Most durable boat?

[Tscott8201]

Last night while removing the t-top and center console of my boat in preparation for re coring the deck, I began to wonder who makes the most durable boat out there. The theme of rotten transoms and soft decks seems to be a prevalent one around here.

So the question is, who makes the most durable boat? Who uses manufacturing techniques that either protect the water vulnerable materials of a boat or who has eliminated their use all together? I am mostly aiming my question to wards center console open fishing boats, but most manufactures have models covering the full range of boat types. I would assume the more expensive range of boats would be durable, but you never know.

Tom

 

[Philster]

Re: Most durable boat?

Some boats, like Cobalt, are built to last, and the price reflects it. Ditto for really big boys like Viking. No shortcuts. Things are laid up thick, heavy, and properly. These are heavy and expensive boats.

These are just examples.

The problem is that there are some builders playing with the big boys and trying to be premium brands, but they don't have the hull/deck joint done right, or they have wiring and hatch issues. They don't have the weight/thickness, or they don't do things right where you can't see them easily.

So, you can't use price as a guide. The best you can do is to get a bunch of feedback from surveyors, who have seen new and used boats. Again, there is a problem here, too, because some boats get used in salt more than others, some find themselves uncared for. How a boat is treated varies widely because how boats are treated out of water determines so much.

Finally, even surveyors will tell you that quality varies at each builder by the day/week/month or model. Hey, last year the (imaginary) Widget Fish and Ski 23.5 was built to last, with good glass layup and great wiring, and well built cores and deck/hulls mated nicely... and two years later, most 23.5 models were suffering in quality and showing signs of cost cutting, which is perplexing because the Center Console part of the Widget line actually got better!

In sum, that is boat building. Quality varies widely, even at the same builder, which is why marine surveyors review new and used boats. Imagine an industry so unpredictable that you need a surveyor for the new product! That is why this thread will be short on solid answers.

 

[JB]

Re: Most durable boat?

Boston Whaler
Everglades

No contest.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Most durable boat?

I'll agree on the Cobalts for Runabouts. The don't use any wood in the construction of their boats anymore, not even in the transom. Kevlar-interlaced hulss, higher-quality fittings, etc. ChrisCraft is probably up there as well, but their prices outpace even the Cobalts (which is hard to do).

I'm sure any composite, self-bailing fishing boat is probably a durable boat as well.

 

[smclear]

Re: Most durable boat?

Boston Whaler
Everglades

No contest.

Agreed, but I'd also add Pursuit.

 

[ReelPlumber]

Re: Most durable boat?

Over the years alot of the manufactures have changed the way they made boats by using all composite stringers and decks and hulls. Adding kevlar for strenght mean while keeping the boat as light as possible. There are many manufactures out there that build durable quality center consoles. But in my opinion all of them will have there flaws, even the best of the best. Any product that requires so much hand made/crafted parts will only be as good as the actual workers making or putting the product together. "Quality Control."

Just my 2cents

I personally like the

Robalo's
Edgewater's
Contenders
Everglades
Deep Impact

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Most durable boat?

The most durable boats I have ever seen came from Dashew Offshore. I doubt you'd find anything else on the market that even approaches their boat building philosophy. They make Nordhavns seem like a compromise.

The most durable trailerable boat I'm aware is probably the Rosborough 246. They are incredibly stout.

 

[SteuryLover]

Re: Most durable boat?

I personally like the

Robalo's
Edgewater's
Contenders
Everglades
Deep Impact[/QUOTE]

I have to comment on the Robalos, at least the new ones. My buddy has a 2007 R305 with 80 hours on the twin Yamaha 250s (great motors). We were out the other day and noticed 3 problems I owuld not associate with a high quality boat with only 80 hours.

1. 30% of the SS hardware is rusting. The screws look identical, one will rust like it is steel, the one next to it is shiny like new SS. This is on many pieces of hardware.

2. On the transom we looked down while fishing and notice what looks like a guage in the gel coat. When we looked closer we found there was a decent size void under the gel, the cracking continued with a simple press of the finger.

3. The live well only kept 20% of the live bait we put in alive for more then 2 hours. All were purchased from the same bait barge and was healthy when we got them.

Just my 2 cents, I would not expect that from a $250,000 boat with 80 hours that is on a trailer. But it does ride better then my buddies 30' whaler, and the Yamahas are awesome outboards.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Most durable boat?

Any product that requires so much hand made/crafted parts will only be as good as the actual workers making or putting the product together. "Quality Control."

Just my 2cents

I have to comment on the Robalos, at least the new ones. My buddy has a 2007 R305 with 80 hours on the twin Yamaha 250s (great motors). We were out the other day and noticed 3 problems I owuld not associate with a high quality boat with only 80 hours.

