hull quality?

[iWake]

I was wondering how the best way to test the strength of a fiberglass hull was without having to do any major construction to the boat such as removing the floor and ect.?

 

[Neverhome]

Re: hull quality?

Well, you could do what I and I am sure many other have done, run it up on a rock.

Sorry couldn't resist that one.

I'm not really sure. However there are many others on this forum who are more knowledgeable than I that can make recommendations. I do suggest that if you have a specifc boat in mind, post the make on this forum and ask for opinions. It's a great form to get help on.

Neverhome

 

[Texasmark]

Re: hull quality?

Real simple.

Sides: Look at the sides, under the gunnel. If you see weaving it's hand laid woven roving; best money can buy; only thing is you don't know how thick it is unless you can do something like remove a bilge hose thru hull adapter. However the knuckle test mentioned below will help. If it looks like a bunch if skinny helter skelter lines it's chopped and that is cheap and not very sea worthy comparatively speaking. However, sometimes mfgrs will put the roving down and then chop behind it for rigidity to keep the sides from flexing. Other way to keep them from flexing is to deliberately mold s curves or reverse chines in the glass hull, or support them with backing boards......like you would have a stowage compartment along the side and the retainer for that (keeps things from falling out of it) would help to support the hull.

Hull: Same thing as viewed from inside. Outside you can't tell by looking as the gelcoat will cover it. Butttttttt

Knuckle test: Crawl under the boat and make a fist out of your right hand with your middle finger knuckle protruding. Go over the boat with that knuckle tapping as you go. When you hit solid hull you will know it. When you hit non supported hull you know it. My boats need to pass the hull test from bow to stern, keel to chine.

Simple as that.

Mark

 

[cgBosun3]

Re: hull quality?

Lots of ways to measure "strength". Sorry to nitpick, I am a retired Coast Guard Marine Inspector. Composites were a specialty of mine. When a builder cuts a hole in a boat for a through-hull fitting, sometimes they save the plug from the hole saw. That way you can see teh actual layup. Otherwise, if you want to see what kind of layup ( woven roving, scrim, chopper gun, biaxial cloth, prepreg carbon fiber, etc) all you can see is what is on the outside, or inner layer. If you can look at the exterior and see the layup, the gel coat is too thin!
Fiberglass is at its strongest in a curved surface, weakest in flat areas. Big flat areas need additional support to prevent flexing and failure. If the deck flexes, or the hull sides, look elsewhere to buy.

Don't get me started on encapsulated wood...email me if you have more questions.

 

[Solittle]

Re: hull quality?

One way to compare two boats of roughly the same size and construction is by weight. Weight tells you how much glass and resin went into it's construction.

 

[Bondo]

Re: hull quality?

Ayuh,.....

And,....
Generally speaking,..... The Manufacturer's Reputation is a Good Indicator.....

 

[dingbat]

Re: hull quality?

Ayuh,.....

And,....
Generally speaking,..... The Manufacturer's Reputation is a Good Indicator.....

J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Boat Competitive Information Study

Coastal fishing segment (17 to 30 feet)

For a seventh consecutive reporting year, Grady-White ranks highest in the segment, performing particularly well in four of the six factors driving overall satisfaction: fishing; ride and handling; design and styling; and helm and instrument panel. Grady-White also has the fewest reported problems of any manufacturer in the segment. Boston Whaler and Triton, respectively, follow Grady-White in the segment rankings.

Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking: Coastal Fishing Segment

Grady-White 886
Boston Whaler 868
Triton 856
Sailfish 846
Triumph 840
Scout 837
Century 831
Sea Hunt 819
Coastal Fishing Segment Average 818
Pro-Line 818
Key West 808
Seaswirl 786
Trophy 777
Sea Fox 772

Included in the study but not ranked due to small sample size are: Angler, Hydra-Sports, Polar, Sea Pro and Wellcraft.

 

[oops!]

