BFN Stringer ?

First off I would like to say hello to everyone.

I’m new to the site but old to the sport.I used to barefoot in my youth and kind of fell out of skiing for 18 or so years. I have been reading and learning a lot from this site.

I bought a 1988 Barefoot project.
The boat needs floors, stringers (I’m sure) and a full interior .among other things.

Please bare with me on this questions.

What happens to a boat when or if you use it with “bad” stringers?
I hate to even suggest this but ….could I run this boat with questionable stringers?I know there are boats on the water right now running with bad stringers,but I guse when you know they maybe bad its a different story.
Possibly sister them up to get through the summer?
This boat is going to get used vey little this year and is a trailored boat.
My thoughts are remove the rest of the foam. And go the route of not using foam ,and make the floor some what removable.
My concerns would be how much strength that floor has with the V type hull. It seems like it would be more ridged than the flatter SN.

And for the record I am not in any way trying to get out or coble this up.

Like I stated earleir I hate to evan ask this.
Thanks in advance Jeff

Jeff,
Welcome to CCfan and start reading!!! Fantastic resource!

The biggest issue with bad stringers is taking the chance of damaging the trans. I'd hate for you to need to dig into it or sent it out for a rebuild. Have you checked the engine/prop shaft/strut alignment? If not do it as it will give you a better idea if you can continue running the boat. If you need help with the procedure, there's a great pictorial thread on it by or resident trans expert Eric.

Sister stringers? Most cases you'll have a the problem of figuring out what to sister to! The fiberglass shell of a rotten stringer? By the time you get anything decent in there, you're half way done with a new stringer job!!!

Jeff,
The above post is Eric the person I referred to as being the trans specialist. It's his business. He was just saying how slow things are with marine trans rebuilding and the bad economy. So, don't worry about the stringers or alignment, run the boat see what happens and then you can do your share with helping Eric though the tough times.

Check out those stringers. Post some pictures of suspected bad spots so we can take a look.

BTW, Make sure you search out the "pumpkin patch" thread as it's a BFN string replacement. Excellent job by Greg.

baby doesnt cry, momma dont feed her lol, will get by Pete, always do, Luckily, my Boy Obama gave the corp some cash!!!!!!!!dredging will begin shortly...should be pulling a 6-71 and mh allison gear this week, its an ice chest down in the bowels of the tender, I get alot of work from them when they are in town

eric lavine wrote: baby doesnt cry, momma dont feed her lol, will get by Pete, always do, Luckily, my Boy Obama gave the corp some cash!!!!!!!!dredging will begin shortly...should be pulling a 6-71 and mh allison gear this week, its an ice chest down in the bowels of the tender, I get alot of work from them when they are in town

Im between Grand Rapids and Lansing
The boat sounds like it was a pass around and I ended up with it.Its going to take alot to get her back.I will need pics of other boats I have no interior ,justa shell of a drivers seat.
Jeff

The afore mentioned thread...   Weeding the Pumpkin Patch

This is also an '88 and thanks for the kind words guys!

TRBenj wrote: Sounds like you bought Rob Bruder's BFN. If so, the floor and some of the foam is already out... dont even think about scabbing it back together! If the boat was still intact, then leaving it as-is would have been an option... but it doesnt make any sense to do a half ass repair. Just do it right to begin with. If youre interested in a factory repair job, do check out Greg's "pumpkin patch" thread. "The Grinch" also restored a '79 BFN using factory techniques. Both guys did amazing jobs on their boats. BJ (hasbeenskier) deviated from the factory configuration on his '81 BFN, and I am changing it up even more on my '79. All would be good references to check out before you formulate a plan.

Yes it was Bruders.
I will get new Pictures of MY new boat and start a resto thread.
My dad is vacationing in Gulf Shores right now and when he gets back to Michigan (first of April) things will start picking up.Im going to work at getting it off the trailer,motor pulled and the rest of the foam out before dad gets home.
My dad got me into boats and skiing when I was young and this is going to be a fun project for him ,myself and My 2 kids :-)
And thanks again everyone.

Jeff

eric lavine wrote: I think the guy that coined the Phrase "Pumpkin Patch" should get a kick back

You get the half!

Remember, you said "that's not a big block, it's a pumpkin"? So when I started the stringer thread I figured the boat must be the pumpkin patch if that big thing in the middle is a pumpkin.