Stringer replacement report - UPDATE

[frayed_knot]

Looks real good, nice work. The only thing I would have done differently, only because it bugs the crap outta me, is to glass in some small PVC pipe under the stringers to drain the area from the outside edge of the stringers to the bilge. Water collects there on mine, and it absolutely drives me nuts.

[cliffpaul2]

I thought seriously about adding a drain hole along the bottom, but it would have required more advanced fiberglass work than I'm capable of. My deck drains are plumbed to drain to the bilge instead of the area you are worried about, so I think I'll be OK. How else would water get in there unless you have a much bigger problem? Also, without knowing a lot about boat design, I didn't want to alter something that may have been designed that way for a reason.

[Stinky_Hooker]

On the drain pipe thing....I have a way better solution. on my 20, once I pulled the tank I glassed in 1\4" thick material about 12" wide across the very bottom of the belly. This gave it a very wide channel to drain, yet sealed it off from the tank area. There is plenty of room to do this and the tank still fit fine BTW. Go all the way to the cross member where the cabin is and all the way to the rear one just in front of the bilge area.

Like this.




The pipe thing is eventually gonna clog again anyways. This way you can actually get into the cabin and hose it down all the way through the belly to be sure its clean. ;)

[frayed_knot]

Cliff, my deck drains are no where near as fast as my water hose, so I get water spillage over the edges of the deck where the motor cover sits. Not a real big deal, but i does irritate me. If'n I was to have to replace my stringers, I would definately add a drain hole or to on each stringer, someplace accessable to unclog them if necessary. I don't think it would take that much extra skill to do. Still look like a good job though, I wouldn't feel bad about that at all.

[frayed_knot]

Ya know what Cliff? I just re-looked at your pics and it appears that you deck/stringer location is different than mine. My stringers are closer together than yours, that's why when the water drains over the edge of my deck, I get swimming pools on the outer sides.

[frayed_knot]

Aw hell, I was looking at GMC's pics. Never mind the above post, we are the same.

[macojoe]

I think you confused???

[frayed_knot]

Me too ;)

[76GMC1500]

Originally Posted by frayed_knot

Aw hell, I was looking at GMC's pics. Never mind the above post, we are the same.

My hull is a Seabird. It's got the same bottom as a V20, but the hull is cored so the stringers are a little less structural.

[garagenc]

Cliff
I'm doing hte same thing to my I/O, I pulled the 305 and 1 of my stringers was bad so I went back to good wood and replaced just the bad section, I have pics also on the site. I bought a 350 long block from Rapido Marine out of Fla for $1,600 including shipping (no core charge). I'm finishing up bolting on my pieces from the 305 to the 350.

I just asked a ? to the chevy gods on the site about using my 305 flywheel and harmonic balancer. I want to know if that will be a problem.