1. 30% of the SS hardware is rusting. The screws look identical, one will rust like it is steel, the one next to it is shiny like new SS. This is on many pieces of hardware.

2. On the transom we looked down while fishing and notice what looks like a guage in the gel coat. When we looked closer we found there was a decent size void under the gel, the cracking continued with a simple press of the finger.

3. The live well only kept 20% of the live bait we put in alive for more then 2 hours. All were purchased from the same bait barge and was healthy when we got them.

Just my 2 cents, I would not expect that from a $250,000 boat with 80 hours that is on a trailer. But it does ride better then my buddies 30' whaler, and the Yamahas are awesome outboards.

using this logic I bet your buddies boat was built the Monday after the super bowl.

 

[767Captain]

Re: Most durable boat?

Some boats, like Cobalt, are built to last, and the price reflects it.
/////////////////////////>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In sum, that is boat building. Quality varies widely, even at the same builder, which is why marine surveyors review new and used boats. Imagine an industry so unpredictable that you need a surveyor for the new product! That is why this thread will be short on solid answers.

I'm puzzled why Cobalt gets mentioned. I know they advertise themselves heavily as the best, is there any other evidence showing proof of that claim? If we want to gauge "built best" as meaning longest life, I would say Boston Whaler, without a doubt. There are many 60's vintage Whalers running around. How many of ANY other brand are still in use at 40+ years old? My rough guess would be Chris-Craft in second, with the likes of Luhrs, Bertram, Uniflite up there too. I doubt there is any statistical data available on this subject...

 

[TexMojo]

Re: Most durable boat?

Go to triumph boats and check them out. They used to have a bubba test on their but I think theyve changed the name of it to Tough test program. They have dropped these boats from helos onto the water, ran them into trees, drug them without a trailer and then launched them. They get my voted for the toughest.

 

[Don S]

Re: Most durable boat?

The most durable boats I have ever seen came from Dashew Offshore.

Now there is a name I haven't heard of or thought about for years. I have their original book with the Deerfoot 62? (I think was the size) Now I have to go look for that book. I wore it out figuring out how to equip a boat for world cruiseing. Never made the cruise, but learned a lot from the book for the cruising I did.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Most durable boat?

Any boat that's built without wood core transom or wood decking is a good start, but even the best boats often use foam that gets water logged over time. This past spring I cut up an older Whaler that was saturated top to bottom.
I'd say the perfect boat would have compartmental air chambers for flotation, no foam, no wood decks and a composite transom. If it's got foam, its likely to get wet sooner or later.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Most durable boat?

The one that you are trying to sell!

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Most durable boat?

Now there is a name I haven't heard of or thought about for years. I have their original book with the Deerfoot 62? (I think was the size) Now I have to go look for that book. I wore it out figuring out how to equip a boat for world cruiseing. Never made the cruise, but learned a lot from the book for the cruising I did.

They made the Deerfoot in a few different sizes, 62 may have been one of them. They have gone to the dark side in recent years and are presently making outrageously rugged, welded aluminum power boats. They are remarkbly ugly on the outside, but quite nice on the inside. I lust for an FPB64. Wish I had a couple of million to spend on a boat... They have a great website called setsail.com.

 

[ReelPlumber]

Re: Most durable boat?

I have to comment on the Robalos, at least the new ones. My buddy has a 2007 R305 with 80 hours on the twin Yamaha 250s (great motors). We were out the other day and noticed 3 problems I owuld not associate with a high quality boat with only 80 hours.

1. 30% of the SS hardware is rusting. The screws look identical, one will rust like it is steel, the one next to it is shiny like new SS. This is on many pieces of hardware.

2. On the transom we looked down while fishing and notice what looks like a guage in the gel coat. When we looked closer we found there was a decent size void under the gel, the cracking continued with a simple press of the finger.

3. The live well only kept 20% of the live bait we put in alive for more then 2 hours. All were purchased from the same bait barge and was healthy when we got them.

Just my 2 cents, I would not expect that from a $250,000 boat with 80 hours that is on a trailer. But it does ride better then my buddies 30' whaler, and the Yamahas are awesome outboards.

I have to comment on the Robalos, at least the new ones. My buddy has a 2007 R305 with 80 hours on the twin Yamaha 250s (great motors). We were out the other day and noticed 3 problems I owuld not associate with a high quality boat with only 80 hours.

1. 30% of the SS hardware is rusting. The screws look identical, one will rust like it is steel, the one next to it is shiny like new SS. This is on many pieces of hardware.

