New Mantex stringers in Checkmate Pulsare

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Here is a picture of the new dry storage compartment built in forward of the fuel tank. It drains into a pvc pipe that runs under the fuel tank to the transom.

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Here are the starboard and port views of the Mantex Stringers. Stringers are 1 1/2" thick....high tech stuff..never rot, you can't compress the stuff, it doesn't absorb water, and it's lighter than wood.

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Here is a photo of one of the joints where the stringer meets the bulkhead. There is also a picture of the PVC pipe that runs from the storage, under the fuel tank to the transom.

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Here's a picture of the PVC pipe as it exits the rear bulkhead behind the gas tank to the transom.

[petersfield]

with those stringer's do you have to fibreglass them in?

[JUPITER PULSARE]

with those stringer's do you have to fibreglass them in?
Yes, they are glass encapsulated for additional strength and torsional rigidity. The old wood stringers you could kick and they would just snap off. My new stringers can be moved at all!!

[aaronmt]

So whats your plans for access to the storage , i do like the idea of having the storage like that. Are there storage comaprtments on top of the pulsare like the ones on the starflites? With the storage on the bottom like that closer to the water the beer(beverages) will stay cooler a bit longer.

[JUPITER PULSARE]

So whats your plans for access to the storage , i do like the idea of having the storage like that. Are there storage comaprtments on top of the pulsare like the ones on the starflites? With the storage on the bottom like that closer to the water the beer(beverages) will stay cooler a bit longer.
The Pulsares don't have the storage areas on to the sides of the motor well like the Starflites. That was a great idea and I think something Checkmate should do to the Pulsare 2100. There is a long storage locker under the v-birth. I plan to add a slide out door like a ski locker. I don't think a hinged door would work between the front seats. It's time to hit the internet to shop for the door. I've got 24" between the stringers to play with!!

[aqua]

You should make your own door! You can cut, glass, and gel-coat it and then cover it with matching carpet. It will hide nicely and you could make it as strong as you want. Most of the "marine suppliers", or even the original doors on most boats are poorly costructed.

[Mark]

Great job JP! But honestly, I don't know why Mate is still using wood in the floor system. It is just a matter of time before it gets compromised and rots.

[Blizz]

They still use wood because it's still the best and strongest if it's built right it won't rot. And even all these new foams will absorb water if it's present long enough.

[JUPITER PULSARE]

They still use wood because it's still the best and strongest if it's built right it won't rot. And even all these new foams will absorb water if it's present long enough.
Blizz, I tend to dissagree with you. High density PVC coring materials will not absorb water at all and can never rot. Most Floors are still built out of Ply and if glassed correctly should last for years. Many of the custom builders have switched to composit stringers, transoms and bulkheads to save weight and avoid future water rot problems. The reason not all Boat builders use High Tech materials has a lot to do with cost. Checkmate builds a great boat at a great price. I don't think they're in the market to compete with the likes of Outerlimits, Nortech, Cigarette, Fountain, Skater, MTI, Dragon, etc otherwise they would be charging half a million bucks for a 35' Boat.

[JUPITER PULSARE]

You should make your own door! You can cut, glass, and gel-coat it and then cover it with matching carpet. It will hide nicely and you could make it as strong as you want. Most of the "marine suppliers", or even the original doors on most boats are poorly costructed.
I'm probably going to build a custom ski-style locker door using 3/4" Starboard if I can find the aluminum Z molding to drop the door into.

[Blizz]

Well we've been using some of these new hitech composites and foams on aircraft for years and so for have yet to see one the will not absorb over time. Water will penetrate just about anything overtime.

[INXS]

Jupiter, who sells the Mantex stringers? I'm at a loss with this type of stuff but I know the stringers in my 88 Starflite should be checked. I plan on checking the foam under the cuddy maybe this fall and take it from their. If someone sells stringers that will fit the Starflite, fiberglass ones, then I'm thinking it will make replacing the old ones a lot more easy? My boat has only two very small, about the size of a hair, stress cracks in the boat but I'll rather not let things get worse as I've noticed some twisting motion in the hull one or two times. Nothing serious but it gave me the impression that the stringers aren't what they should be.

