Strengthening Boat too much?

[Freerider]

I have to repair 3 floor stringers, 2 wood core and 1 foam core.

Is it a bad idea to replace the foam stringer with marine plywood, like the other 2 I'm replacing? I assume the designers (S&S) used a foam stringer in this location for a reason, is there fear of making the boat too stiff in this location? The foam has a thin layer of glass over it.

I feel like a could make much stronger structure than what's in place now.

[DeepFrz]

I would use foam but try and vacuum bag it. Plywood in that kind of a location is bound to get wet and plywood will wick the water the full length of the grain and lose its strength. Foam, if properly installed should not do that, but the glass has to be watertight around it.

[atoll]

i wouldnt worry about making the boat too stiff by using wood,wood was probably used so floor or horizontal?panels could be screwed into it.

the foam stringers are probably intermediate stringers with no attachments,and easier to shape to the hull.

reccomend replacing like with like

[hellosailor]

You might try contacting S&S directly to ask.

I'd guess that the foam stringer is made of foam because that's "enough" for the purpose. If nothing is being bolted into a stringer, the outer shell is acting like a tube and doing all the physical work, while the inner filling is just there because it was a good way to support the outer shell until it hardened up.

[maxingout]

I don't think you can make a boat too stiff with the use of a stringer. As long as the stringer is adequately tabbed in place so that it can't break free, I don't see that a stiff stringer is a problem.

If I was going to use plywood, I would encapsulate it with epoxy and a layer of glass so that water will never get to the plywood on the inside.

[Nemo55]

Think about it..........................FiberForce¨ reinforced Plastic Lumber is made of recycled high density polyethylene plastic, colorants, ultraviolet stabilizers, and combined with fiberglass. This combination provides better structural properties (strength and rigidity) for more demanding applications. FiberForce¨ has the same color properties as the Selectª product. FiberForce¨ also has clear advantages over composite lumber products.

Originally Posted by Freerider

I have to repair 3 floor stringers, 2 wood core and 1 foam core.

Is it a bad idea to replace the foam stringer with marine plywood, like the other 2 I'm replacing? I assume the designers (S&S) used a foam stringer in this location for a reason, is there fear of making the boat too stiff in this location? The foam has a thin layer of glass over it.

I feel like a could make much stronger structure than what's in place now.