ugh oh, now I am scared.

[Leaf1384]

Just purchased a 1996 Sea Ray 175, he took it out for a brief run, everything seemed fine. However I have been reading these threads referencing stringers and moisture. He said he re-carpeted the boat himself and he carpeted over the ski locker.?.?. Any other ways to check, the interior is in decent shape for the year, has been I would say it definitely has been covered more than not. Anyone??? Thanks in advance.

 

[rallyart]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

Is the floor soft or squishy anywhere? Cut the carpet around the ski locker and open it up. You can glue it onto the locker top if it's not already, and around the edges. My 1980 has had no rot and it has over 3000 hours on it. It has been stored out of the weather and that makes a difference but it spent many a summer on a buoy in the lake.

 

[Hydra-sport_Road-kill]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

Oh yeah, bad idea to go reading the the restoration section right after you buy a used boat. Try to relax and enjoy owning your new boat but be on the lookout. Just like rally said, look for the soft wood until your confident then just relax and take care of new boat. 1996 would be pretty young boat to see in the restore section of the forum not unheard of but fluke-ish.

 

[oops!]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

i live in the dry dock here....(restoration section) and i agree with the above.

if you cut the carpet looking for the ski locker.....watch out......there is an aluminium flange that the locker fits into.......when feeling where to cut.....feel the outside edge of the flange...then an inch in ward from that ...is the locker opening.....another inch is the locker flange.


you want to cut at the opening......then .....when you get the locker hatch out.....un scfrew the outer flange.....and place the new rug under the flange.....then screw it back down....then do the same with the locker hatch rug and flange.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

Sea Ray is a superb boat and extremely well constructed. Have seen some cutaways of their construction when a friend was adding accessories. Covering wood stringers with adequate glass and resin to prevent moisture intrusion is surely in their forte'. Glassing the top and bottom of the deck prior to installation is also. Being a '96 they may have already gone to composite structural members.

A ride at WOT or thereabouts in a good chop will tell you what you want to know. If the boat takes the water feeling solid, the deck is solid going over the swells and all, like the others, go out and have fun with you new boat. I wouldn't cut up the flooring unless you have nothing else to do or you suspect a problem after your "shake down" cruise.

Mark

 

[Beefer]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

I agree with TXMark, SeaRay is a well built boat, but.... personally, I'd get rid of the carpet. I'm of the school that believes carpet has no place on a boat except for the salon area. It retains moisture, gets mildewy/moldy, and in thise case, can be used to conceal problems or poor workmanship. I'd pull the carpet, inspect the deck and other accessible areas, just to ease my worries. If the deck is non-skid or a finished surface below the carpet, and looks good, keep it uncarpeted (not a word). If it's not a finished surface, but properly sealed, then go ahead and recarpet. If nothing else, you get back your ski locker.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

I agree with TXMark, SeaRay is a well built boat, but.... personally, I'd get rid of the carpet. I'm of the school that believes carpet has no place on a boat except for the salon area. It retains moisture, gets mildewy/moldy, and in thise case, can be used to conceal problems or poor workmanship. I'd pull the carpet, inspect the deck and other accessible areas, just to ease my worries. If the deck is non-skid or a finished surface below the carpet, and looks good, keep it uncarpeted (not a word). If it's not a finished surface, but properly sealed, then go ahead and recarpet. If nothing else, you get back your ski locker.

The word here is "non-skid". I agree on the mildew and moisture retention, but Marine grade indoor/outdoor carpet does a good job of holding up to the environment. My current boat has it all overt the decks (bass boat), was built in 2000 and has no signs of environmental contamination. It also helps to reduce noise in the boat.

Buttt a truly non-skid deck is nice too and certainly cleans up faster than carpet....and if you fish and get "fish stuff" all over everything it is much easier to wash down, especially for those who fish every day.....you know like those self bailing center console fishermen.

My 2c,

Mark

 

[ezmobee]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade but a '96 SeaRay 175 is not an "extremely well constructed" boat. Not saying it's junk but certainly nothing to write home about.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade but a '96 SeaRay 175 is not an "extremely well constructed" boat. Not saying it's junk but certainly nothing to write home about.

I owned a 1992 SeaRay 170 and although I loved the boat I have to agree. What you will find is that SeaRay did not seal the edges of the ski locker or the cut in the floor in the boat. At least this was how mine was constructed. This allowed moisture to wick sideways into both the floor and ski locker lid. Both were quite rotted after less than ten years. One caveat - our boat did live in the water from May to October every single day during that time for those ten years.

Additionally, the base of the rear bench seat began rotting as well. Stringers were fine.