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Jupiter, who sells the Mantex stringers? I'm at a loss with this type of stuff but I know the stringers in my 88 Starflite should be checked. I plan on checking the foam under the cuddy maybe this fall and take it from their. If someone sells stringers that will fit the Starflite, fiberglass ones, then I'm thinking it will make replacing the old ones a lot more easy? My boat has only two very small, about the size of a hair, stress cracks in the boat but I'll rather not let things get worse as I've noticed some twisting motion in the hull one or two times. Nothing serious but it gave me the impression that the stringers aren't what they should be.
Hey INXS, there are no "ready made" stringers for the boat unless Checkmate has a template and they can pre cut them for you. Once the Floor and old stringers are removed, you have to custom make the new ones to fit the boat. Taking careful measurements before removing the old stringers is a must. The best thing is that the materials that can be used today far surpass much of what they were using in the 70's and 80's. It also give you the ability to take your time (instead of mass producing boats) and beef up anything you feel needs it. As far as buying Mantex....I worked for years at Active Thunder Boats and have a few connections........I'll get you the number!!

[JUPITER PULSARE]

The new floor is finally glassed in. Just a bit of grinding left to do and we're going to glass/lap up the transom from the floor up the sides. The new storage bins are cut, glassed, and waiting to be glassed in place. There are 3 layers of glass on both sides of ply and you can see the shadows of the aluminum plates (countersunk into the floor) where the pedestals will be tapped into. Next step will be deciding on how to finish the floor....carpet, perrelli flooring, splatter gel, rhino liner????
We ran the ply completely over the tank leaving only a hole for the gas tank fill and a hatch cut out over the sending unit....you can see them in the picture looking toward the transom.

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Stern shot

[JUPITER PULSARE]

The floor is complete!! Side storage compartments are glassed in. I purchased a 12" X 16" Teak storage locker door that will be installed between the seat pedestals for the new storage compartment. New black marine carpet will also be installed tomorrow. New red anodized guage bezels are on the way from Eddie Marine. The ressurection is almost done!!!!!!

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Hey guys, here's a shot of the new black marine carpet. It looks stunning!! I've retained the original grey carpet along the verticle sides and installed the new marine black carpeting on the new floor, side storage compartments, and over the foot rest...it's now two-tone!!! IN the picture you will see the new ski locker door between the front seats..really cool!! (opening up the floor also allowed me to glass the underside of the new floor to the new stringers and bulkheads for additional structural integrity) I've also carpeted the new in floor locker. I remounted the front seat pedestals about 3" closer together than stock (to keep the weight more centered at high speeds!!) On sunday I'll be installing red anodized guage bezels on all the guages.

[jgreen]

You did a fantastic job, it looks great!!

[JUPITER PULSARE]

You did a fantastic job, it looks great!!
Thanks Jay. Time and patience are key factors (and careful planning)!

[SCT]

Jup,

The restoration looks great, Jup! How much weight do you think the boat lost with the mantex floor and stringers? Also, how did you move the seat bases closer? Did the inner seat bolts not hit the tank?

Good luck-

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Jup,

The restoration looks great, Jup! How much weight do you think the boat lost with the mantex floor and stringers? Also, how did you move the seat bases closer? Did the inner seat bolts not hit the tank?

Good luck-
I'm going to guess the weight savings to be 200 lbs or so. There is no longer any foam under the floor and the water saturated ply that checkmate used under the tank has been removed and replaced with PVC pipe for drainage instead. That alone saved a good bit of weight. There is enough room between the floor and the tank for clearance of any bolts that may protrude from the seat pedestal. The aluminum plates glassed into the floor are much wider than the pedestal so I have the ability to retap and move the pedestal if needed.

