please help me settle argument

[Blue197320]

hi guys
i was out at the bar tonite have a few beverages, when i got into this discussion with a guy there about seacrafts. i kinda know him and hes the type of guy who knows everything about everything. well he told me that my 73 20 sf has wood stringers in it. when i have seen them and they are foam so he says they have been replaced. im about 99% sure that it came with foam originally? i didnt really wanna get into it with him about it. i figured i would come to the real experts so next time i see him ill be able to set the record straight. thanks a bunch guys!!
-evan

[Bryan A.]

[alejmend]

evan,
mine also has foam

[oldbluesplayer]

Evan - the guy is -half- right... I have a 73 Seafari, same hull as a cc... there is a glass wrapped wooden stringer at the keel, BUT, the 2 main stringers are large glass boxes filled with foam - and I will guarantee these have never been replaced, as I'm the second owner of the boat since new, and talked with the original owner when I bought her.

Now, pre '70, I believe the 20's had a glass wrapped wood stringer matrix, but, this was changed, from all I've read / heard / seen, in '70, to the foam filled glass box stringers you see in the picture above - but even thru the '70's they still had a wood keel stringer, wrapped in glass.

So, half right, but not - the main stringers are foam filled glass, as originally built.

hope that helps

Bill

[Blue197320]

i didnt even think about that keel stringer. i swear i remembered reading in the 73 brochure on the site that it has 2 faom filled stringers in it. thanks guys! next time i talk to this guy im sure he'll have some more "seacraft facts" for me.

[Bigshrimpin]

Dido here with a 72 SeaFari (2 big box fiberglass stringers . . . center keel is wood) and the earlier 4 stringer setup were empty fiberglass shells with a wood center keel stringer.

I don't consider the center keel a stringer.

[eggsuckindog]

You are correct, they all had 2 main glass box stringers, no wood at all, they then had a wood keel stringer that really wasn't a factor in rigidity as the box stringers carried all the weight.

[1bayouboy]

I remember a thread where someone asked Potter about the keel stringer and that it was added because many boats were trailered....and back then I think most boats sat on keel rollers......

[hermco]

I remember a thread where someone asked Potter about the keel stringer and that it was added because many boats were trailered....and back then I think most boats sat on keel rollers......

Yep. And Bill told me he came up with the foam for stringers from a cousin at Rockwell Intl.

[warthog5]

there is a glass wrapped wooden stringer at the keel

FYI: Technically that is called a "Keelson". It's on the inside of the hull.