Going The Distance

[jet]

rlhahn on post #55 your pictures shows your main stringer on each side of the motor shows its straight from front to rear?? From the rear of the boat mine makes a left, then straight pass the motor, then right to the main stringer, then straight again to the front of the boat?? Are you changing the design? I want to follow your way?? Can you explain? Thanks. Im right behind you in my project. And how is your peanut butter part coming? I owe you a beer now. lol

[rlhahn]

rlhahn on post #55 your pictures shows your main stringer on each side of the motor shows its straight from front to rear?? From the rear of the boat mine makes a left, then straight pass the motor, then right to the main stringer, then straight again to the front of the boat?? Are you changing the design? I want to follow your way?? Can you explain? Thanks. Im right behind you in my project. And how is your peanut butter part coming? I owe you a beer now. lol

I didn't change the design except for making the outside stringer longer. I know that the stringer designs do vary from year to year, but as long as you keep the motor mount section the same, I'd say you can do whatever. As far as mine is concerned the inside stringers (closest to the motor) are continious. I did have to notch them to the correct level for the motor, and then it's just a matter of cutting the other two to match, and then cut your last one back up to the deck height, and then glue and bolt them all together.

[Okie Boarder]

jet,

Take some pictures of yours and post them in your thread. I'd bet they are the same as most other Supras which means the main stringer portion is straight, then it is added to where it seems to jog over towards the outer edges of the boat. The main part of the stringer isn't taking a jog out, most likely. Likely it isn't as tall vertically, right there and that is where you add other structure to build it out to the edges, at the lower height.

[rlhahn]

jet,

Take some pictures of yours and post them in your thread. I'd bet they are the same as most other Supras which means the main stringer portion is straight, then it is added to where it seems to jog over towards the outer edges of the boat. The main part of the stringer isn't taking a jog out, most likely. Likely it isn't as tall vertically, right there and that is where you add other structure to build it out to the edges, at the lower height.

You are correct Okie. My old ones were made of cheap plywood slapped together. I don't even think it was marine grade. Even the step down for the motor was plywood, I'm not supprised that the mounts in these things come loose. I don't like how the cross members cut through the stringers. At almost every notch I had water damage.

[jet]

OK, thats making since now. I will take a picture tonight. I think syber said his mounts were hollow? Yep, If you can picture 3-2x4's stacked, but then pulled the bottom one out?? There was a void under there and it had water in it but it was just sitting on the hull. What were those guys smokin back then? lol

[Okie Boarder]

jet,

Here's a pretty good picture that let's you see how it can be done. Essentially you will have stringer, 2x4, 2x4, ply that are all about 4" tall. That creates the square and flat area the motor mounts sit on. Then you will have ply that is back at floor height to wrap it. You can see the build up pretty well on the left side of this picture.

I wouldn't worry as much about how it 'was' done and worry about how it 'should' be done.

[TitanTn]

Okie - I would love to be able to show that photo to Supra back in the day. After they picked their jaws off the floor they'd explain how this level of excellence can't be achieved in a production environment. If they had done it like this originally, well maintained boats would never have to be rebuilt. Beautiful work.

[Okie Boarder]

Remember, they only need to manufacture something to outlast the warranty. Also, if they made it 'right' you wouldn't need to by something from them 5 or 10 years down the road, in addition to the fact they would have to charge more. I personally don't fault the decisions they made.

[TitanTn]

I don't necessarily fault their decisions, as they have to make the production process affordable, but I think even when they decided to cut some corners, their execution was not even up to the level of the decision they made to cut the corner. I'm not picking on Supra particularly, I just think it was an issue of the industry in the 80s where they weren't as concerned with QC and consistency as manufacturers are today.

[jet]

OK, now Im understanding. Okie where is your original thread?? Canb you post the link for me or tell me what to search for? I know you took so many picks I could use for reference. Thanks for your help man.