stringers???

Stringers are the longitudinal wooden members that, for lack of a better word, form the spine of your boat. They are located between the floor and the hull. They are installed when the hull is laid up and glassed in. The floor then mounts on top of them.

Open the engine cover, the fiberglassed members that support the motor mounts are stringers, they will look like 2 x 8's on edge. I believe that most of the CC's have two additional stringers outboard of these.

Problem areas with the stringers would include any holes or cracks in the fiberglass that would allow water to get into the wood and start the rot process. One area of concern is where the motor mounts attach. If the mounts have loosened and enlarged the bolt holes a path for water is created. Check spots where anything is mounted to the stringers for signs of water damage. A slender probe, like an ice-pick, can be used to check for soft spots. Be careful not to create any new holes while digging around. Another likely location would be the swim platform bolts. The uppers are just bolted through the transom whaile I believe that the lower ones are lag bolted into the end of the stringers.

Depending on the care and history of your boat, there may or may not be issues. Our '78 has always been cradled or on a trailer when not in use and never spent any extended time just sitting in the water, so far, no problems.