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Post by Charles on Mar 17, 2017 2:53:57 GMT -6
Can anyone give me some recommendations on working on the stringers for this boat? The fiberglass tabbing has separated and the stringers are rotted some until the engine mount. I was thinking of either replacing these or reglassing them and tabbing them and then adding a sister stringer alongside it glassed to it with the tabs on the inside of the stringer. Also wanting to know what type of bedding compound to use? All help is appreciated.
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Post by James Cochran on Apr 10, 2017 15:40:32 GMT -6
I hope someone will respond here.
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Post by gordon on Jun 25, 2017 19:26:12 GMT -6
Hi Charles, I'm on my 6th restoration. I've enjoyed working with and building with fiberglass, so these old boats provide me with the chance to do just that.
You'll want to remove the old tabs - right down to good fiber. I use only White Oak for stringers. Google the difference between White and Red Oak and you'll see that White has been used for ship building for 100's of years. Besides being several times stronger than Pine, Fir, or Spruce, the cells of White are closed and will not soak-up water (or salt) like other woods do. Less water absorption means less bacteria and rot if it does get wet. It is more expensive and hard to cut/rip, but well worth the effort if it's a boat you want to keep.
I use 1708 bi-axial fabric for bedding exclusively and US Composites 3:1 Laminating Epoxy for all attachment task. The 1708 uses stitching to combine the woven and non-woven components - this is important when using Epoxy because many other fabrics/mats are chemically held together and rely on MEKP/Polyester Resin to dissolve. I will not use Polyester resin for attachment. Epoxy bonds are actually stronger than the wood it's attached to - not so with Polyester. I take time and care to match White Oak stringers to the hull. I will lay 1 "wet Epoxy" bedding layer of 1708 4" wide onto the hull floor just below each of the stringers - weight these down and let cure for 2 days.
I follow-up with a grinder and scuff the bed and stringer to remove the wax that forms on cured Epoxy, then vacuum and wipe clean. I then use Epoxy/sawdust or Epoxy/Cabosil peanut butter to make filets on both sides and ends of each stringer. While that is still wet, I'll apply my Epoxy/1708 tabs on both sides of the stringers.
Photos make it easier for folks to follow - Gordon
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