Boat quality question

[chris in va]

I bought a used 19' 94 Caravelle last winter. It's been a real dog trying to get it up to speed in repairs. <br /><br />Just wondering, is it normal/OK to have this much plywood in a boat? I've had to replace the crap in my rear bench seats, and some of the supports are rotting away. Do better quality boats use something else?

 

[KCook]

Re: Boat quality question

Not until recently. Most older boats, including the expensive ones, had lots of wood. There were a few builders, like Bryant, that got an early start on wood-free construction. But most builders did not make this transition until after Y2K (some still have wood models).<br /><br />Kelly

 

[JB]

Re: Boat quality question

Boston Whalers have used only encapsulated wood and teak or mahogany trim for 45 years. <br /><br />If you neglected the mahogany trim, seats, console, etc. it would rot, but the hulls??? Never.

 

[KCook]

Re: Boat quality question

Good point JB. I believe Chris's Caravelle is a bowrider. So I meant my response to be directed toward bowriders. Let the record show that it was fishing boat builders who were the first to get the wood out. Several bass boat builders switched to wood-free construction back in the '90s. Well ahead of the bowrider crowd. I think Skeeter was one of the earliest, but still well behind BW!<br /><br />Kelly