Stringer Replacement '78 Martinique

Hey Guys,

Just purchased my first boat; a 1978 Correct Craft Martinique with the 255hp Ford motor.

I'm going to run it as-is this season, and address the issues next winter.

My biggest concern is the stringers. Quite honestly, I don't feel comfortable replacing the stringers myself. I am comfortable with floor removal, foam removal, engine removal, etc, just not the stringers themselves; I feel as if thats over my head, and I really don't want the hassle.

I found a professional shop here in Little Rock that will replace the stringers (mains and secondaries) for $750. I will deliver the boat to him with the hull gutted, except for stringers. This gentleman has a reputation for doing good, honest work, and I feel comfortable having him do the work.

What I was wondering was if you guys feel like $750 is fair for labor and materials on a stringer replacement. I will then decide rebuild the floor from there.

Also, what other Correct Craft models have similar design characteristics as my Martinique?

Thanks guys!

Jeff

P.S. When rebuilding the floor, what is the general feeling about using, or not using foam again?

If I can do it you can do it. I have no previous experience and have found that the stringers in these boats are not exactly precision built. Pete is right nobody could do that job for $750. If he could he would have a line of CC's to rebuild for miles from this site alone. I know I would drive to Arkansas to have somebody replace my stringers for that. Mine is half gutted right now. Its doable.

Just say no foam

Yeah, I guess I misrespresented the price.
That was the price for labor. He said the wood and glass materials would add substantially to the cost. My bad, 'twas a long day and forgot to be more precise.

I've saved and printed almost every thread on stringer repair I could find here, and have been reviewing it carefully. I'm defeinitely going with wood as a replacement, and I'm pretty sure after talking to a couple boat shops today that I won't be adding foam.

I get that with the right amount of patience, I could probably handle the stringer job. I'm looking at this from and opportunity cost vs benefit perspective. I could pay someone who knows what they are doing to replace the stringers and not have to worry about any mistake. Meanwhile, I could be utilizing skills I already possess giving the engine a complete reconditioning and rebuild.

Who knows. Money is alright right now, but I'm not the type to predict how things will be a year from now. Maybe I'll wind up doing it myself anyway.

My main objective here is to put a decent amount of money into this project, and get a decent boat in return. I can handle the engine, paint, most of the upholstery, and even some light glassing, I would just rather someone with experience replacing the stringers so I know its done right. I feel like its worth the money.

Question: I understand that there is a layer of glass over the stringers and foam. When rebuilding, the foam won't be there to offer its support. Would you just glass over the stringers, or add lateral supports?

A good estimate on the number of hours required to do a proper stringer job yourself is approximately 200. Even if youve found a guy who is super efficient and can do it in half that time, he's only paying himself $7.50 an hour. No way are you getting a quality job for that price.

I seriously doubt you would find a person or marina willing and capable of doing a better job than you could yourself (with a little assistance from CCF of course) for a reasonable amount of money. I hear what youre saying about opportunity cost- but this is one area that just doesnt apply if youre on any sort of budget. No one will put the time and care into your boat like you would. I know I wouldnt touch a stranger's stringers for less than $10k. Just my opinion!

FYI, the Martinique of the 70's used the same hull as the 2nd gen (70-81) Ski Nautique. Welcome to CCF!

I felt the same way- no garage or shop, lack of tool, knowledge etc. I started about a month ago and am making good progress. While you milling it over have a look at my thread Stringer Questions 73 Skier

There are tons of beginner questions answered as I knew nothing starting out and had very little resources. Also somewhere on the first page are a bunch more links to good rebuild threads if you need some interesting reading over the next year.

Good Luck!

Thanks. I figured the only way I was going to get it back together was to take lots of pictures and ask lots of questions. Glad the information has helped. I know I have learned a lot in the last month!

I think I purchase over $800 in epoxy alone plus a huge laundry list of everything else. I think I have at least $2400 in materials in my job(75 Skiier Stringer Replacement).

Btw, people ask me all the time "I did not know you knew how to do that kind of thing" and I tell them "I don't but I can't afford to pay someone else to do it". All I am saying is you can do it if you set your mind to it. Borrow some tools if you need to. I used jigsaws, sawsall, table saw, plunge router, belt and palm sanders, drills, etc...

I don't even want to think how much time I have in mine. I started about the first of march and I am putting the carpet in now.

Let me know if I can help.

Scott

Buck4U, I have a 78 Martinique as well.

IIRC the hull is the same as the regular ski nautique.

Are you certain it has a 255 hp 351 PCM? I was told mine was a 240 hp 351W. Well, it was before I put on gt40p heads and an edelbrock performer manifold. Now it has quite a bit more than it used to have:)

I had to redo my entire floor and interior. My stringers were not rotted because my boat had low hours on it and it was dry stored most of the time. I yanked 90% of the foam out of my boat and used fiberglass encased plywood for the floor. It turned out great, but I do need to either have the hull re gel coated or maybe it will be able to be wet sanded out. It looks decent, but not up to my standards.

Does yours have the centrally mounted rear ladder and the pimp daddy dual airhorns too?

US composites has a nice product that is about as good of a price as you can get for epoxy.


The PO installed a teak swim platform from a different nautique as I don't think it had that as an option from the factory.