Pushboater Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 I'm new to the Forum and just starting to gather up the materials needed to start my Weekender. This is my first post. Question: Has anyone used or heard of anyone using the new composite decking material, (1"X 6"X 16') to rip and use for stringers on the Weekender? This stuff looks like weathered decking and is supposed to drill, sand, saw and cut just like a regular 1"X 6" using the same tools you'd use for wood. It's made of Wood mixed with a plastic resin and formed into decking. It's guaranteed not to chip, peel, crack, or split for 20 years! Sounds like the perfect stringer material to me! Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Quote
capt jake Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 The little bit that I have used does not hold screws all that well (considering the strength that you will need in a boat). It is very expensive also! It is also relatively heavy in weight. Quote
Zeroice Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 From the materials I've worked around of this type I would think that it wouldn't bond well with glue. The other thoughts I would also agree with. I think your best bet is actual wood, even spruce fur strips work well for stringers on the less expensive side. Quote
tomstock Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 By the way, I'm looking at my cost list. The total cost of my stringers so far (and I just finished installing the cabin rafters) is $17 for Kimberly Pine. I wouldnt bother with anything except real wood for the stringers. Dont let an experiment over $17 worth of wood turn into a $2000 mistake when the glue bond fails after 2 months and the whole boat comes apart! Sure I know, worst case scenario but it could happen Save your money for hardwood trim and decent ply... stringers will be invisible anyway. Tom Quote
MikeStevenson Posted October 15, 2003 Posted October 15, 2003 Hi Pushboater, We got your fax and I have been meaning to send you a return fax but you beat me to it here. The forums are a much better way to reach us. :wink: The plastic/wood decking materials are not well suited to boat building. They're heavy by comparison, and not nearly stiff enough to do what we ask of them. They're great in a deck as the structure is all in the joists (although using real wood would allow greater spacing of the joists as the deck material itself is strong). I'm afraid the boats need real wood for the stringers. Thanks, Mike Quote
Barnacle Jim Posted October 25, 2003 Posted October 25, 2003 Hi Pushboater, We used hickory for our stingers. Its properties make it both tough and pliable. As a result, none of our stringers are kerfed. The cost was in the range of what you might pay for pine. Hickory is a hard wood and needs the right size pilot holes for screws. Otherwise, the screws will simply break, and hickory will laugh you to scorn. Here's another picture, taken from the opposite direction. Quote
Johannah Posted October 25, 2003 Posted October 25, 2003 Hey, Barnacle, nice to see you over on this side of the neighbourhood! Quote
Barnacle Jim Posted October 26, 2003 Posted October 26, 2003 Hi Johannah, I thought that maybe no one would notice. :roll: Thanks for the kind welcome. Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted October 26, 2003 Posted October 26, 2003 She isn't the only one! Glad to see you've joined us as well. 8) Quote
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