Newer Tahoe construction?

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Curious about construction... i have looked over my new boat pretty well. Have found the rear engine compartment had wood in the area on the side rod locker connects to the back engine area.

Where else is wood used in these boats? Transom, stringers, floor? Everything seems very much fiberglass only to me.... but obviously if you coat wood with fiberglass i wouldn't know.

But floor etc seems very modular and thin in places( grab floor with the ski hatch open... it appears to just be like 1/8" or 1/4" molded fiberglass) its the non-slip white stuff. In bilge and ski locker etc its just nice fiberglass with very round molded feel to it all.... and from what i remember Tahoe is not a 'dual layer hull'.... (or 'drop in liner'?)

Same exact style as the front locker hatches in bow (which are wood free and appear similar thickness IMO?)

Whats going to try to rot some day? Or is the days of rot somewhat gone?

 

[whmoore18]

Re: Newer Tahoe construction?

The Tahoe boats are a single layer hull with a very modular and thin deck. Thats how they get such great gas mileage. You will get spider cracks in that pretty gelcoat on the boat its just going to happen due to the way these boats are put together. When you hit a small close together waves or steep wake at higher speed at least in my area (Ocean City, MD) which is saltwater, tidal, with a nasty little inlet your going to get a banging noise. Thats that deck supports hitting against the hull stringers/supports. Nothing to be alarms about it just get annoying sometimes when its such small waves.

I have a tahoe 215cc and its funny I hit small little 1-2ft chop thats close together and get the banging noise but I got out 10 miles in the Ocean just barely still able to see land where I ran into 3-4ft waves that were white capping and no banging noise she rode just as smooth and true its weird. When I got back inshore and got into the bay behind Ocean City where the marina is that choppy disorganized water brought the banging noise back. The boat is solid no spider cracks in the boat yet but I know they will come with the flexing going on.

 

[BiggerDee]

Re: Newer Tahoe construction?

The transom on my Tahoe (2011 Q7ssi) is wood under the glass. Found this out when drilling the holes for my Smart Tabs.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Newer Tahoe construction?

My 2011 Tahoe 216 has some wood under the consoles, appx. 1' x 2' that are covered in fiberglass and two pieces, appx. the same size, in the rear by the back seat. I also found two pieces, about the size of a 1"x 4" by the engine where the gas shocks are attached. I don't know about the transom. I am happy with the boat and if it is treated well it will last.

Composite plastics do not rot when compared to wood but they do emit the plasticizer (migration) over time and degrade. Hence old plastic that is brittle even though it has not been exposed to ultraviolet rays or how the inside of the car windows gets the film on it even though no one is smoking inside of it.

Nothing lasts forever but it will last longer if it is taken care of.