So - certainly not insurmountable or particularly difficult problems - just the realities of the construction shortcuts on my particular model.

I'd still say enjoy - but perhaps plan for some future minor resto. Now, I could feel all this from just walking on the floor. If you don't, then you may be good.

Good luck and post pics!

 

[foodfisher]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

Rot is caused by moisture, moisture soaks into foam. You could weigh it to see if there's an obvious problem.

 

[gtochris]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

That forum scares me too...

I think alot of evidence is visible though prior and your more likely to have the deck rot out first before the transom.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

EZMOBEE, Why say something like that? Are you jealous that he has a Searay? Did you ever hear that if you can't say something nice about someone you shouldn't say anything at all.

I have owned 3 Searays in the 50 years of boating and I disagree with you. They are very good boats.
I hope your other 17,940 posts are a little kinder than this one. You must not be a very happy person.

 

[NYBo]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

EZMOBEE, Why say something like that? Are you jealous that he has a Searay? Did you ever hear that if you can't say something nice about someone you shouldn't say anything at all.

I have owned 3 Searays in the 50 years of boating and I disagree with you. They are very good boats.
I hope your other 17,940 posts are a little kinder than this one. You must not be a very happy person.

I think the point is that the smallest 'Rays were not built to the same high standards as the larger ones. Which models did you own? (Not that I'm one to pick on the quality of someone else's boat. :redface

 

[oops!]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

buddy.....just forget about the stringers and the foam and the transom....

if there is soft spots in the deck......well if you wish we can deal with those.....but for now.......enjoy your boat !

and just so every one knows........i know for a fact that the 1996 searay 175 does have some reevits in it !

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

I think the point is that the smallest 'Rays were not built to the same high standards as the larger ones. Which models did you own? (Not that I'm one to pick on the quality of someone else's boat. :redface

I owned a new 1972 srv 195 and two 24ft weekenders. I have owned 22 boata/jet skis/pontoon boats over the past 51 years of boating. From deisel trawler to jet ski. There was something about them all that I liked. The Searays were very good boats to me and their resale was excellent.
We owned 3 Chris Crafts. 3 Trojans and 2 thirty two foot aft cabin Carvers. The rest were smaller boats. The Carvers were the best all around boats for the comfort and livability.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

I think SeaRay, like any long-lived brand, has had its boon years and lean years. We know construction materials and methods ebb and flow during these times based upon what the company at the time believes is in its best interest.

I loved my 170 and put quite a few hundred very happy hours on it. There were some terrific things about the boat but there were also some rather shocking things too - those raw ski locker lid and floor edges would be the worst of it. Transom remained rock solid, stringers were fine too. It rode wonderfully - nice and soft no matter the chop. It had the little 3.0 motor and so, while no rocket, it was terrifically economical to run, and at just a touch over sixteen feet long, there wasn't much weight to push anyway. I enjoyed the growl of that mini mill at full gallop.

It was also hands down the best looking boat of its size, type, and vintage for my money. I had people complimenting it constantly. One marine police unit pulled me over just so one of the officers could give me his card along with an offer to buy it.

The boat is still running strong in the hands of a work colleague who bought and salvaged it after a heart-breaking sinking and insurance write-off due to a storm. He took care of the floors and locker lid while he was at it.

So, I agree with lakegeorge that they've got a certain something - not sure what. But mine certainly was no painstakingly handcrafted work of art from a quality perspective. Definitely better than a lot of what was out there however.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: ugh oh, now I am scared.

EZMOBEE, Why say something like that? Are you jealous that he has a Searay? Did you ever hear that if you can't say something nice about someone you shouldn't say anything at all.

I have owned 3 Searays in the 50 years of boating and I disagree with you. They are very good boats.
I hope your other 17,940 posts are a little kinder than this one. You must not be a very happy person.

I assure you I am not talking out of my @zz on this one. My uncle has had that exact boat from new and I have spent a lot of time in it and behind the wheel of it. As I mentioned to Leaf in another thread, it's been a fantastic boat for him. He just this year traded it for a newer 185. However, it was a budget boat with average at best fit and finish. He got it as a boat show special brand new for like $9k. Most of the gauges dies early deaths, the radio was a total POS, and the windshield sagged. It was always stored indoors.

I am in no way suggesting that Leaf's boat is junk or at all a bad buy. I'm sure it will serve him well. But I am disputing that it was a premium built boat from new and I believe it has just as great a chance at having rot issues as any other boat from that time period.

If you think I'm typically negative and unhappy, you clearly haven't spent much time here.