cored hull or not?

arnie c

New Member
Sep 27, 2009
3
long island sound
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:huh:I am currently looking at a 2001 34ft. amberjack. The question that I have is this a cored hull? I've gotten different answers on another site. Thanks for any help with this question. :smt100 Also are there any recalls or common problems that I should know of? Thanks!
 
I would suggest hitting the Home button on this site. then read the most excellent post by Frank Webster on this subject.

Lots to learn there.
 
What is the 4th letter of the HIN#?

If it is F or M, maybe or a P, then probably, but Gary has the right approach. Call Customer Service with the HIN# and ask them to look it up for you. Sea Ray frequently changes the layup schedule during a model run so asking the guys who made the boat is the only sure way.
 
I had the same question about my Amberjack last year. After contacting SeaRay, I was told that my model was built in Merrit Island Florida and they did not build boats with cored hulls there. Coring was used above the waterline, especially on the forward sections. My hull number begins with SERM, with the M being Merrit Island.
 
Oh, regarding common problems...

Nothing that I know of with the hull, but the prop shaft seals used were "sure seals" from Tides marine. They are cooled with water from the exhaust manifold fitting via a small hose to a fitting on each prop shaft seal. Check that the hose is not plugged and that water is flowing or else the seal will overheat and need to be replaced.

The Horizon 8.1 S engines are fine, but the exhaust manifolds are cast aluminum and can fail. Have them removed for inspection. I had one with a leak on the outside where there was no resulting engine damage (thankfully) so all 4 were replaced (approx $2 boat bucks) as a safety measure.

This model is really quite solidly built and has great access to mechanicals. I really like the way it handles with the weight distribution being further forward along with the wider beam.
 
Just so we are clear, the original question asked if the 34AJ had a cored hull. The hull is the part of the boat below the rub rail, not just the hull bottom. Merritt Island has manufactured cored hull boats.
 
Quasi hijack - I think I have an 'A' as the fourth character (I may be mistaken, I'll look when I get home). What does the 'A' stand for?

John
 
We looked at several wide body AJs built in that era. The coring was not necessarily balsa wood. The selling dealer told me it was a synthetic product that was added for stiffness and sound insulation. The hull felt pretty solid. After the cored bottom issues on the bigger boats we backed off and bought a solid FG hull. I might still have the AJ had I bought it. One of the best looking SRs built and it was better than the one I ended up buying.
 
I've located my hardcopy of an email from Terry Kerr, Product Support, Sea Ray Boats, World Headquarters that I received Jan/09 regarding possible coring on my Amberjack.

He said "The hull of the boat is fiberglass construction and does not use coring. Balsa is used in the deck construction, particularly in forward areas over the cabin."

If you wish to email your SER# from the hull to Terry and ask him about coring, his email is TKerr@searay.com
 
I have a 1997 EC which is the same hull and was renamed the Amberjack and I can tell you this hull is not cored. I added a new tranducer this summer and a new hole was drilled in the bottom, it was solid glass. Don't know about the later models but this one is not cored.

If it's any help I just bought this 97 this year and it came through the survey with flying colors. Every inch of the hull was sounded and checked with a meter for water and none at all was found. There was and area around the windless that is wet, I had a fiberglass shop look at and they said it's not big deal. I'm going to remove the windless once the boat put up for the winter and shrink wrapped.

This boat has if just perfect, IMHO it is way better the the sundancer of the same size. Fits my needs perfect for light fishing and weekend cruising. More importantly my wife loves it.
 
Thanks for all the info, it makes me feel better about the 34 amberjack that I'm looking at. Just had someone look at my rampage this morning,hope it goes,so I can get serious about the amberjack! Thanks again!!!!
 

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