[jallen355]

I'm probably going to build a custom ski-style locker door using 3/4" Starboard if I can find the aluminum Z molding to drop the door into.

Hey Jup, did you ever make this happen? I've got my floor and stringers stripped and am going back up with all coosa board (composite). I am looking to incorporate a ski locker of sorts in the floor, as well. I've looked around at whats out there in the way of hatches and haven't found anything I really care for...at least for the price. I'm inclined to build something, too. I am also looking at starboard for my rear bench design and building the hatch from it sound like it might not be a bad idea. The aluminum molding you've mentioned may be the problem, however. Did you ever find anything? If you did make one out of 3/4" Starboard, is it strong enough to walk on w/o flexing like a trampoline and would you do it again?

[ontopcop]

I have the patterns cut. I am planning on using birch plywood for the stringers, seat boxes and braces. How would I find the mantex material or any other suggested composite material? Is it that much better than properly done ply?

[JUPITER PULSARE]

I have the patterns cut. I am planning on using birch plywood for the stringers, seat boxes and braces. How would I find the mantex material or any other suggested composite material? Is it that much better than properly done ply?

I would try Merritt Marine Supply. Even with Ply...boats flex, glass gets brittle, things begin to deteriorate and if water seeps in from the smallest crack it will begin to destroy the exposed wood. With the high density PVC coring (Mantex) you'll never have to worry again!

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Hey Jup, did you ever make this happen? I've got my floor and stringers stripped and am going back up with all coosa board (composite). I am looking to incorporate a ski locker of sorts in the floor, as well. I've looked around at whats out there in the way of hatches and haven't found anything I really care for...at least for the price. I'm inclined to build something, too. I am also looking at starboard for my rear bench design and building the hatch from it sound like it might not be a bad idea. The aluminum molding you've mentioned may be the problem, however. Did you ever find anything? If you did make one out of 3/4" Starboard, is it strong enough to walk on w/o flexing like a trampoline and would you do it again?

I found a pre-fab teak mini ski locker on EBAY. It was the perfect size to install forward of the fuel tank!

[jallen355]

I found a pre-fab teak mini ski locker on EBAY. It was the perfect size to install forward of the fuel tank!

I've been looking there but none have shown up yet. Was that a full size hatch you cut down? Looks cool and I'm sure it's handy, too. I'm looking for several ways to add storage while I'm redoing to floor.

[Big Red]

Super job on your work your hired if I ever need stringer repair.

My question is will the new stringers flex. Wood stringers will flex with the boat pro-longing stress cracks. With your new stringers are they to stiff to let the boat flex enough causeing stress cracks.

I would just like to know I am not knocking your work just never replaced stringers.

[JUPITER PULSARE]

I've been looking there but none have shown up yet. Was that a full size hatch you cut down? Looks cool and I'm sure it's handy, too. I'm looking for several ways to add storage while I'm redoing to floor.


The ski locker came that way, I did not cut anything down. Do a search on EBAY under "teak locker", "ski Locker", etc. You may find something....

[jallen355]

Ironically, I found a teak full-size ski hatch/frame asy. on Ebay this afternoon for $34.50 in Joisey and have it on the way. Another piece to the puzzle.

[Big Red]

Super job on your work your hired if I ever need stringer repair.

My question is will the new stringers flex. Wood stringers will flex with the boat pro-longing stress cracks. With your new stringers are they to stiff to let the boat flex enough causeing stress cracks.

I would just like to know I am not knocking your work just never replaced stringers.
lol

[JUPITER PULSARE]

lol

Yes, there is flex is the Mantex. It's been used extensively in big Offshore High performance boats for years now and you know what kind of punishment they go through!!! It's a great material...you can't compress it, it doesn't absorb water, it's lighter than wood, it can be drilled, glassed, bonded....and can never rot!

[jallen355]

I wonder if Mantex is similar or the same as the Coosa board" I'm using for my floor/stringers.

http://www.coosacomposites.com/

[Big Red]

:cheers:thumb: