when did boats go woodless??

[agallant80]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

No to hijack the thread but from what I have seen wood should not be an issue as long as the maintenance is kepped up on a boat. If you leave it outside all of the time without a cover or don't address the issue of water always being in the bilge then you will have issues sooner or later, if you keep a cover on it, and keep her dry you should be fine.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

No to hijack the thread but from what I have seen wood should not be an issue as long as the maintenance is kepped up on a boat. If you leave it outside all of the time without a cover or don't address the issue of water always being in the bilge then you will have issues sooner or later, if you keep a cover on it, and keep her dry you should be fine.

The problem is that sometimes thru-hull fittings leak, or water pools in some spot under the deck. Most wood eventually rots, sometimes under the best of care. Now, will it likely last a long time? Of course, just like about any other material you might find in a boat.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

My '52 is 100% wood. No aluminum or fiberglass. The ride and handling just can't be beat. "They don't make them like they used to" surely fits. And the fragrance when the cover is first taken off....priceless!

Ride and handling is a function of design and weight, not necessarily the bracing material itself. I do agree that many of the classic wooden boats are truly works of art, though. However, in terms of strength and rot-proof-ness (lol), my SeaCast composite transom beats the hell out of the 3/4" plywood.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

Wood fails when the encapsulation of that wood fails. A crack or someone drives a screw into it without properly sealing.

My last Boston Whaler had wood all over in it. And it was a 1976. No rot whatsoever. However, the previous owner and I were very cautious about mounting things to the hull.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

Dusky rep. at the boat show said they make them with wood or composite stringers, buyer's choice. Fully encapsulated either way, but over a grand difference in price. So even within the manufacturer there could be wood/no wood in the same boat.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: when did boats go woodless??

Part of the reason I bought my current 21' boat is that it used wood but the type of wood does make a difference. The wood in mine is guaranteed not to rot. Ever. It's still encapsulated, but that has to do with structure more than anything else.
....

That's the same as saying, my new boat's hull doesn't have a hole in it so my boat is guaranteed not to leak, ever.

If your wood is encapsulated, yes it will too rot if the encapsulation fails and water gets in. Any guaranty to the contrary is bogus. it's possible that a manufacturer, to stimulate sales, will warranty against rot--that's simply an agreement to address it if it happens, but with narrow limitations (same owner, maintenance records, no modifiactions, proper use and storage, whatever). Pretty safe bet for the manufacturers.

Keeping a boat covered is not the whole solution to water damage, and in some cases can make it worse. The first priority is keeping it dry--a cover helps, as does removing the plug on a trailer/lift and tilting the bow up. A boat left in the water will always have a little water in the bilge (unless like a whaler or CSkiff there is no bilge); as long as it's a little and there are no cracks, no problem.

Boats that advertise "no wood" can mean anything--none in the stringers, none in the transom, none exposed, etc. My "no wood" Key West from 1988 has rotted wood under the dashboard on the console, where the steering wheel attaches. Not as big a deal as stringers, but it's wood, by golly.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

I feel like having a mandate to buy only a boat that is wood free is the same as saying you will only buy a car that has no steel. Steel rusts, wood rots. Are the alternatives really that much better?

Totally agree.

I'm assuming that the OP and his wife had a bad experience buying a used boat that ended up having wood rot. Personally I think it's a knee-jerk reaction to then go completely wood-less, for that reason alone. Better evaluation of potential purchases would be higher on my list than eliminating a lot of good quality boat models and good used boats just because wood is used in the construction. My 2 cents even though I never answered the OP's direct question. I hopefully I addressed the underlying issue!

 

[Brian 26]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

In 2000 the industry changed when Genmar introduced an automated process to building bowriders that were all fiberglass, no wood. Production times dropped from 8 hours per hull to under an hour. These were mainly Glastrons, Larsons and some others I can’t think of. If its one of those brands, after 2000 and says VEC on the hull you can be fairly sure it all composite.

That's the only certain answer I have to this question. Beyond that you’ll have to research each brand.

 

[stackz]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

Totally agree.

I'm assuming that the OP and his wife had a bad experience buying a used boat that ended up having wood rot.

you would be partially correct but I bought it before the wife was in the picture haha. The stringers were good but the transom and the floor was bad. I replaced the floor, etc but had to leave the transom alone and was never really comfy with it. new buyer was fully aware that it had bad wood and that it was reinforced.

