Replacing Stringers on my 1979 Sunkisst

**ramair69gto** · 07-27-2010, 08:28 PM

Hi Everyone,

I thought I would do a picture write up in here on how we are replacing stringers on my Jetboat. I will try to do a step by step with lots of pictures as there does not seem to be many threads out there with a step by step with LOTS of pictures. I will tell you I am NOT an expert so if there is something that is not right just let me know but I figure this will give an idea to people what it looks like.

Yesterday I pulled out the interior and then today I finished pulling out the carpet and then my dad and I started to cut the stringers out. My boat is a full stringer boat which is good and bad with the bad only being more work replacing the stringer LOL. I will let the pictures do the talking and let me know if you guys have any questions.

The first picture is what i saw when I got the boat home from buying it thus why we are replacing stringers

**ramair69gto** · 07-27-2010, 08:32 PM

These are the tools we used that we bought from Harbor Freight. One is a toe kick cutter and the other is a oscillating multifunction tool as well as the old reliable dewalt saw zaw.

**ramair69gto** · 07-27-2010, 08:35 PM

The last picture is me and my dad. As you can tell he is ready to kick my A** for bring this piece of Sh*t boat home. I look at it as we are saving a VERY nice boat from being scrapped and hope to have it awhile as the wife told me tonight " once you sell this boat you are all done with Jet Boats "

**sleekcrafter** · 07-27-2010, 08:45 PM

Here is a link to my stringer project a couple years ago.. http://www.banderlog.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5311 Any questions post up.

**slokist80** · 07-28-2010, 01:30 PM

Great effort, consequently Great Result!!!

**OFFSHORE GINGER** · 07-28-2010, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by ramair69gto

The last picture is me and my dad. As you can tell he is ready to kick my A** for bring this piece of Sh*t boat home. I look at it as we are saving a VERY nice boat from being scrapped and hope to have it awhile as the wife told me tonight " once you sell this boat you are all done with Jet Boats "

Hey guy i just got your PM and we all make mistakes ........i will shoot you a pm with my phone number .......take care .

**OFFSHORE GINGER** · 07-28-2010, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by ramair69gto

These are the tools we used that we bought from Harbor Freight. One is a toe kick cutter and the other is a oscillating multifunction tool as well as the old reliable dewalt saw zaw.

Just curious how far are you going to remove the stringer and if it is only a partial removal might i suggest putting in a scarf joint at the end of your cut and just curious have you given any thought to what type of resin you are going to use Epoxy ,Poly or Vinyl along with the fabric and just a quick mention when making your new stringers make sure you round the edges on top so your fabric will rollover the top of the ply better with less chance of air in the layup and make a nice raidus out of putty which is made out of Cabosil and resin to fill in the void at the base of the stringer which will also give you a nicer layup with less chance of air and these place's have great prices for materials and the first two being the best www.uscomposites.com www.mertons.com www.expresscomposites.com www.advanced-plastics.com www.noahsmarine.com and this one is right here in good ole Mich www.michiganfiberglass.com

**flat chance** · 08-01-2010, 01:01 PM

If it was me, I would have done this with the hull off the trailer and braced. And also from what I can see, why don't you just replace the whole stringer instead of just sections? It looks like you stopped about 2 feet short and that's right wear your engine is going to be. Good Luck.

**flat chance** · 08-01-2010, 01:05 PM

Sorry on second glance you cut it a couple feet from the kickboard not the transom.

**65 Sanger 440** · 08-02-2010, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by ramair69gto

The last picture is me and my dad. As you can tell he is ready to kick my A** for bring this piece of Sh*t boat home. I look at it as we are saving a VERY nice boat from being scrapped and hope to have it awhile as the wife told me tonight " once you sell this boat you are all done with Jet Boats "

You got a pretty smart wife there, she knows to go flat or go home!!

**ramair69gto** · 08-02-2010, 01:47 PM

65 Sanger, You are killing me !!!! I honestly had a good chuckle on that one.

Ginger, Thanks for the links as I will check them out. It was nice talking to you last week as it was very help full.

As for the stringers, I have both of them completely cut out of the boat currently. I was away for the long weekend so I did not work on the boat. I will take some pictures of current stage and post them up later as I am exhausted today with VERY little motovation

Thanks,
Tim

**65 Sanger 440** · 08-02-2010, 04:22 PM

Tim, glad i could help out!

I just went through the same thing on my Miller, still got to do the finish coat and then i can start reassembling it.

**ramair69gto** · 08-02-2010, 07:31 PM

Here are the current pictures as i was able to get a little bit of work done today. I have most of the major grinding done and have some of the finishing grinding to do and then she should be ready for the stringers

**sleekcrafter** · 08-02-2010, 07:49 PM

If your lacking the ability to set up a jig, You can use your trailer...if the frame rails follow along the outside of the hull. 2 X 4, or 4 X 4 timber between the hull and trailer. This removes any deformation caused by the bunks. To make things easier, tab in the stringers every 3-4 foot, and let cure...then go back over the whole deal.