2. On the transom we looked down while fishing and notice what looks like a guage in the gel coat. When we looked closer we found there was a decent size void under the gel, the cracking continued with a simple press of the finger.

3. The live well only kept 20% of the live bait we put in alive for more then 2 hours. All were purchased from the same bait barge and was healthy when we got them.

Just my 2 cents, I would not expect that from a $250,000 boat with 80 hours that is on a trailer. But it does ride better then my buddies 30' whaler, and the Yamahas are awesome outboards.[/QUOTE]

Sorry to hear about your buddies boat. Has Robalo taken care of the issues?

I have a 2007 R240 with over 400 hours and have only had a few minor issues that the Dealer/Robalo has taken care of no questions asked. I love the boat and the ride is fantastic.

I sea trailed 3 boats the same day out of the same inlet with 6+ foot seas. The Dealers did not want to go out but we insisted so we could get a good feel of how the boats handled. For a 24 footer the Robalo and Whaler handled great, the Grady was not so good. We liked the layout of the Robalo and they had Yamahas and that is what made our decision.

 

[EsoxRanger]

Re: Most durable boat?

Triton makes a very good CC. They handle as well as anything out there, and have excellent fit and finish.

 

[Philster]

Re: Most durable boat?

I'm puzzled why Cobalt gets mentioned. I know they advertise themselves heavily as the best, is there any other evidence showing proof of that claim? If we want to gauge "built best" as meaning longest life, I would say Boston Whaler, without a doubt. There are many 60's vintage Whalers running around. How many of ANY other brand are still in use at 40+ years old? My rough guess would be Chris-Craft in second, with the likes of Luhrs, Bertram, Uniflite up there too. I doubt there is any statistical data available on this subject...

Hmmm, I really wasn't mentioning them to recommend them. I was using an example of a high-priced boat. My whole point is that it is very difficult to discern quality in boat building. It varies widely.

So many variables. I've heard it argued that boats that last in Florida are true testimonials to quality building, considering the sun, wind, temp changes, salt water and year-round use they get. One surveyor likes to point out that in the Northeast, there is so little boating time that he expects to find many Whalers lasting, because they don't have the huge amounts of use and exposure to the seas that some popular brands used farther south have (I know they get used all over, but this was his opinion). Still, I'd have a hard time arguing against the Whaler recommendation. It's not a boat for me, but it will get its props here, and that is good. I never enjoyed any of the Whalers much over the years, and considering how the owners used them, they could have had a boat that was much less expensive, while having as much fun and with enough free cash to have owned a nicer truck and fresh wardrobe, instead of being buried under the cost.

So far, some outstanding recommendations are in this thread, and true to form, you can find examples of all the recommended boats where quality went into the toilet here and there. That is boat building.

When I think of what to buy, I often recall, ironically, the Car Talk guys, Click and Clack: Quality is not everything. If you really love a particular model, and you need to get it fixed a couple of more times over the years than something you really aren't excited about, it won't tarnish your enjoyment. A Corvette nut is happy fixing a Corvette a few times more over the years, but they might never be happy driving a reliable Infinity G35 that needs a few less repairs over the years.

Sure...make sure what you love is safe, and has at least a certain amount of quality that is required, but just be sure that is the key to your happiness. I always loved Cobia CC boats. I could see myself on one, and almost bought one when it fit my needs. I never liked Whalers. They might be a whole bunch better 15 years from now as they age, but maybe the Cobia would have made me smile.

I always liked Wellcraft and the Scarabs. I've read about boats that are built better, and I could have ponied up just a touch more money, easily, for a better boat. Had to get the Scarab thing out of my system and smile doing it. Some other boats just seemed, well... vanilla. Not for me.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Most durable boat?

The most durable boat certainly isn't a mass produced plastic bubble boat.

Local builders that have been building wooden work boats for generations. Quite a few are still working the waters 100 years later.

Doubt there will be any Boston Whalers or Robalos still in commercial use 100 years from now.

 

[ReelPlumber]

Re: Most durable boat?

Philster, well said!

I believe the original poster was asking about center consoles and not commercial fishing boats, bowriders, sportfishers, cruisers etc. I am not sure how this ("How many of ANY other brand are still in use at 40+ years old? My rough guess would be Chris-Craft in second, with the likes of Luhrs, Bertram, Uniflite up there too.") or this ("The most durable boat certainly isn't a mass produced plastic bubble boat.Local builders that have been building wooden work boats for generations. quite a fewof their handy work are still working the waters 100 years later.Doubt there will be any Boston Whalers or Robalos still in commercial use 100 years from now") fits his question.