rotten stringer

[pcvgrady]

purchased an 89 tournament and 19 found a rotten stinger on the port side of the fuel tank hold. Transom and floor feel very solid and that stringer appears to be only rotted between the two bulkheads that encapsulate the fuel tank. (tank was replace with a new plastic one by former owner) there were several holes drilled through the fiberglass that wrapped this stringer so assuming moisture got in a did it's job....

don't know much about these boats so wondering how invasive i should be getting in repairing this? does the floor need to come up? or should i just glass in a replacement stringer in that section and call it good?
How structural is this stringer?

thanks

 

[blindmullet]

The core on a stringer can act as a form and a mush core will have little impact. The water could cause delamination of the glass but the actual core isn't always an issue. I'm not sure how these old Grady's constructed their stringers. Any stress cracks near the stringer? Post some pics.

Cut the wet section out and work your way until you find dry core.

 

[glacierbaze]

Pretty sure that in 1989 that stringer would have been wood. Also a very good chance that even IF that stringer was completely encapsulated in fiberglass, they probably screwed things below deck into it further along the assembly line.

 

[pcvgrady]

pics coming, but here's a layout drawing from GW of this model. Not sure how integral this stringer is to the structure of the boat in general or if it's just holding up the floor....?

 

[DennisG01]

Stringers are VERY integral to the strength of the boat. You should have a stringer on either side of the "coffin" area (basically, MAKING the coffin) and there would be another set about halfway between that one and the hull side. The fiberglass is the actual "strength", however if the wood rots away then the glass could possibly buckle.