Stringer Repair 1985 2001 Ski Nautique

Guess I remember this wrong - http://www.chris-craft.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=1222

ATXMatt wrote: This is a 1967 Chris Craft Sea Vee 21. First year for Fiberglass Hulls from Chris Craft.

Not true at all!!! Chris started using glass in 58 when they built the Silver Arrow. Sorry, but get the facts before posting. Are you an ACBS member? If not, it sure would be worth while joining. Plenty of knowledgeable people there.

Matt,
There are many members here (and threads) who have used US composites For a great and reasonable cost supplier of resins and cloths of all types. Use the search about stringer jobs and you will even find material quantity lists.

Yea, I should clarify, I used the TAP Plastic Vides to understand Cloth. While that was a bit of a dry video, it did teach me the ins and outs of fiberglass cloth, Mat, Weave, Directional, Combo. Can't speak to the rest of it.

8122pbrainard, I don't supposed you'd want to use the power of the hyperlink to point to a good source of product you'd recommend and maybe why?

More Pics of Progress of the project



Some stuff I got via Amazon. It takes 30-45 minutes to get anywhere from where I live in ATX, so I let FedEx/UPS do my driving ;)



Just for fun and cause its easy, here are my other projects in order.

1985 Century Coronado with a 340hp Chevy 454 - 667hrs. These are Beautiful classics. Needs all new wood inside, stringer and floor job. Interior will get a refresh too.



This is a 1967 Chris Craft Sea Vee 21. Tell me this thing isn't going to be a cowabunga surfer, that's the Texas Spelling. It has a 220hp chevy 327 small block in it. New wood and transom and interior, probably engine rebuild. Only 500 of these were made, so it seems worth saving. First year for Fiberglass Hulls from Chris Craft.



Complete with Floor Shifter


Yes, when you pull up to my house, you do want to start whistling the theme from Sanford and Son, I do ;)

This Thread should help you....Laying Biax

TRBenj wrote: Like I said previously, there are several layups that I have seen work. The one I like most is cloth tape (2/2/4/4/8/8 on the mains and 2/4/8 on the secondaries) followed by 12" wide biax up the side. Mains are topped with 12" biax as well.

Okay ~~ I laid biax up yesterday...... What is the secret to a successful biax layup?

I could NEVER get it to stick to the stringer (on the sides & top at the same time). The result is that over 50% of the material is not bonded to the Fir stringer like it should be..

I've got to take it all off ~ and start over.

I've always thought this unit was pretty trick - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-Tank-Abrasive-Baking-Soda-Blaster-Sand-Blasting-/370828576039?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item56571b0527&vxp=mtr

ATXMatt wrote: Flap Disks Harbor Freight 36 grit - http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-36-grit-flap-disc-67642.html Flap Disks Harbor Freight 60 grit - http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-60-grit-flap-disc-67641.html

Those won't cut it unless all you plan on sanding is paint save the flap disk for the final sand before paint.
These are what you want
http://www.toolup.com/makita_a-94580_4-diamond-blade-turbo-hard-material.aspx
and these Most autobody supply should have these
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/3M-Arbor-Mount-Sanding-Disc-2FWA1?Pid=search

Yea gun-driver, thanks for the node , its does gotz a nice trailer, but its NOT part of the deal, whaaa whaaa, but probably won't need one. She is still on that trailer and will be until done. It was an OMG, somebody wants this piece of crap moment, and I was like yea, right here buddy, that's me. Actually, they got love for that boat and probably will buy it from me when I Get-R-Done. I have a 1985 Century Coronado 454 that needs stringers right behind the Nautique that is better suited for a dude with athletically expired knees who wants to Surf

Well the trailer looks nice
There's tons of threads on stringers just start searching. Use the advanced search or Google I found they work the best. I already did an '85 rebuild and can tell you you can't get aggressive enough with the grinding pads I got the most use out of a 4" diamond masonry blade and 4" 24 grit grinding discs.
You'll just be beating your head on the wall if you try the flapper discs or home depot type 60 grit wheels.
Good luck

Flap Disks - http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Flap+discs&qpvt=Flap+discs&FORM=IGRE

Cupped concrete leveling diamond discs - http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Cupped+concrete+leveling+diamond+discs&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=cupped+concrete+leveling+diamond+discs&sc=0-0&sp=-1&sk=

TX Foilhead Uuuu ain't kidding. Those are big boy tools.

Is this the CPES of which you speak? http://www.rotdoctor.com/products/cpes.html

I'm thinking what I'll do is white foam, like from a beer cooler, in pockets of stringer and then plywood with light glass. Seems most cost effective and readily available.

I called a few places about composite material. It would add about $1500 to the cost of the job and nothing is in town. Even in ATX, now the 10th largest city in America.

8122pbrainard - Muchas Gracias friend. I haven't done a stringer job since I was a senior in College, 20yr reunion coming up. I'm returning all the treated and getting regular. Thanks for the heads up. I'll also be pickup up some good tool to grind all bonding surfaces. Any recommendations? I'm thinking power wire brush'ish or corse sanding.    

This weekend I have to make the measurements for all the cutting. The BIG question, does anyone have templates for the stringers? I can make it work from the KILLER pics posted and from what we cut out. But all the wood in this boat was goo. If there were any builder notes that or I missed them in other posts, PLEASE, would be killer.

However, when I saw a sledge I was like ooopsss... Hoping to avoid that.

More reading to do, iplan, send that rain to ATX, we NEED it, all lakes here 39% full and dropping...

Matt,
Welcome to CCfan. Some pictures would be great.

NO TREATED!! Since you have mentioned you have done stringer before, I sure hope you didn't use treated on them. The resin doesn't like treated and the bond quality is very poor even with a CPES treatment. Plus, it's very difficult to find treated below the recommended 8% moisture content. What was the moisture content of the wood on your previous jobs? I sure hope you check it.

You can find several great threads on going with composite stringers. It's more work and more time but many feel it's worth it.

The thin glass over the foam is original. If you are going with a foam hull, it's a great method. If you plan on a no foam hull, the common floor is plywood with CPES, epoxy and a light glass covering. Depending on your cross bracing spacing between the stringers, you can go with 1/2 or 5/8. 3/4 is way overkill. Exterior ply is fine.