Has anyone else had a elevated moisture reading in the center stringer...?


S

Slowlearner

Member
When i bought the boat the surveyor touched on it briefly, as to make it seem like no big deal,and to be honest I dont think it is. I have now considered stepping up to a larger PC and now I have a feeling this may cause a issue... Its a 02 330 and i guess my question is, will this be something that just sitts still or should i be concerned about major damage...?
 
I would have a surveyor check it out prior to listing/trade to avoid any surprises and see what the current moisture readings are. At least you'll know if you have an issue or you can rest easy.

Joe
 
With the Formula liner system there is really no stringer as you would see in other boats. The only wood is the transom and 3 short pieces of 4X6 that are directly under the engine mounts. This wood gives a place to bolt to. For through bolts is prevents the liner from compressing when the bolts are tightened. They have absolutely nothing to do with structure or hull integrity. The wood does not even go back to the transom, all the strength is in the liner. So if there is moisture i would pull the center drain plug and see if its dry. I have even pushed a camera into the drain plug. You can actually see the center piece of wood. The center plug drains the space between the liner and the hull. Its not always bone dry but a little residual water is OK..
 
There is a small forest inside the 330 SS . . . no liner. Fastecs and super sports have the liner. . . PC's and Sun Sports are old fashion wood with glass over.

If the center stringer has high moisture, as most do . . . , I would also check the main bulkhead that the stringer mates up to. The center stringer on the 280 & 330 SS are basically hollow, made of 3x2 dimensional lumber and 1/2" plywood, then glassed over with about 1/8" thick of CSM/cloth.

The engine mounts are through bolted (not lag bolted) through the center stringers and the 2 side stringers. If your engines need alignment, then it may be an indication that the stringers are starting to give-way to moisture.

My boat had moisture in both the center stringer and the main bulkhead. The bulkhead was worse, so I replaced it, but the center stringer, although somewhat wet, seemed OK.
 
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tpenfield said:
There is a small forest inside the 330 SS . . . no liner. Fastecs and super sports have the liner. . . PC's and Sun Sports are old fashion wood with glass over.

If the center stringer has high moisture, as most do . . . , I would also check the main bulkhead that the stringer mates up to. The center stringer on the 280 & 330 SS are basically hollow, made of 3x2 dimensional lumber and 1/2" plywood, then glassed over with about 1/8" thick of CSM/cloth.

The engine mounts are through bolted (not lag bolted) through the center stringers and the 2 side stringers. If your engines need alignment, then it may be an indication that the stringers are starting to give-way to moisture.

My boat had moisture in both the center stringer and the main bulkhead. The bulkhead was worse, so I replaced it, but the center stringer, although somewhat wet, seemed OK.
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Is yours the mid to late 90's 330 i saw the internet post on that needed the bulkhead and center stringer redone.....?
 
Slowlearner said:
NO actually mine has the liner system. Well if you are talking about the half moon structure bonded to the hull that is.....
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No those are just ribs . . .

Here is the 330SS grid structure . . .
Formula Plant Tour 011 Test.jpg

There is the center stringer and those 'halfmoon' ribs before they are glassed to the hull.

Here is the more forward part of the boat where the storage area under the helm is located. This is before anything is glassed over . . .
F-330SS mid cabin bilge area 2B.jpg

More ribs that you can see in the fuel tank bay, which is just behind the mid-section storage area.
 
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Slowlearner said:
Is yours the mid to late 90's 330 i saw the internet post on that needed the bulkhead and center stringer redone.....?
Click to expand...

Yes, I did some structural work on my boat, and there was another guy with a 1998 model that did a bit more than I. He replaced all of the wood along the centerline area of the boat from the engine bay all the way forward into the cabin. I think he even replaced the center stringer that you are asking about.
 
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