Lmfao I feel your pain except I ONLY have a 2 year old. Currently replacing engine stringers and a transom only because my wife is cool and I'm home quite a bit with my work schedule. You don't want to bolt stringers together either.

You don't want to be explaining why your 2 year old has glued their hands to their head with fiberglass resin.

Lol very good point! But seriously, either tell this guy what's up or find another place to repair it. Only place bolts belong in a stringer is where the engine mounts attach.

I think he's going to glass it in side by side with the old, anyways I'm heading there on the weekend to see the progress. I'll post a pic.

anybody can half-a$$ the stringers by gluing-bolting-welding a patch along the bad stringers. the job would be worth 50 bucks or so. for 3500 it must be a real stringer replacement. run screaming and laughing from the guy wants to charge 3500 for a patch job...

IMHO - A bad stringer is as structurally sound as wet mushy balsa coring....there is no bandaid fix other than replacing back to good material and reglassing properly.

You should be insulted by the $3500 quote... again, just my opinion

Going to see the boat today and talk to the guy.

Replace it yourself. Its not a tough job. Spend an hour or two on it a couple times a week and you will be good to go in a month. It doesnt have to be done all in one day. Trust me its great therapy and a way to keep your sanity-I have kids too. If you pay someone to do it, you will be exceeding the value of the boat.

Couldn't agree more!

All fibreglass work is nearing completion, now I have to choose powerplant. I've narrowed my options down to 2:

1997 7.4LX MPI Bravo1 (500 hours)
1997 7.4L Bravo 3 (new shortblock in 2007)

The mpi is going to cost me about 2000 more. Please cast your vote!