wood in a Stratos hull?

[-1boat]

I am looking at an '89 Stratos 201 Pro. It is at a dealer reasonably priced and rigged. I need to know what to look for as far as rotten wood in the hull or transom. I checked the transom, it seems very solid. So does the floor, at least the best I can tell by bouncing on it while standing inside. The guy at the dealer said that there is "very little wood in the hull".

Can anyone confirm this?

I just got rid of a boat that needed extensive repairs when I bought it, and I don't want to have to do that all again. I spent more time repairing and rebuilding than i did using the boat. But that was a '79 Glasstron. It had a lot of wood to replace in the floor, transom, and stringers.

Thank you for your input.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

i don't believe anyone anymore that says no wood. i have a transom rotten in a 1999 no wood hull.

 

[-1boat]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

Well he didnt say "no wood" He said "very little wood" I know there is wood in the transom, I was more interested in the decking and floor, and on this particular model of boat, how prone to rot these areas are. Of course it depends on how they are maintained, but on average how bad is it to rot?

 

[masterge]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

Well, I can tell you that their latest line is using what they call Omni-Core technology which is a completely wood-free design. My guess is that they were still using some sort of wood in 89.

I am looking at an '89 Stratos 201 Pro. It is at a dealer reasonably priced and rigged. I need to know what to look for as far as rotten wood in the hull or transom. I checked the transom, it seems very solid. So does the floor, at least the best I can tell by bouncing on it while standing inside. The guy at the dealer said that there is "very little wood in the hull".

Can anyone confirm this?

I just got rid of a boat that needed extensive repairs when I bought it, and I don't want to have to do that all again. I spent more time repairing and rebuilding than i did using the boat. But that was a '79 Glasstron. It had a lot of wood to replace in the floor, transom, and stringers.

Thank you for your input.

 

[-1boat]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

yea, I'm sure there is . I was hoping that someone withan intimate knowledge of these boats would chime in.

Also, it is rigged with a GT 200 Johnson. anybody know anything about these?
Maybe I should start a new thread somewhere else?

 

[commonarcwelder]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

I bought a 91 stratos for $1000 for the Johnson Gt200 that was on it in excellent shape. The boat was toast. The motor had a ratchet strap holding it to the Front seat pedestal. The transom was rotten. The floor was rotten. The only true no wood boat is an Allison that I know of. They have been wood free since 1987. But even a wood boat will last forever if garaged and keeping it bilged while afloat.

 

[-1boat]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

I bought a 91 stratos for $1000 for the Johnson Gt200 that was on it in excellent shape. The boat was toast. The motor had a ratchet strap holding it to the Front seat pedestal. The transom was rotten. The floor was rotten. The only true no wood boat is an Allison that I know of. They have been wood free since 1997. But even a wood boat will last forever if garaged and keeping it bilged while afloat.

Thanks,
I wish I knew more history on this boat. Like I said, it's at a dealership, they took it in on a trade. The carpet is worn, but it is nearly 20 yrs old. The dealer had it covered, but did have a bit of water in the bilge, and the carpet was wet.

The sales guy said the engine had just been serviced, and had no issues, good compression, etc.

I just am a little worried about the dreaded wood rot.

I don't know how well the dealership would go over one of these older boats. They really push the new ones.

The Gelcoat is still pretty shiny and I could not find any stress cracks. Any more advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Lou C]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

try e-mailing the manufacturer, they often can be very helpful with information on past boats, I did this with Four Winns when re-doing the deck in my 88 Horizon

There are a couple of 'non destructive' tests you can do...
one, if there are no sharp objects on the floor, walk around in socks, you can feel flex without your shoes on better than with shoes on...
And if the seats are mounted with pedestals, see if you can tighten the screws, if they just spin you know the wood under there is rotted. Check any thing else screwed into the floor the same way if you can. Any stripped screw holes or flexing in the deck is suspect. Does the boat have a hatch over the gas tank, if so see if they will let you remove it, that will tell you a lot, because you will be able to see the edges of the deck and framing/stringers around the gas tank.
The transom, see if it flexes when you push up and down on the lower unit. You can also tap round the floor and transom with a screwdriver handle, good wood will make a sharp rap, rotted wood a dull thud.

It is 19 years old, and if maintained well, it could be fine, but often old boats are left with a tarp on them in the driveway, water gets in, carpet doesn't let it evaporate, and rot happens.

 

[commonarcwelder]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

try e-mailing the manufacturer, they often can be very helpful with information on past boats, I did this with Four Winns when re-doing the deck in my 88 Horizon

There are a couple of 'non destructive' tests you can do...
one, if there are no sharp objects on the floor, walk around in socks, you can feel flex without your shoes on better than with shoes on...
And if the seats are mounted with pedestals, see if you can tighten the screws, if they just spin you know the wood under there is rotted. Check any thing else screwed into the floor the same way if you can. Any stripped screw holes or flexing in the deck is suspect. Does the boat have a hatch over the gas tank, if so see if they will let you remove it, that will tell you a lot, because you will be able to see the edges of the deck and framing/stringers around the gas tank.
The transom, see if it flexes when you push up and down on the lower unit. You can also tap round the floor and transom with a screwdriver handle, good wood will make a sharp rap, rotted wood a dull thud.

It is 19 years old, and if maintained well, it could be fine, but often old boats are left with a tarp on them in the driveway, water gets in, carpet doesn't let it evaporate, and rot happens.

There maybe a drain in the floorboard also. If there is, ask if you can pull the four screws holding it just to have a look. but first see if they will tighten. Either way pull the drain and do a visual. Put your fingers in it and feel the wood under the floorboard. You maybe able to stick your hand in there and kind of knock around on the stringers and such. If they tell you not to take the drain plate out, you may not want this boat........

 

[-1boat]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

There maybe a drain in the floorboard also. If there is, ask if you can pull the four screws holding it just to have a look. but first see if they will tighten. Either way pull the drain and do a visual. Put your fingers in it and feel the wood under the floorboard. You maybe able to stick your hand in there and kind of knock around on the stringers and such. If they tell you not to take the drain plate out, you may not want this boat........

Good idea. I called them today and told them I wanted to check it out a little closer this weekend. I asked them to dry it out and move it inside so I could get a better idea of it's condition. They said it would be no problem, and understood my concern. It was freezing cold the day I looked at it before and didn't go over it very good.

I hadn't thought of trying to tighten the screws to see if it's rotten (duh), and if I can I'll try to remove the drain plate.

I do think this boat is pretty solid, I just don't want to find out otherwise after I have paid for it.

 

[dcg9381]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

I had an 1987 Stratos XLS with a twin turbo. Yes, twin turbo, 460 Ford.
It was very well taken care of down to the original vinyl. It was a solid boat.
How solid these boats are generally depends on how well they are maintained and the condition in which they have been stored.

As you can't "see" rot - you might take it to some place that does fiberglass floor/transom repairs. I believe these guys will "tap" the transom and listen for rot.

The boat definitely will have wood in it.. True wood free hulls are fairly recent. It's not impossible for it to be in great shape though.

 

[commonarcwelder]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

I Likey Likey!!!!! Twin turbo's....Damnit boy!!!

 

[-1boat]

Re: wood in a Stratos hull?

Well I bought it!! I checked it out the best I could, and couldn't find any soft spots. I'll try to post pics.