stringer question

[Boatsb]

Something sounds fishy with a $9K stringer fix on a Hatt. What did he say is wrong with them?

 

[boatwright]

while the density/type of the foam is important it has almost no impact on the actual final strength. it is the "design" of the fiberglass layup,and the bond between the new work and the old hull. an extreme example would be years ago many fiberglass boats were stiffened by glassing over cardboard mailing tubes.it was the glass over the tube that did the stiffening not the core...the job you are proposing is a structurial repair, make sure that your glassman is qualified for the task.many glass men that do great cosmetic work have not the experiance to do this job.

 

[danshat]

Here's a pic of the section of stringer that has me worried. The new engines are considerably lighter than the 440's and this supported those for years. Don't want to do a half a$$ job but not made of $ either.

 

[Boatsb]

Dan Call me. I may be able to help.


407-739-5450

 

[REBrueckner]

I'd be inclined to fill in any questionable voids with a thickened epoxy mix and then either add maybe a 1/2 layupof glass and mat over the engine bed stringers or, and this would be my own preference, add an inverted U shaped aluminum stringer that extends beyond the length of the engine mounts,,,say at least a foot beyond and preferably more like two feet...that would outlast you and likely your grand kids as well...

 

[dsharp]

The glass in that stringer is about 3 times as thick as it needs to be. If the engine will fit under the deck the Hatteras stringers will hold it. I would just grind back and fill what you have with mat and roving. I've probably done 30 gas to diesel change outs and the stringers in the early Hats are really the least of your worries. You may need to change out the gears depending on the horse power.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I believe that the material under the fiberglass that those aluminum angles bolt to is aluminum on our Hats. If I am right you sure don't want to use lag screws. That would only work if the underlying material is wood. I was told that Hatteras uses aluminum for stringers. So, if I am right, just drill and tap the engine beds and use bolts, now nice.