Stringer Repair. What to expect?

[Lunker Punker]

I have a rotted stringer on my champ 203 from my younger retardation. Instead of just replacing the one should i just have the top cap removed and have them all done? The other stringers seem sound to me but i still want the rig totally solid. I am doing a fulll restore and opened the blackhole money pit called a boat. Any cost speculations on what a job of this type could cost?

Tommorrow i am getting an estimate for a new floor and 1 stringer replaced. The glass guy said anywhere from 800-1000 bucks for that. Depends on what he sees and how much labor i can cut out of it.

So what do you guys think you would do in this predicament? Fully replace with a top cap lift or patch her up till the others go? I love this boat and im keepin it for some time (maybe forever). I want to do the best i can but am not rich by any means.

[sarmst100]

The Champion caps are bonded to the hull but I'm not sure with what. When my transom was replaced, they pulled the rub rail and couldn't get it apart.

[jerzia]

Just curious, how did you know the stringer was rotted? Any idea as to the cause?

[sarmst100]

Is this one of the center stringers or one of the 2 two outside stringer?


I would check every inch of the "solid" stringer. There is a void in the bottom of the stringer where the fiberglass wraps back to the hull that allows water to run from one end of the other. If there is any discolored wood at all, I would replace it while your in there. Otherwise, it should be fine.

I think $1000 is a bargin.

[Lunker Punker]

I took out a floor pedestal and looked into my bilge and noticed some delamination. Floor was fine til i chopped it up. Got in there and boom rotten shat. It was in the area where water will sit if the boat is not cranked up with the plug out. Transom is solid as a rock. Rot runs about 6 feet before i hit clean good wood. I took it to a glass shop that is called "the best" and this flambuoyant young guy tells me to junk it and he would fix it for 6 grand but the top cap will still crack. I told him piss up a rope. Im headed to see a glass veteran of 20+ years now and see what we can do. Ill be damned if my 203 doesnt run again. It will......... Ill keep you guys posted.

[pappastratos]

OUCH, check around on prices, plus check for another hull. Saw a nice Stratos 17' w/o motor for $3500. It is probably all composite. It is a pricey for the year, just a 17' also. http://mobile.craigslist.org/boa/1697355959.html
My 1999 Stratos I just sold was all composite

[Lunker Punker]

Youll have to pry my champion from my cold dead hands. LOL. Diving into this thing has told me a lot about how these champs are built. Like tanks. Everything is glassed in. I got another quote and its gonna get fixed next week.

[sarmst100]

How much did they quote you? Why did the other shop say the top cap would crack?

[Lunker Punker]

The other shop said it would crack over time from flexing. The other shop gave me an estimate for 2600 bucks but it includes a glassed in deck extension,numerous gel coat touch ups and a few more lttle things.