for a couple years and then do the stringer job.
I have removed most of the fittings and I sent them to the plating shop. I decided to look for the buried bad news today. I took a small core sample of the foam and found it to be completely dry. Pleased by this I checked the engine mounting lag bolts and they were all very tight. I removed one to examine it for corrosion damage and rotten wood. This is what I found.