How to replace fiberglass boat flooring, and how to fix a fiberglass hull, can be found on the Do It Yourself.com website.
I was talking to a friend last week and he told me that the boat's stringers needed to be fixed.I did some research and found out that it is not only men who do not know what stringers are on a boat.Here is the answer I found.
Older boats and pre-fabricated fiberglass molds are the types of boat stringers.A lattice or grid system is used to create a supporting structure underneath a boat deck.It's similar to how joists would hold up the floorboards in a house.
Over time, boat stringers can become stressed and need to be replaced.If constructed from wood, they can degrade due to impact and rot.
Older boats have wooden stringers, which are still used in modern craft.Boat builders would use plywood to build their boats.
The structure will have fiberglass frames or hats placed over them and can be laminated.
There are 2 wooden lengths running from front to back of the boat.
Wooden stringers can be made from either fiberglass or wood.Here is a fiberglass construction.
There are a number of telltale signs that your boat is in need of repair or replacement.These include:
If you see gaps and holes in your boat deck that haven't been sealed, it's very likely that water will have gotten in and started to rot the stringers underneath.
You might see sagging on the deck or areas that don't feel secure if you have rotten stringers.
When the fiberglass cloth layers start to break, deck delamination can happen.If you don't get onto the repair quickly, it will only get worse.
The stringers will break apart when water gets through and into them.It is more serious than water damage from a hole, as it will affect the entire structure.
The sight of brown spots is a sign that the water is already in them.
You will need to replace them and gel coat them to make sure they don't rot and get into the new wood.
If your stringers are exposed to a lot of water, they will need to be replaced on a regular basis.They will rot even if they are made from water-treated wood.
If you have a damaged or rotten hatch, you can lift it up.You might have to cut an inspection hole into your deck if you don't have this option.
There are a number of visual checks you can make if you are buying a used boat.
The seller should tell you when the stringers were last replaced.If the boat has been out on the water for a long time, it is likely that the stringers will rot, especially with a boat that has not had a lot of maintenance.
If the hull support structure is accessible, you can check out the condition of the stringers with a visual inspection.
It will give you an indication on the quality of the construction if you can see into it.
Older boats used to have fiberglass hats on them.Find out if the frame was made from plywood with used boats.
Is the plywood capsulated in fiberglass or not?Water may have gotten in and started to rot the wood if it wasn't for it.
Check to see if there is any wood left.Many boat builders claim to have encapsulated the plywood, but this isn't always the case.
Some boat builders use fiberglass tape.The preferred construction will have the structure covered with a fabric before the plywood.The stronger the wood, the less water can get into it.
Any plumbing routes should have been sealed up.It is a bad sign if you can only see bare wood.
The newer boats won't have as many problems.The use of plywood for stringers is rare now, with more water-resistant vinyl resins used.
There is still some due diligence to be done, and that is not to say you should just take it for granted.