Stringers

Thanks Pete you have been very helpful.

read the whole thread hoping for some great stringer pictures.............

emccallum wrote: read the whole thread hoping for some great stringer pictures.............

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."

Sounds like you've been a busy boy Mikey.... When time allows Heather and I will have to make a trip up there and see whatcha got. I know a guy so I might even be able to bring a stringer rebuild care package with me.

I heard the Atlanta boat show is going to be much smaller and in building A because of the Superbowl . Sounds like a good year to take off.

Nautiquehunter wrote: is there a set distance between the strut and the prop I used the rub marks on the shaft to get me close.

Mike,
The "rule of thumb" has been one shaft diameter but some like less. The less distance means less overhung load and that means less load on the shaft One thing to watch out for is prop clearance to the hull. As the prop is moved forward, the clearance is reduced.

Another question The original engine came with exhaust manifolds with a 2.5'' exhaust opening . The 351 has 3'' . I don't know if I should go with the original and chance restricted exhaust or go with the 3'' and boar out the hull openings.

Well my Doug fur source fell through they said even if they could get it it would be very costly. So I went with Southern Yellow Pine . I picked the boards with hardly any knots and straight grain. Probably wont last forever but neither will I.

I am missing the section of floor behind the engine cover . Does anyone have any pics of what is supposed to be there and maybe some measurements.

Measurements? You don't need no stinking measurements. Just make it fit the hole you now have If you really need them I can get them,here are the pictures-





This is an underside picture of that panel with the old plywood removed. It is used to provide support since that panel is removable and has no foam under it. I replaced it with two 1/4" 5ply underlayment    CPES'd and bonded to the bottom of the panel. If you look close you can see the lip around the front edge and part way down the side. This makes it looked more finished when its installed. The part of the panel that does not have the lip is under the seat so it's not seen.

What they originally did Mike was to foam the boat then they laid a layer of glass over the top of everything which sealed it all up. Then that fiberglass pan goes in on top of all that. Here is a picture of my floor you can see where I took out all the foam when I got it in '89. I cut out that top layer of fiberglass but did not cut it flush to the stringers and cross members. There is only one place up in the seating area where there is anywhere close to a foot of unsupported floor. So to protect the fiberglass pan from damage I used that 5 ply underlayment soaked in cpes then epoxy and cloth covered. Supports the floor very well. In the area where the seat tracks screw down, I cut extra pieces of the 5 ply and buttered them underneath to really give the screws something to really hold to.





One area that causes trouble though is where this arrow is pointing. When Correct Craft laid the glass over the foam they gelled it in this area so it blended in with the floor pan. You pull out the foam like I did or replace the stringers like you, this spot will be open. The support floor I put in you can see where I colored the spot that is exposed in that picture above. You will have to figure out how you'll work around this.



This is the final result-

The real start is near. I pulled the engine and floor back out. Now that I know how things will fit. I think I will go with the original exhaust manifolds with the 2.5 exhaust I hope it wont restrict the flow too much . But a whole lot of modification wont be necessary and I can use the original engine cover. I pulled the boat out of the barn and into the basement or should I call it dry dock. This is where it will stay until its ready for the engine to be installed again.

I promised myself I would not start the 68 until the 08 was cleaned,polished and waxed . After a pinched nerved set me back for a week I felt good enough to work again. 08 is done and put away in the barn To start the new year off right I started the 68. First I spent a couple hours measuring motor mount holes, bulk heads , rudder mount and anything else I found . I marked the specks on a piece of plywood so it doesn't get lost.I then started removing the starboard secondary stringer. It came out surprising easy and intact.Next the primary. She gave me a fight but I also got it out in one piece. Now I have patterns for the new stringers. When I did the 84 Supra there was not much left of the old stringers so everything had to be scribed and planed to fit.

New home until stringers are done

Mike - progress looks great!

I have one of these floor panels if you need it. There's a chance I could get it on one of our trucks and arrange a drop off on his way through Atlanta. He won't be able to stop long but if someone could meet him close to the interstate we could make it happen.

Gary S wrote:

I got all 4 stringers cut and 2 coats of CPES . I noticed the rudder just didn't look right so I took it apart instead of a wood backer board glassed to the hull somebody used plastic attached only with rusty steel carriage bolts . I used MDO plywood coated with CPES and glassed over the top then epoxied to the hull. As long as it was out I went ahead and polished all the brass parts. I got 1 main stringer bedded in with epoxy. I think I can get the rest in tomorrow.