1988 Supra Mariah: Floor and Stringer Restoration and more...

[flipz96]

Progress has been pretty slow, but I'm getting there. I am using high density tooling board (30lb foam) for the motor well area and the nida core for the rest of the main longitudinals. I have them embedded into the hull using spraycore 2000. I still have to work on the outside stringers and bulkheads. I am still hesitant to remove the starboard stringers until I have the portside completely done. I should be ready for glass by next weekend.

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[flipz96]

Progress has been pretty slow, but I'm getting there. I am using high density tooling board (30lb foam) for the motor well area and the nida core for the rest of the main longitudinals. I have them embedded into the hull using spraycore 2000. I still have to work on the outside stringers and bulkheads. I am still hesitant to remove the starboard stringers until I have the portside completely done. I should be ready for glass by next weekend.

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[lmnelson86]

Looks good man, you're making quick progress. I bet that's way easier to handle instead of using 2x12s. Humping that stuff around by myself definitely slowed things down. I wouldn't be worried about taking the other stringers out, the boat will barely move as long as your trailer is decent. Mine didn't move at all, I kept a pretty good eye on it and I straight up gutted my boat

[wotan2525]

That foam is interesting and it seems like you know what you're doing. How does it compare in cost to wood?

[flipz96]

That foam is interesting and it seems like you know what you're doing. How does it compare in cost to wood?

Its pretty expensive material. About $1K for a sheet of 3'x7'x 6". Luckily, I was able to get my hands on some scrap. Otherwise, I would have used wood.

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The compression strength is considerably higher than wood. Douglas Fir for example is about 400 psi. This high density foam tooling board is 2,185 psi @ 75° and 1,384 psi @ 160°.

[flipz96]

Looks good man, you're making quick progress. I bet that's way easier to handle instead of using 2x12s. Humping that stuff around by myself definitely slowed things down. I wouldn't be worried about taking the other stringers out, the boat will barely move as long as your trailer is decent. Mine didn't move at all, I kept a pretty good eye on it and I straight up gutted my boat

Its ALOT easier to move around. I'm not too worried about things moving around. I'm more concerned with losing true height and forward/aft locations for the engine well. Once I finalize all the bulkheads and longitudinals, I'll excavate the starboard side and floor tab lip.

[wotan2525]

Its pretty expensive material. About $1K for a sheet of 3'x7'x 6".

OUCH! That's insane.....

What is it usually used for? Not a lot of room for eff-ups with that kind of price.

[flipz96]

OUCH! That's insane.....

What is it usually used for? Not a lot of room for eff-ups with that kind of price.

My company provides fiberglass tooling (plugs, molds, temp molds, and glass masters) for most of the major boat manufacturers. Size, complexity, and time would determine what material we use. Larger plug like hulls and decks, we use EPS, styroshield, glass, and spraycore. We would use that tooling board for block layouts that get cut on a 5 Axis CNC router.

[flipz96]

Had a little time after work to cut out the starboard outer stringers and part of the starboard main longitudinal.

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[lmnelson86]

Had a little time after work to cut out the starboard outer stringers and part of the starboard main longitudinal.

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Coming along quickly! Seems like your boat is in a lot better shape than mine, mine was just plain old nasty inside and under the floor. It was wet everywhere, I would even have to stop cutting the stringers so I didn't get electrocuted because water was flowing out of the stringers that badly. Then I would have to vacuum it all up and start over. The stringers that my exhaust tubes went through didn't even exist anymore, just a little bit of the fiberglass shell was left.

Any chance you'll vacuum bag your boat since you probably have the resources? I know I sure as hell would have if I could have.