Re: hull quality?

wellcome to iboats...i wake and neverhome.....

never...... that was too funny....
this place has most answers to any question ever asked on boats.....and the guys here.....well......there on the ball

I was wondering how the best way to test the strength of a fiberglass hull was without having to do any major construction to the boat such as removing the floor and ect.?

what bond-o said was correct...as well as others......

but.....yer getting at something.....??? whats goin on? u buyin a bote?....gonna do a resto?

cheers
oops

 

[iWake]

Re: hull quality?

im looking at possibly a restore. I havent really started looking at specific boats yet but i just want to make sure that when i start looking i get a boat that is still very sturdy and has a solid hull as the boat will probably be aged a little bit. I also want to make sure that i do not have to do much fiberglass work to the outside of the boat. As far as re-doing the boat i think i will manage ok because i am prety good with these types of project. And thanks for all the imput. it is all very helpful.

 

[oops!]

Re: hull quality?

ok...no problem

a small book called runabout renovation...by jim anderson......
is perfect for this.....

he shows you how to buy a used project boat......and how to restore it.....

as said earlyer....some manufacturers are better than others......some years are better......

this forum is like boat university.....youll find everything you need to know right here.....

dont forget to buy the odd thing ....(or all of it)...from iboats.....they supply this forum ....alll the bandwith for free to us.......

try the restoration/building forum......

looking foward to seeing your projects.....

cheers
oops

 

[Neverhome]

Re: hull quality?

oops,

Thanks for the welcome. I try to keep it light and in good humor. There was a time when I took myself too seriously but that was before I dedicated my life to boats. If you have a boat and no sense of humor you are headed for the rocks.

Neverhome (Because I am always on my boat once ice is out)

 

[oops!]

Re: hull quality?



oops stands for the fact i own a used boat

 

[iWake]

Re: hull quality?

thanks, i will check into that book. Are there any other good books out there and one more question: how do you check to make sure that the fiberglass is not really dried out and could potentially crack easier?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: hull quality?

If you are going to do a restore, you had better take "bosun" up on his offer to email him about encapsulation. Will be a real eye opener for sure.

Good luck.

Mark

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: hull quality?

Yeah, cgBosun3, I'd definitely like to hear your opinion on the encapsulated wood topic! Especially the "right way" if such a thing exists. How about a post? Many of us could probably benefit from your esperience. Regards - Woodnaut

 

[tommays]

Re: hull quality?

Well with the LOW quality Brands getting a 750/1000 rating and the GOOD brands ONLY getting a 880/1000 rating


The whole JD POWERS thing is pretty useless as a true quality guage


I dont see any of them using and ABS or LR rating which is a real standard EVEN in the bigger boats



Tommays

 

[Neverhome]

Re: hull quality?

While surveys can offer insight to aboats quality, they are only as good as the information that goes into them which is often acquired by how the survey questions are asked. Take myself for instance. I bought my Trophy 2359, brand new back in 2002. I had problems right from the start. Loose screws, thru hull fittings that weren't clamped tightly, sloppy caulking around the windshield and a host of other problems. It appeard to be a "Friday" built vessel. I got very little help from the dealer and ended up going to Boats US who in turn went directly to Trophy to assist me in getting everything repaired. In fact, they ended up taking it back to the factory at the end of the seaon to completely go over it. Durring that period I had nothing good to say about the boat and the company and went out of my way to point out all of the trouble I was having to anyone with a set of ears. Had I been approaced by a survey taker back then my response would have been 100% negative. Having said that, now that everything has been satisfactorily repaired and I have used the boat almost daily durring the boating season, I can objectively say it is a great boat. It does everything I want it to, I am never nervous if the weather turns nasty and everyone I take out fishing offshore loves the boat. My point being if you ask someone their opion on a boat for a survey, you could get two entirely different answers to the same question on two different days.

There is a trade off on paying a lot of money and hopeing you don't have any problems, which cannot be gauranteed regardles of boat manufacturer,or paying a lot less and learning to live with a few short comings on a lower survey rated boat, and having a few more dollars in your pocket at the end of the day.

Neverhome