I bought an 84 Rider last month that looked good from the outside and passed the engine bolt test. Well, this weekend, after ripping out the floor (replaced in the past with tongue and groove) I faced what I would fear I would, stringer rot! The floor from the bow to the instrunment panel is original, and is in sad shape. It also looks like the bow is somehow filled with foam, and built around with fiberglass/wood that is also coming apart. It looks like I am going to have to remove the top to replace everything right.
Here is a few questions though: Would anyone recommend that I replace the wood with new wood glassed in (I am not going to splice it in, I want the whole thing replaced), or would I be better off rebuilding the stringers with Seacast? From what I have read, I like the way it works, and it would leave me with no wood to re rot.
Also, just how involved is seperating the top?
I am going to take the boat over to a few places for some estimates, but depending on how high they are, I might do it myself, since I can work with fiberglass and have some know about fixing things. I am looking at a time factor if someone else does the work, since it could take me some time to do it myself. I don't mind paying someone to do the work, but I don't want to spend 7K like I read on this board before. I only have 2500 in it now.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Mike in Louisiana