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#1
11-25-2019, 06:09 PM
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Why Are My Foam Filled Stringers Full of Steel?
So I tried cutting a foot off the end of the stringers to get ready to glass in the new transom, and I wound up finding what looks like steel shot in the stringers. It’s rusted into one big mess about like concrete. Anyone know if this was typical or did I get lucky and get a boat that someone built on their last day after getting fired? It’s an ‘89 Sceptre.
I don’t know how far forward it extends, but so far I’ve opened the port stringer about 3’ and the steel is still going strong. On the plus side, I’m no longer concerned about the ride converting it to a center console with a bracket. I’m guessing there is 200# in each stringer plus what I haven’t uncovered yet. Anyone got ideas on how to remove “steel concrete”? 
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#2
11-25-2019, 06:10 PM
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Sorry, posted it on my phone and it flipped it upside down.
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#3
11-25-2019, 10:19 PM
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The WA’s of the same vintage and length has the shot. You’re probably right on the weight. Get you a good chisel and small sledge hammer and have it. I think they poured resin over it to encapsulate it. On my hull they seem to have raise the bow to concentrate as much weight to the stern. The shot only extended about 12” from the stern.
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#4
11-26-2019, 11:03 AM
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I had this "ballast" in my 88' WA. My theory is the boats set up for a single outboard needed more weight in the stern.
I chiseled it out since I went with a bracket and 4-stroke outboard. There were 4 blocks, about 50lbs each.
__________________
1973 Seacraft 20' SF "Sea Dog" 1988 Tracker/Seacraft 23' WA "Salty Dog"
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#5
11-26-2019, 12:36 PM
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Thanks, good to know. I figured it either had something to do with balancing out the cabin or the single/twin configuration. The guy that owned the boat before me was a water-skier so I was a little worried I was going to find that throughout the stringers and up end having to remove the entire thing. As is, I'll plan on removing and rebuilding the stringers as far forward as I find the shot. I don't think it would be practically possible to remove it without removing the fiberglass as well.
On a side note, there is less water in the foam than I would have expected. I've only opened up about 3' of one stringer, but if the rest of the foam is consistent, I'd guess there's less than 50# of water weight in all the stringers.
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