Why Are My Foam Filled Stringers Full of Steel?

[smilinmatt]

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”?