How to detect rot

robface · #1 09-12-2002, 12:23 AM

I am looking at a 1974 Seacraft 20'. I want to know the common trouble spots of this boat, and any ways to determine the extent of the damage before I buy. I could maybe go for a new transom, but not floor or stringers. Any enlightenment by the knowledgeable and experienced would be greatly appreciated.

FELLOW-SHIP · #2 09-12-2002, 10:32 AM

HA ROB P
WELCOME ON BOARD. AS TO YOUR QUESTION I THINK JUST BY WALKING ON THE DECK YOU CAN TELL IF IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR NOT. IF IT IS SPONGY, IF YOU SEE CRACKS IN THE GLASS, IF THEIR HOLES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY SHOULD TELL THE STORY ON THE DECK. AS TO THE TRANSOM AND THE STRINGERS WELL THAT IS ANOTHER STORY. THE TRANSOM CAN BE GUESS TA MATED AND THERE ARE MANY POSTS ON THE BOARD ABOUT HOW TO CHECK FOR THAT. JUST GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT TOPICS AND READ ALL ABOUT IT. NOW FOR THE STRINGERS AND I WILL THROUGH IN THE GAS TANK AS WELL. THE TWO SIDE STRINGERS ARE MADE OF GLASS AND ARE FILLED WITH FOAM. USUALLY THEY SHOULD BE OK (IF NO ONE HAS DRILLED A LOT OF HOLES THROUGH THE TOP OF THEM AND HAS ALLOWED A LOT OF SEA WATER TO SOAK THE FOAM OR MAYBE IF THE BOAT HAS SUNK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND HAS LET SEA WATER TO SEEP INTO THE STRINGERS. THERE IS ALSO A WOOD ENCAPSULATED CENTER STRINGER THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN GOOD SHAPE. THE ONLY WAY TO DETERMINE IF THEY ALL ARE IN GOOD SHAPE IS TO REMOVE THE CENTER CONSOL THEN REMOVE THE GAS TANK TO CHECK IT OUT. ON MY BOAT I BOUGHT A TOTAL MESS SO I KNEW THAT EVERYTHING NEEDED TO BE DONE. IN THAT WAY YOU ARE ALWAYS SURE WHAT YOU HAVE UNDER YOU. FOR ME I ON A 1974 BOAT I WOULD NOT THINK THAT THE GAS TANK AND THE TRANSOM WOULD BE WORTH STAKING MY TRUST ON AND WOULD REPLACE THEM. HOPE THAT HELPS.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Trayder · #3 09-12-2002, 11:29 PM

Ron Welcome aboard-

Fellow-Ship gives some great advise. You can also tap the deck in various areas with the handle of a screw driver. If it is rotten you will know sort of a thud instead of a ding. The stringer should be fine if the deck is ok. The stringers are all glass. If the deck is rotten, which you should be able to tell with the tapping test I would be concerned about the stringers but Mr. Potter may disagree with me here because Seacraft re-engineered the stringers in the 20 in 1970 and from then on they were much more beefy than the ones in my 1969 which had issues after the deck rotted away and collapsed on them.

This is also a sure way to tell if there is rot [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] :