1972 20' stringer question

[Ed]

We have a 1972 20' center console in the shop.

The deck is up and stringers exposed. She has (4) stringers and a keelson.

The stringers sounded hollow - so we drilled an inspection hole and sure enough, they are hollow. Here is the interesting part - when you stick your finger in a limber hole where the stringer meets the transom, you can feel and move a piece of saturated wood.

It appears that the stringers were laid up on a bench and then tabbed into the hull. What is puzzling me is the wood in the aft section at the limber hole. Why was this added and not just left hollow?

[dirtwheelsfl]

Originally Posted by Ed

We have a 1972 20' center console in the shop.

The deck is up and stringers exposed. She has (4) stringers and a keelson.

The stringers sounded hollow - so we drilled an inspection hole and sure enough, they are hollow. Here is the interesting part - when you stick your finger in a limber hole where the stringer meets the transom, you can feel and move a piece of saturated wood.

It appears that the stringers were laid up on a bench and then tabbed into the hull. What is puzzling me is the wood in the aft section at the limber hole. Why was this added and not just left hollow?

If the stringers are notched/lower in the stern, then the wood was there for the mounting of an I/O... If theyre full height all the way then who knows??

[strick]

Somewhere I have detailed pics of my 1969 20 sf stringers during the tear down I found that the stringers each had a loose piece of wood in them as well. I cant remember why they did that sorry Ed.

strick

[ReelTherapy]

mine is the same way. I was probably added to fill the hollow section inside the stringers, so water didn't fill the rest of the void. just my guess.

[FLexpat]

Total guess here - keeps the sides of the stringer parallel while tabbing in and keeps it in the right place as the FG cures?