Stringers

[pvlane17 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pvlane17]

Another newbie here. What are stringers? Where are they in the boat and what do they do? Do all boats have them? Do they go bad?

[400 HP Silverado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 400 HP Silverado]

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What are stringers?

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Stringers are the structural members of the hull that run from bow to stern. They are used to reduce/eliminate flex in the hull and tie the transom into the hull to make it strong for when you open the throttle up. They are below the deck running the full length on the hull. All boats have them, or some form of them. They do go bad in older boats because they were made of wood cover in fiberglass to create a hull thats in theory one piece from fron to back. Newer boats are "wood free" so they make the stringers in the hull when they lay the boat up in the mold at the factory.

[mrdelgado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mrdelgado]

Welcome! Stringers run perpendicular to the hull and add rigidity. No, not all boats have them. For example Boston Whaler uses foam sandwiched between the hull and deck (the thickness makes the hull rigid). The core material (usually plywood) in the stringer goes bad. But whether the stringer goes bad or not is an endless discussion because some argue the core material adds to its structural integrity. On the other hand, some argue that the core is there for nothing but to make a form, so the glass can be shaped around it, making the stringer.

[pvlane17 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pvlane17]

Thanks guys. I got it. Just out of curiosity, does Mako still use wood in the stringers for their new boats? If not, do you know when they stopped?