Bottom stringer placement?

[Scott Dufour]

I wonder if I've found a problem with the plans, or if I messed up. I'm at work so I can't check the plans right now. I put the 4 bottom stringers, aft of the forward bulkhead, evenly spaced between the CHINE and the Centerline. When the seats went in, I had to put the two outer ones on the inside of the forward seat compartments. I noticed on Graham's boat, though, that they are evenly spaced BETWEEN the two longitudinal seat sides, so all four are more towards the centerline. Did I mess up? And if so, do I have a serious strength problem now?

[Designer]

Scott,

The plans show the stringers equally spaced between the keel and the seat sides. This gives the bottom the best support for the weight. I noticed when you posted a picture of your boat that you had spaced them out to the chine. I did not comment because I think that your boat will be okay as it is.

That part of the drawing is very crowded which is which is why I did not label it, thinking that it should be obvious. I think that I will put in a reference to it elsewhere on the plans.

[Scott Dufour]

Thanks Graham.

I just got home and checked the plans. They do say to evenly space the stringers between the CL and the cockpit sides; I interpreted that as the chine, but I should have thought it out better. If you think it's ok the way it is, then I'll chalk it up to the need to be unique. :oops:

[JeffM]

Whoops! I did the same thing last week. Since the keel and keelson should make the bottom nearer the centerline really stiff, maybe I'll just add a stringers between the existing ones on each side. (I only hope the outer stringers won't interfere with the tank sides!)

[Scott Dufour]

The outer stringers did interfere with my tank sides, so I curved them inward more than the plans call for. It results in a slightly larger tank, but gives the seats a nice sweep that almost parallels the gunnels inward. Looks kinda planned.