Help with Stringers !
 

I'm restoring a Donzi 22 Classic. The deck is off and I am working on the hull stringer structure. I currently have several areas of rot in the forward (not engine compartment) stringers. The areas of rot are circled in the pictures. My plan was to just reinforce the stringer system with a few more layers of glass and do nothing else. My thoughts were that the glass would handle the load and therefore, it wouldn't matter if the stringer rotted from the inside. Does anybody have any thoughts on this, should I repair the stringer by just replacing the rotten wood, or pull the whole stringer system out and start over with high density foam coring, or just cover it over with extra glass and forget about it?

Re: Help with Stringers !
 

I would, at a minumin, replace the rotten wood. Glassing over the rotten wood isn't going to do much and the rot will continue to grow. If your planing on keeping the boat replacing everything with foam core would be great but it's alot of work. Your already in this far, might as well do it right.

Re: Help with Stringers !
 

I have thought about replacing everything with foam, but I fear that the boat will lose it's shape if I remove the stringers. How would I brace the hull so that does not happen? Would the hull sag or buckle with the stringers removed? Thanks for the help.

Re: Help with Stringers !
 

Yes you have to brace the boat. Brace it from under the hull and i would also use brace across the top of the hull. If your going the whole 9 yards use epoxy and the bond to the old glass will be much better and it reduces the chance the shrinkage of the curing laminant will pull the hull out of shape.

It's not going to be cheap and it's work work than it looks like. But the results should be worth it.

Re: Help with Stringers !
 

I agree with Cat5 100%. Make sure that you have the hull braced very well. It is done all the time and it takes time. What I did in my Formula was only replace a little bit at a time. For example one large stringer on one side, then another on the other side. My trailer supported it very well. I kept checking the bottom all the time I was doing the work. The donzi bottom will NOT be as strong as I was dealing with so more care should be taken, especially if you have a roll on trailer like most do with Donzi's.

Jon

Re: Help with Stringers !
 

Why would you start messing with that hull???....and your going to start putting wood back in there then bonding new glass to the old...seems like a real can of worms for a little rot....how do you know it is rot and not discolered and on its way??...and then your going to strip the hull of all stringers...going to be sorry....never going to be the same! :eek:

Re: Help with Stringers !
 

Where is Sharky when you need him? :D

Re: Help with Stringers !
 

Your right, if you do it correctly it will be BETTER then ever.

Re: Help with Stringers !
 

:drink: :drink:

Re: Help with Stringers !
 

What is the bottom construction of a Donzi?