I know this has been asked a thousand times, however I have yet to see anything like what I?m looking for.

I need to replace the stringers in my 96 21 Daytona because the balsa has delaminated and that fix obviously goes underneath the stringers. They have a lot of repair holes plugged already and the glass was not adhered to the wood at all. This is turning into a can of worms as this was supposed to be a turn key rig and now it?s unraveling bad. (it?s ?reasonable doubt? purple and white with the blown gas motor)

It has Douglass Fir currently and I?ve been reading about LVL, and coosa composite etc?. I?ve also been thinking about some more exotic stuff to highlight the rest of the boat. Snakewood, tigerwood, zebrawood, Philippine mahogany, Peruvian walnut etc. all of the hardnesses range on the Janka scale from 600-2300. Fir is on the low side of hardness but the lightest per cubic foot. Zebra and mahogany are heavier but harder. I like the looks and thoughts of an exotic wood that is light and strong but I don?t want something that is too stiff or brittle. I feel like a stiffer harder stringer will start cracking other parts of the hull potentially.

There is inlaid carbon floor next to balsa on the tunnels. I am going to put new balsa down (recommendations on that? Brand? type? Cross cut?). I want this to be unique but also don?t want to do something that might cause issues later. If I need the flex, the harder wood or LVL might be a bad idea let alone be 30-40 lbs heavier in total?

This is in a 1400 hp jet and I don?t want to make any mistakes at this point but also want to be different.

Can anyone please shed some light on this subject? I know it?s all been discussed, but I?m on the odd side of the bubble and need some help. Thank you very much

The thread is good in discussing processes and plans. I?m still on the edge of deciding how stiff, stronger I need to make it. I know weight is a huge factor, but potential speeds over 110-120 require a safety factor?.  I?d rather have something last longer and be strong than get that last two mph. Doug Fir is about as light and strong as you get, but it?s not as hard and obviously doesn?t have the unique look as the exotics. I was going to color, stain, or gel coat the stringers if I used LVL or something else like coosa. I just want to have something that works, instead of experimenting too much.

One thing that had me confused in that thread was that you can?t gel over epoxy. I think my original plan was to use epoxy resins and then clear gel coat over that for durability etc.

I did call eliminator and they said they?ve only ever used Douglass Fir. They didn?t have any insight on using other woods. It?s hard to add 25 lbs to the boat if it?s just for looks, but if there?s less chance of hull failure like I?m encountering now with the stringers cracking, the balsa floor delaminating and separating from the hull, the fiberglass air gaps between the stringers and the glass etc??.   Just tryin to put the lid back on this huge can of worms. Let?s just say looks and pictures can be very deceiving?..