how common are rot problems in the stringers or transom?

[shilo]

Just wondering if it is much of an issue in 85 to 00 Sea Rays? I've heard that Sea Ray really seals things up well, so this is highly unlikely. These boats are docked in the water about 4 months out of the year. These are boats that I am looking at buying.

 

[widowmaker]

I'm not sure what size your looking at but I think there are "limber holes" drilled through the stringers along the the keel which allow the water to pass through to the rear bilge and drain. I've heard different stories about whether or not they are fiberglass coated, but if not fiberglassed that is usually where it starts. Other problems are boats with wooden floors instead of the newer fiberglass self draining ones. If the cockpit gets wet the carpet and wood floor and possibly the stringers can rot. Walk around the boat and step hard especially around the rear to feel for soft, mushy, warped or discolored spots and moldy smells. Thats a pretty sure sign to move on.

 

[shilo]

I'm looking at 220 and 230 cuddys.

 

[alinmaui]

If the price is right buy it and consider it a project boat

I live in the Hawaiian Islands, dry rot is common in most boats that the water can get into the wood. Over a period of time the wood will either get water logged or dry rot. Even if the manufacturer does an excellent jod sealing off all the wood you do not know what the owners did before you dit to the boat and what they covered it up with.

I have a 1988 21' Sea Ray that have dry rot in the floor that has been replaced once already and when whoever replaced it they did not do a very good job because it needs to be replaced again. There are signs of dry rot in the rear jump seats, where you can scrap out all the rotted plywood and only have the fiberglass skin left on either side. The motor mounts have cracks in the fiberglass skin and I know that it is dry rotted to some extent, but strong enough to keep going till I sell it or fix it.

Everywhere there is wood on a boat inspect it to see if it has no sign of rot. A good test is to tap or push on all the surfaces that you suspect. Even take a small hammer to tap on these surfaces. If the taps sound hollow or the surface moves that may indicate you have some problem. If you find signs of dry rot your seller already knows there dry rot problems. The price should go down to nothing if you know there is dry rot. It does not matter how pretty the boat is not structuraly sound. If you have the time and skill then you can get a project boat for cheap. Just because the boat is dry stored for eight months out of the year does not mean there is no dry rot. Once dry rot starts it will spread to everywhere that piece of wood is connected to. Look up in the internet and study dry rot.

Rember if its old it may have dry rot. Chanches are the seller knows it so he wants to dump the boat so he can buy a new trouble free boat.

Project boats are good, some people do not have to be on the water to enjoy boating. :smt001