is there a boat that won't rot?

[dsujen]

I had a nice cc that I put a new floor and transom in. It lasted 5 years before the floor got soft again. I want another cc but don't want it to rot in 5 years. Is there a boat out there that has no wood in it? Also I don't want the foam to become an anchor. I looked at the boston whaler site but it doesn't talk about if there are wooden stringers. Aluminum is a good idea if it is welded. I had jon boats with rivits that leaked. Don't want that.

 

[mphy98]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

My 19foot chris craft with aluminum hull with reevitz does not leak at all. A quality hull is what you need.

 

[zopperman]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

Well, honestly - no offense, I would say it was more likely a fault with your construction... a properly glassed transom and deck will last many many many years. There are fully composite boats...

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

Why should it rot in 5 years if properly cared for. Confused.

 

[Beefer]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

Well, honestly - no offense, I would say it was more likely a fault with your construction... a properly glassed transom and deck will last many many many years. There are fully composite boats...

x2

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

As you can see, everyone is questioning why your deck only lasted 5 years. Can you provide some details about how you did the work on ghe deck back then?

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

Yup, sounds like your construction was not done correctly if it rotted in 5 years. you should be getting a minamum of 20 years if done properly. To answer your question, yes there are older boats and new boats made of all composite materials.

But there are literally thousands of boats that are 10,20,30,40 years old that still are floating with wood in them. Not to mention all wood boats that are just fine.

Like said above, post what you did during construction and many here can probably point you in the right direction as far as what went wrong!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

Sounds like you took the cheapest way out on your restoration, and cheap never lasts.

Good quality plywood sealed with epoxy resin will last a lot longer than 5 years, we're talking decades here.

It also sounds like you neglected your boat by not keeping it covered and exposing it to the elements, another big mistake... but don't feel bad, I made some of these mistakes on my first resto too.

We learn from our mistakes (or are supposed to).

My advice to you is to start reading in the restoration forum and gather all the info you can and then do another restoration the right way. Feel free to ask questions, lots of helpful folks with a wealth of information in that forum.

 

[sasto]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

Boat that won't rot?......Nah!.....Not that I know of.

 

[Solittle]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

If you need to replace a transom use Coosa instead of plywood for the core. It is a fiberglass composit.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

The REAL problem is with the crap wood put in by the boat company. IF THAT is original wood. Pressure treated plwood is not that big a deal breaker to any boat company !!!!!!!!!!!!

Same with FOAM.

There are BILLIONS of cubic feet of DOW floating dock billets , blue color, that NEVER soak up water.

You are just one of those unlucky people on your first time around.

Local lumber yards or Lowes or Home Despot are not the greatest places for marine plywood.
Did you buy the boat new or abused ?

My Lowe Aluminum 16' boat is a 1984 that is used all summer in northern N Y. Freezing water in the hull is possible. Still no leaks anywhere or times. I know that ANY type of material can be perfect or crap.
Just being lucky is more important. A lot of older Boston Whalers are simply splitting apart up here. Nothing can be done about it.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

Welded Aluminum can be made crappy too. Anything can be made to be a problem.

Ask all & any questions.

 

[zopperman]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

The REAL problem is with the crap wood put in by the boat company. IF THAT is original wood. Pressure treated plwood is not that big a deal breaker to any boat company !!!!!!!!!!!!

Same with FOAM.

There are BILLIONS of cubic feet of DOW floating dock billets , blue color, that NEVER soak up water.

You are just one of those unlucky people on your first time around.

Local lumber yards or Lowes or Home Despot are not the greatest places for marine plywood.
Did you buy the boat new or abused ?

My Lowe Aluminum 16' boat is a 1984 that is used all summer in northern N Y. Freezing water in the hull is possible. Still no leaks anywhere or times. I know that ANY type of material can be perfect or crap.
Just being lucky is more important. A lot of older Boston Whalers are simply splitting apart up here. Nothing can be done about it.

It has nothing to do with the wood... any exterior grade ply will work... a shotty glass job that doesn't FULLY ENCAPSULATE the wood is what causes rot... and standing water... and foam in contact with the deck/stringers that gets waterlogged...
Pressure treated wood will corrode metal (not copper) fasteners and warms badly and must be 100% dry to get a good bond with 'glass and resin

 

[cyclops2]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

I am sooo old.

Carefull on those plastic wood boards. SOME USE WOOD CHIPS AS A FILLER............Guess what. Those wood chips IF exposed a tiny bit............YUP

Mildew on plastic boards.
Checked out a bunch of companies. MOST ARE NOT SOLID PLASTIC. Took over 2 hours of phone calls to get the tech people for the TRUTHFULL & ACCURATE answers. Most of a companies phone staff, bull crap you. Deliberate or they do not know.

 

[zopperman]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

Plastic boards? What are you talking about, coosa? it's foam + roving and epoxy... very strong FRP... or do you mean plastic like trex boards on my deck? Those are garbage and structurally useless.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

I was giving him the benifit of a doubt. I have Home Depot 1/4" CHEAP plywood only painted with 3 coats of outdoor Latex Paint & I get 3 to 5 years walking & dragging metal fuel tanks on it.

Side note. The last 2 years in NJ have been solid Mildew growth on EVEN MY Aluminum siding. Yeah. I am Bleaching, but it is coming back nicely on the North side again & again. NEVER had that problem before. Other houses are doing the same. Some even on the morning sun sides.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

Deck stuff that cost a ton of money. Lawsuits on most companies now.

 

[zopperman]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

anyone care for some clarification...?

 

[oops!]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

I had a nice cc that I put a new floor and transom in. It lasted 5 years before the floor got soft again. I want another cc but don't want it to rot in 5 years. Is there a boat out there that has no wood in it? Also I don't want the foam to become an anchor. I looked at the boston whaler site but it doesn't talk about if there are wooden stringers. Aluminum is a good idea if it is welded. I had jon boats with rivits that leaked. Don't want that.

there is no wood in a boston whaler.....only foam and glass.

as far as the boat rotting in 5 years....all of the above is correct.....if a person lays a piece of ply wood over stringers....it will last 5 years with poor care. (leaving it out to the elements)

however.....if it is properly done.....its an easy 40 years with poly resin.

since you are worried about it a alum boat is a good choice.....but there is wood in those to.....but far easier to fix.

the whalers are great right up to the point that they get a hole in the glass.... then its waterlogged foam.....

so....may i suggest that you post your boating conditions.....where you boat....how you boat....and we can suggest a good material. (larsons vec hulls are all composite)

however......i think proper storage is the key to making your boat last

 

[MercMe]

Re: is there a boat that won't rot?

I think most boats with a jet drive your sea doo like boats don't have wood or at-least not exposed wood. (I hate to almost bring it up as I just suggested one to someone the other day. There not my favorite boat or anything just seem right for both people lol.) Good luck this time I am sure that where you live and your weather played a factor in your deck rotting. Maybe you where just unlucky and got some bad wood too.