Could not install the stringers on my new Bombard

[Jlomb436]

Hey folks. I was/am extremely excited to get my new Bombard Typhoon 420 boat! I'm normally pretty good with these things but I seriously could not get these stringers to go in.

I read the manual. The only thing I did do is add starch as it suggested. I'll check out some videos online to maybe see if I'm doing anything wrong. I watched a video by the company/seller install these within 60 seconds. I spent an hour and got no where.

One concerned I had was that no matter what I did, there was always 2 pieces of the floor lifted. If I stepped on the aluminum, the wood would start to rise. I made sure every single piece was wedged and still couldn't get it to go. I've included some pics (link) and you can see that it's almost like some pieces we're inverted as you could see the stringer would fit flush on 1 but not on the other.

Anyone have any tips or tricks? I know it'll break in and get easier, but honestly quite frustrating. If it weren't for the neighbors there may have been some flying cardboard pieces.

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

[stevo]

could be wrong but stringer looks to be downside up.

[Jlomb436]

Originally Posted by stevo

could be wrong but stringer looks to be downside up.

Hi Stevo.

Thanks for the reply! I should have been more clear. Both are installed incorrectly, I was simply trying to show the angle of the floor pieces. The first picture is the piece closest to the transom. I think it's angling down due to the tight fit. I even think my manual says to stick an ore or stringer under it to make it easier.

I will try that, but it was beyond difficult. I'm looking at multiple videos online and i see people doing it in seconds or a minute or 2. I couldn't get one stringer in as the floor would never sit flush. I'm going to try again this weekend, hopefully with better results. I'm just new to this and maybe thought there was something major I'm missing. I think I had it inflated to about 50%, so I'm going to try maybe 25-30% to see if that helps.

Another set of hands this weekend may help as well.

[paddlers]

40-50% inflation and I get the Mrs to tug upwards on the tube and mine go straight in. I've not had much success with the paddle under the tube method !

[chipko]

No magic tips I'm afraid. Not much comfort now but it is good they are an impossibly tight fit when new.
I only inflate tubes just sufficient to hold a bit of shape and align floorboards as straight as possible. I push stringer down onto floor in a near vertical position with the groove located over the tongue. Pushing the stringer down helps further align floor, then rotate outwards toward the tubes and stringer should snap into place.
Stringers in your pics look to be the right way up and same as on my Zoom.

[jeffstevens763@g]

a long piece of wood holding all the floor level i find best then you can concentrate on fitting the stringers and they are tight to push in.

cheers

[office888]

Originally Posted by Jlomb436

Hey folks. I was/am extremely excited to get my new Bombard Typhoon 420 boat! I'm normally pretty good with these things but I seriously could not get these stringers to go in.

I read the manual. The only thing I did do is add starch as it suggested. I'll check out some videos online to maybe see if I'm doing anything wrong. I watched a video by the company/seller install these within 60 seconds. I spent an hour and got no where.

One concerned I had was that no matter what I did, there was always 2 pieces of the floor lifted. If I stepped on the aluminum, the wood would start to rise. I made sure every single piece was wedged and still couldn't get it to go. I've included some pics (link) and you can see that it's almost like some pieces we're inverted as you could see the stringer would fit flush on 1 but not on the other.

Anyone have any tips or tricks? I know it'll break in and get easier, but honestly quite frustrating. If it weren't for the neighbors there may have been some flying cardboard pieces.

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

Inflate the boat to full pressure (If you're jumping on the footpump, you've hit the right pressure)... If you don't have a pressure gauge, you should be able to push on the tube and not have it give. Tight is right.

Leave it that way for a day. It will stretch out the material.

Then deflate it down and assemble your floorboards. Use the "teepee" approach.

After the floorboards are flat, the tough part is wiggling the stringer in place. It sometimes helps to put a block of wood or paddle underneath the boat on the side you are installing the stringers on. Make sure they are aligned with the protecting pads.

Mate the edges, then pivot the angled side of the stringer in place, so it sits in the slot against the PVC floor doubler where the tube connects to the PVC flooring. Then install the other side.

[Jlomb436]

Thank you everyone! I'm going to inflate it and throw it in the garage. Hopefully the crickets stay at bay. I'll also try the oar trick. This was mentioned in my manual, but the instructions we're terrible. Once I saw it online it makes complete sense. Then I'll try assemble again on Saturday (in the Marina parking lot) to see how successful I am. No pressure!


Thanks again for your suggestions and wisdom.

[John Kennett]

I would practice this at home again rather than at the marina if possible.

I had a Zodiac with a similar setup and getting the stringers in was definitely an acquired skill. Getting them out again required brute force and cursing to the day I sold it!

[Jlomb436]

I actually think I'm going to do that. Hoping some fo the techniques I've learned pay off...

[Fenlander]

Agree with all of the above. When I bought a new Honwave with alloy floor the dealer advised me to inflate without the floor in for 24hrs as it would be impossibly tight new out of the bag.

I have always favoured the "oar under floor" tip and on that Honwave it made the difference between not too bad and without oars a challenge that was very amusing for onlookers at the slipway.

[dave3235]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Agree with all of the above. When I bought a new Honwave with alloy floor the dealer advised me to inflate without the floor in for 24hrs as it would be impossibly tight new out of the bag.

I have always favoured the "oar under floor" tip and on that Honwave it made the difference between not too bad and without oars a challenge that was very amusing for onlookers at the slipway.

+1with this way,also a spray bottle with diluted washing up liquid sprayed on the edges and stringers helped me

[Gwozhog]

hit it with some aeorospace 303 and your boards will slide in like butta. Yeah baby just like butta. Works everytime.

[Jlomb436]

Gents,

This was a night and day difference. THANK you for your suggestions. I inflated it for about 48 hours, used soapy water, and used a rubber hammer to get the bow piece tucked in nicely. 3 of the pieces went in within seconds. The last I struggled with for about 2 minutes. Got out the oar, threw it under there and it snapped right in.

How did people live without the help of the internet? Anyway, thanks again.

Without starting another thread, does anyone have any suggestions on how to move the boat while in it's bag? I may get some low low dolly on wheels. I asked as I only dragged the bag maybe 3 feet and it's already tearing at the bottom.

[jeffstevens763@g]

get a light weight sack barrow with 4 wheels then you can either stand up with it and push about could also carry you engine with a slight mod or lay on 4 wheels and pull around.

cheers

[Fenlander]

I can lift my lightweight airfloor on my own short distances but it's too awkward to carry far and my most willing assistant is the sack truck below. Folds down to hang on the garage wall or store in the car and trundles the packed SIB about nicely.

[babbot1]

I used to have a ally floor and same problems above. It was also very heavy in the bag so I built a simple launch dolly with 2 wheel barrow wheels and 2 bunks and some galvanized piping from the hardware store. It had a long hitch that I used to pull out of the water with the truck.
After I put the boat in the bag I then put the bag on top of the dolly to move around. Worked great because it was also up higher to get in and out of the truck.
The dolly was so simple and being threaded pipe I could take it all apart so it wasn't too big.