Tell me it will be all right....

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   Winter maintenance of my 1989 SN is going well.  All hoses (water, fuel, exhaust) replaced, new sender installed in gas tank, pitot's and speedo lines replaced, winterized, all filters replaced, and general going over.  

However, as I was preparing to re-install the gas tank, I gave the bolts that hold the supports to the stringers a tightening.  Got a big pit in my stomach when they spun loose - definitely stripped out .  All the other bolts in the stringers are good - can put all my strength into tightening them and they hold rock solid.  Top and side motor mounts, bolts holding the rear deck supports all good.  Floors are solid all around, and general condition of boat is excellent.  All original vinyl in great shape, 420 hours on the clock, an engine and bilge you could eat off of, excellent gel coat with no signs of cracking, etc.  The area where the main stringers attach to the hull is filleted and intact with no cracking/separating that I see in rotten stringer posts. I remember reading that CC went to an epoxy resin in the 89 and newer boats to fix the earlier problems and hoping that makes a difference in longevity.

So, other than the obvious rotted stringers, any other explanation for why only those bolts would be stripped?  Maybe the weight and vibrations of the gas tank on the supports loosening over time?  Have the packing nut off to repack, and was going to check alignment to see if engine shifted/twisted, but based on how it was running the 2 times I had it on the water, structural integrity is good.

Needing a hug right now, but reading up on stringer/foam replacement for next year...

Ron

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rfarkash Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: September-06-2011 Location: Plainville, MA Status: Offline Points: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote rfarkash Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Tell me it will be all right.... Posted: January-03-2012 at 1:09am
	Winter maintenance of my 1989 SN is going well. All hoses (water, fuel, exhaust) replaced, new sender installed in gas tank, pitot's and speedo lines replaced, winterized, all filters replaced, and general going over. However, as I was preparing to re-install the gas tank, I gave the bolts that hold the supports to the stringers a tightening. Got a big pit in my stomach when they spun loose - definitely stripped out . All the other bolts in the stringers are good - can put all my strength into tightening them and they hold rock solid. Top and side motor mounts, bolts holding the rear deck supports all good. Floors are solid all around, and general condition of boat is excellent. All original vinyl in great shape, 420 hours on the clock, an engine and bilge you could eat off of, excellent gel coat with no signs of cracking, etc. The area where the main stringers attach to the hull is filleted and intact with no cracking/separating that I see in rotten stringer posts. I remember reading that CC went to an epoxy resin in the 89 and newer boats to fix the earlier problems and hoping that makes a difference in longevity. So, other than the obvious rotted stringers, any other explanation for why only those bolts would be stripped? Maybe the weight and vibrations of the gas tank on the supports loosening over time? Have the packing nut off to repack, and was going to check alignment to see if engine shifted/twisted, but based on how it was running the 2 times I had it on the water, structural integrity is good. Needing a hug right now, but reading up on stringer/foam replacement for next year... Ron

eric lavine Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: August-13-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13413	Post Options Post Reply Quote eric lavine Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January-03-2012 at 9:34am
	try the next size lags up and see if they tighten, those lags will work loose and strip with time
	"the things you own will start to own you"

TRBenj Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Online Points: 21186	Post Options Post Reply Quote TRBenj Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January-03-2012 at 11:08am
	The AME4000 that CC went to in '89 is a vinylester- so its better than poly, but not as good as epoxy. My '90 certainly isnt immune to rot- Ive replaced part of the floor and a secondary stringer so far. Its possible that the bolts holes are simply stripped, but I wouldnt count on it. Youve probably got some rot there. I would inject a bit of CPES into the holes, let it cure, and then fill them with thickened resin. Pilot drill new mounting holes and reinstall the bolts. Based on the condition of the boat and the relatively minor rot that youre describing, I wouldnt worry about it too much.

Hollywood Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: February-04-2004 Location: Twin Lakes, WI Status: Offline Points: 13514	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hollywood Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January-03-2012 at 12:10pm
	it will be all right

rfarkash Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: September-06-2011 Location: Plainville, MA Status: Offline Points: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote rfarkash Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January-04-2012 at 1:39am
	You guys made my day. Will do the cpes route and next size up lags, and not worry about it too much (for now). Thanks Ron

Tell me it will be all right....

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