Wood construction?

[zz28zz]

Do the later model Sundancers use wood for transom and stringers? Was there a cut-off year for wood construction? I'm looking at Sundancers from abt 1990 to 2004. Thx!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Do the later model Sundancers use wood for transom and stringers? Was there a cut-off year for wood construction? I'm looking at Sundancers from abt 1990 to 2004. Thx!

"Later" models? 2004 is still almost 2 decades old. 1990 to 2004 is a wide range, but generally, yes. Some of the smaller ones started to use composite floor system, though.

However, unless there's signs of damage or poor "modification", wood rot is extremely rare.

 

[zz28zz]

Hehe, should probably say "later models in my price range". I've done floor, stringer and transom repair, don't want to ever do that again. Wanting to know how much wood is in the Sundancers from abt 1990 to 2004. Transom/stringers/floor, etc.

 

[zool]

Hehe, should probably say "later models in my price range". I've done floor, stringer and transom repair, don't want to ever do that again. Wanting to know how much wood is in the Sundancers from abt 1990 to 2004. Transom/stringers/floor, etc.

My 92 330 has wood cored transom, stringers, bulkheads, cabin sole, cockpit deck. The upper structure is balsa cored down to the waterline.

Ive been thru all of mine, no rot except by the water hose bib in the cockpit, which is a vinyl covered panel. and little delamination. Some moisture on the meter on the transom near the drain.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Hehe, should probably say "later models in my price range". I've done floor, stringer and transom repair, don't want to ever do that again. Wanting to know how much wood is in the Sundancers from abt 1990 to 2004. Transom/stringers/floor, etc.

Sure, understood.

Let's narrow it down some - what size are you talking about?

But again, just having wood is not a death sentence. It's how it was originally built and cared for that makes all the difference.

 

[zz28zz]

My original plan to find a cruiser that would fit thru my 12' X 12' shop door seems to be vaporizing, so now I thinking abt something in the 30' to 38' range that will be living at the marina full time (on a lift hopefully).

My first 2 boats (Glastron and a Chaparral) were both good boats, both unmodified. Glastron had stringer rot and the Chaparral had transom rot. Current boat (Fountain) is a 1990 and no rot but it had an exceptionally nice life being stored indoors since day 1 till the present.

Cruisers tend to be in the water most of their lives. This concerns me if there's wood involved in the construction.

 

[Juliery]

There is so much misinformation around wood and rot. Wood does not rot in salt water. It's pickled. Rot is the result of bacteria and fungus growth that depends on fresh water, warmth and oxygen, like any plant. The spores are everywhere. Wood is fungus food in that environment and it biodegrades. Fully encapsulated wood cannot rot until you drill or cut into it and then fail to seal that intrusion properly, allowing bilge water or rain water and oxygen in. Now the fungus has a 24/7 opportunity to grow. Check and maintain all screws, bolts, hatches, limber holes and other penetrations to ensure the seal is complete and intact. Rebedding a hatch or stanchion is easy when compared to fixing a rotten core. Boat problems of every sort often stem from poor or no maintenance.

 

[zz28zz]

I agree with everything you said and if I was buying new, I wouldn't worry abt it. However I'm looking at 15 to 30 year old boats. If I could find a single owner boat that was loved and well cared for, that's one thing, but those are hard to find with 15+ year old boats. No wood would be one less thing to worry about.

 

[Juliery]

I agree with everything you said and if I was buying new, I wouldn't worry abt it. However I'm looking at 15 to 30 year old boats. If I could find a single owner boat that was loved and well cared for, that's one thing, but those are hard to find with 15+ year old boats. No wood would be one less thing to worry about.

You can do what I did before buying my 290 DA built in 1993: Take a 3/16" drill and sample the core of the transom and stringers at suspect spots (penetrations ). Seal the holes afterward with 5200. The wood should be bright, dry and smell sweet not black, wet and stinky. Wooden ships sailed the oceans for thousands of years.

 

[blaster]

Those casual dates will give you wood rot.

 

[Flyer5]

How hard is it to keep bots from creating an account here? Sponsorship will improve when it stops.

 

[Skybolt]

How hard is it to keep bots from creating an account here? Sponsorship will improve when it stops.

I don't think Jim wants to limit the sites access at all. He must be making a lot on proceeds from advertising and the amount of "people" on the site daily.

I won't sponsor again until this stops, so I guess I should just say I won't sponsor again ...

 

[blaster]

The bots post was deleted so that’s progress.