Martinique Stringers

Hi everybody.

After several months of lurking mu first post.

I recently bought a 1986 Martinique and having removed the rear floor and pressure washed all the c**p out found that I will be doing a stringer replacement next year. The screwdriver test goes the full 8" with no resistance. The photos are by the rear cross brace above the shaft exit.

POs have used builders foam and pained it to disguise the lack of wood in the stringer.

Has anybody done one on a Martinique? How d you get round the fiberglass floor in the open bow?

Any info welcome (I am working through all the other threads on stringer replacements)

What other materials are usable or have been used other than Douglas fir and LVL?

Thanks

Tom

Tom welcome to the site. It sounds like you are going to be busy this winter! Almost everyone, myself included, asks about alternative stringer materials when starting their research, but the bottom line is that D fir is what you need to use unless you are willing to spend the extra time and money to fabricate stringers out of coosa board. Its not always easy to find DF but with some persistence you will find it. (Just noticed you are in Italy so it may be hard to get DF over there, but you never know) We have a few site members scattered around Europe. They may be able to help you out.

must_dash wrote: POs have used builders foam and (painted?) it to disguise the lack of wood in the stringer.

That's a dirty trick. Even so, that's where the water intrusion starts.

I think that the big job will get bigger, I had guessed at taking the top off. I don't think that D fir will be common in Italy. I need to go to the builders and see if composite roof beams are available. Importing will probably be impractical, but feasible and preferable to haveing to laminate one's own.

Tom,
Welcome. We'll help when ever we can. You're going to have to measure the size needed for the stringers. If you can get LVL over there, it's a great alternate to the doug fir. Just remember it's a 1/4" thicker so you'll need to adjust your spacing. Don't forget the CPES. If you can't get it, Roger over in England, came up with a "home brew" by using the Rot Doctors MSDS.

Roger is uk1979. Look down this page for 'UK's 78 SN'. I think his formula is in that thread near the beginning. If not, someone with a better memory will help out.

Sorry guys I'm a bit slow here look in my Starflite Rebuild it has the home brew that Billy,and Tim put me onto should be links to more info, you have 2 of the top guys on your build so your in safe hands.

Info on page 3.

Starflite Rebuild