Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

[KewlBird]

Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?
Just like the title says, I am looking into buying a center console boat in the 19-22foot range but I'm a little worried about getting one with wood deck and transom cores....It will be a used boat, so I am afraid to get one that has rot again! Is there a manufacturer that doesn't use wood for transom and deck core? I figure if it doesn't have any wood I won't have to worry about rotten transom and deck.

 

[204Angler]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

I have 204 Angler center cosole (20'4")...Anglers are 100% fiberglass boats. What state are you in? I am selling mine to get a slightly bigger walk around and wife said I can only use money from the sell for the buy

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

Key West does not use wood. I am not sure in what year they went to 100% no wood construction, but they would be a boat to check out...

 

[204Angler]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

What are you going to use your center console for? Bay boat or do you also want to go offshore? There are several companies that made/make a 100% fiberglass boat. Just take note of hull design to match what you would use it for. Also be aware that some manufacturers claim that their boats are 100%fiberglass but they still use wood encased in fiberglass for stringers which can still rot. I know mine is 100% glass just because I've done a lot of research on Angler boat corp

 

[dingbat]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

Your rejection of encapsulated wood construction has eliminated quite a few of the top builders in the business.

Wonder why these builders still use such ?bad? materials in some very expensive boats? Why people would even consider buying a boat with such inferior materials used in their construction?

I know mine is 100% glass just because I've done a lot of research on Angler boat corp

Your boat is not 100% fiberglass. It's 100% composite construction. Big difference. Fiberglass covered cardboard would be considered a composite material.

 

[204Angler]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

Your rejection of encapsulated wood construction has eliminated quite a few of the top builders in the business.

Wonder why these builders still use such ?bad? materials in some very expensive boats? Why people would even consider buying a boat with such inferior materials used in their construction?

I didn't say it was "bad"...I said it can still rot which it can. Especially when he said he was going to buy a used boat. Grady White uses that type of construction on their boats but Grady is an excellent boat. Over time, however, a crack in the glass can occur allowing water to saturate wood. That is fact.

Your boat is not 100% fiberglass. It's 100% composite construction. Big difference. Fiberglass covered cardboard would be considered a composite material.

Negetive sir. My boat is a '94. The only items on the boat that are "composite" (starboard for example) is a board that crosses the beam, in front of the splash well and a shelf in the console. The hull, stringers and deck are all glass. The Angler shown in the picture on your post does not have the same construction

 

[allpoints360]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

Carolina Skiff has been wood free for years. Many of the newer center consoles are now wood free. Cape Horn is another quality boat, and Boston Whalers have wood in certain places.

It's 100% composite construction. Big difference.

Not really that big a difference. The composite materials won't rot like wood.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

Carolina Skiff does not use wood. Check out their website. The have anything from 10' skiffs up to offshore boats.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

Seachaser is the Carolina Skiff V-Hull series and offshore boat...

They are good boats, and can take a great deal of abuse...

 

[Philster]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

http://www.caravelleboats.com/

 

[dingbat]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

Not really that big a difference. The composite materials won't rot like wood.

From Webster's

Composite: An engineered material made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties.

Where does it state that a composite has to be rot proof? By definition Fiberglass covered Styrofoam is a composite. You want a Styrofoam filled transom?

I?m not saying all composite boats are bad. It?s just that a lot of people have swallowed this notion hook, line and sinker out of fear and without knowing exactly what they are buying into.

 

[180Fisherman]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

Wood has been removed from many boats not to make the boat better or stronger but rather to reduce costs. Often the material being used in place of what was traditionally wood components is in fact an inferior product. Notice I said often and many and not always and all. Just do your homework and you'll be fine.

 

[KewlBird]

Re: Purchasing a center console boat.....any manufacturers not using wood?

Thanks for all the replies! The boat will be used offshore, so it will need to be able to take on some rougher waters....From the looks of it most of the manufacturers that you guys listed have some sort of offshore CC....I'll start looking around and see what's for sale close by.....