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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Posts
    5

    Default First timer stringer question

    I’m considering taking the plunge with an 83’ Rider. Engine and vinyl are in fine working order for the year. The floor and stringers are shot. I’ve been lurking and reading and learning about others restorations. Is there any reason why you can’t use 1/8” aluminum angle (1.5” or 2” wide) for stringers? I rebuilt the floor on my aluminum fishing boat that way and worked great. Very strong and rot free. Obviously wouldn’t rivet it down to the fiberglass but they could be glassed in no? Thanks in advance and can’t wait to join the Supra family someday!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    N.W. Suburbs Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,307

    Default

    Oh man, there is a die hard Supra guy that used to frequent these forums years ago but now I think he is a lurker only. Anyway, his Saltare is going to need a full cap off here soon and he was talking about going aluminum stringers as well for his boat. If he sees this, hopefully he will PM you or something.
    '86 Comp TS6M - Reborn 2016
    Riding a HO Sports CX Ski

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Cheers JetLink! Seems doable, affordable, and the best non rot material. I’d think you’d only need to glass the bottom in so less cost in the end.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Lake Nottely, Blairsville, GA
    Posts
    1,247

    Default

    Don’t get tricky dicky with this stringer repair. Use Coosa Composites as most do as the better choice over wood if you don’t wanna do wood. The boat is already 37 years old, will never be worth more than a few grand even after restoration, so why complicate an already miserable experience by adding metal to the equation?

    1983 Supra Rider aka Mischief IV
    1983 Supra Beast
    1985 Supra Rider
    1986 Supra Sunsport Skier
    1987 Supra Marauder
    1991 Supra Comp ts6m
    2012 Supra Sunsport 242

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Austin
    Posts
    2,164

    Default

    It may work but you'll be trail blazing where no one has gone before. And if you're not on crack you can do better than the factory so rebuild with wood will outlive you.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Flowery Branch Georgia
    Posts
    2,742

    Default

    I don't think 1/8'' aluminum will hold a 351 engine and trans. The only inboard boat that uses aluminum I know of is Pavati . I would use Douglas Fur and lots of CPES . It will not require completely re-engineering the structure and will outlast both of us.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mischief IV View Post
    Don’t get tricky dicky with this stringer repair. Use Coosa Composites as most do as the better choice over wood if you don’t wanna do wood. The boat is already 37 years old, will never be worth more than a few grand even after restoration, so why complicate an already miserable experience by adding metal to the equation?
    Seems like aluminum would be cheaper and easier to work with than coosa and fiber glass. I wouldn’t have considered it but after rebuilding my tinner boat it was actually pretty easy to work with so I thought.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by michael hunter View Post
    I don't think 1/8'' aluminum will hold a 351 engine and trans. The only inboard boat that uses aluminum I know of is Pavati . I would use Douglas Fur and lots of CPES . It will not require completely re-engineering the structure and will outlast both of us.

    Great point. So if I was to do it this I’d do a fiberglassed wood stringer for the engine mounts tied into the rest of the aluminum frame. Probably run a cost on both options and see if there is any savings. Thanks!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    1,393

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SpartySteve View Post
    Great point. So if I was to do it this I’d do a fiberglassed wood stringer for the engine mounts tied into the rest of the aluminum frame. Probably run a cost on both options and see if there is any savings. Thanks!
    Use wood, coosa, or other proven composite material and do a traditional build. If you really want to use aluminum build a cradle to mount the engine and transmission to and lag or through bolt that to the stringers. I believe Correct Craft did this for a at least a decade, it's a proven design. I would be worried about cracking the hull using aluminum for stringers.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Posts
    6

    Default

    Salty are the stringers 3/4" ply? and what did you use for engine mount.

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