Also, as for everyone saying "maintenance and it'll last forever" sure, but you know 90% of people selling their boat never did proper maintenance because they just dont know. I'm trying to eliminate variables. Its not always easy to inspect the underlying wood structure and you and I both know MOST people will NOT let you drill into their boat structure for core samples lol.

oh yeah, what is the THT forum? I'm curious about the thread listing manufacturers and years they converted.

 

[stackz]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

I feel like having a mandate to buy only a boat that is wood free is the same as saying you will only buy a car that has no steel. Steel rusts, wood rots. Are the alternatives really that much better?

When wood is used wisely by a good boat manufacturer there really isn't anything that can beat it.

formula 1 racers are considered cars and have fully composite bodies. hell, several ferraris and other high end cars have composite frames.

just saying.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

formula 1 racers are considered cars and have fully composite bodies. hell, several ferraris and other high end cars have composite frames.

just saying.

Sure, lots of cars have composite bodies and carbon fiber monocoque chassis. That sort of proves the point. Imagine what it costs to repair one of those cars after a relatively minor crash. Carbon fiber is very strong and can be used very effectively. But it is brittle. When it reaches it's load limit it fractures.

But realize even the highest end "car" likely has some steel components also. Lots of aluminum also.

What you are saying is that you don't want any wood in a boat. That is likes saying you want a Ferrari but don't want one with any steel parts even if they are the most minor bolt holding a cup holder. Steel has its place in cars. Wood has a its place in boats.

And in reality steel makes up pretty major portions of pretty much every car aside from the unubtanium.

Steel is very forgiving and easy to work with.

Wood is also very forgiving and easy to work with. It is also very strong and very effective for structural backing. If composites were better than wood at everything all boats would be truly wood free.

Just like with carbon fiber, if it was better than steel at everything we would all be driving carbon fiber cars. There is a time and place for both.

 

[stackz]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

no, you were reading WAY too much into my posts and steering the thread off course.

I'm simply wanting to know which boats dont have wood in the super structure. I know there are boats manufactured in the 2000's that are like this and I just want to know which ones it is for my searching purposes. thats it, thats all. I dont care if there's wood behind the gauge panel and such, just not in the stringers or transom. they are out there. newer boston whalers are like this if I remember correctly.

basically I'm trying to find the thread on this THT forum which lists them as posted above but having a hard time. I've finally figured out its called "the hool troof" mispelled on purpose. only a matter of time before I find the thread.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

Fair enough. I just encourage you to not rule out a boat just because it has a wood transom or a balsa cored deck. Both are very common and when done well and maintained well, the boat will out live the mechanical bits and pieces.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

basically I'm trying to find the thread on this THT forum which lists them as posted above but having a hard time. I've finally figured out its called "the hool troof" mispelled on purpose. only a matter of time before I find the thread.

I thought I had that thread bookmarked, but I'm having trouble finding it. It does contain a list of boats that are supposedly woodless in construction, but there are lots of subsequent posts that either contradict the list or that blur the line as to what 'woodless' or 'composite only' construction actually means. I think you might have a better list to pick thru if you search 'composite' rather than woodless...

In any case, I'm not sure the list is all that authoritative or exhaustive....

 

[82rude]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

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[Home Cookin']

Re: when did boats go woodless??

You also have to question the information you read in boating magazines-they are seldom objective, and are sometimes called "advertorials." Doubtful? When have you ever read anything negative about any product in one of those magazines?

The whole disconnect with "woodless construction" is in the word "construction." Clearly some makers do not consider the wood-core transom part of the "construction". The list goes on.

 

[Slip Away]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

Did not read the whole thread. Here is one brand for you to search Bryant

 

[oldandintheway]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

Wood fails when the encapsulation of that wood fails. A crack or someone drives a screw into it without properly sealing.

My last Boston Whaler had wood all over in it. And it was a 1976. No rot whatsoever. However, the previous owner and I were very cautious about mounting things to the hull.

I think that it's the wood in the old Whalers that makes them beautiful.

 

[garbageguy]

Re: when did boats go woodless??

The wood in mine is guaranteed not to rot. Ever.

That's amazing!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: when did boats go woodless??

I think that it's the wood in the old Whalers that makes them beautiful.

agreed, but the exposed wood seldom rots. The discussion is about structural wood and not above-deck fittings. But that makes the point: wood doesn't rot on its own. it requires constant exposure to fresh water. That occurs in hidden places, or when a boat is covered and not draining. Wood exposed to daylight (or salt water) is not a problem.