Trying to figure out why you reposted this?


UD

After I read your reply I checked out the Saber Boat site. The 24
is built with wood and I will never own another boat that has
structural wood. I started two threads about the search for my
next boat but things deteriorated into some people telling me what I
want and not answering my questions. I then deleted the threads.

24 Banana Boat .......:evilb:

Do you discern between structural wood (stringers) and balsa coring? OR is all "wood" bad in your opinion?

Balsa as a core material is markedly stronger across the measurable indexes than the man made core materials (foams) but becoming more widely used.


UD

Even though my boat is wood-free... I have done lots of research on this topic, and I agree with UD. I think that synthetic stringers ares the way to go, but vacume bagged balsa coring is much stronger and better than any of the synthetic coring materials being used to date...that I know off.

Chris

UD - I don't know yet. I want to say no wood at all, but I understand
the realities of absolutes. However some things are just very hard to
shake. I saved my a$$ off for my first boat and when I got out of
school I bought it. But the third Summer I noticed the soft floor. I had
to make repairs then and every Spring after that. It was a horrible
experience. This is why I bought a Cobalt. When you gave me some
pointers and items to research, in my now deleted threads, I did
learn a few things. But I am a bit old fashioned in that I need to sit
in a boat, climb around it, etc. before I order one. I have never seen
a Laveycraft, Velocity, or Sutphen. Most of the manufacturers of
offshore style boats don't come to the Milwaukee or Chicago boat
shows. I thinks thats nuts. I made another tweak to the Cobalt in
October. I am now running over 72 MPH so until I find something
much better I will keep the Cobalt and make upgrades. I will
continue to do research and keep an eye open for my next boat.

How about a Magnum Express 24 .........

Or a Cigarette 21 ...............

Or a California Cool 23 Long Deck ................

I get it- once bitten.

Not sure who all the completely woodless guys are other than Nordic Im sure there are more.

I wouldn't buy anything I couldn't sit in either. A significant portion of my vendor & design preferences have been formed by seat time in a lot of different boats over a lot of years.


I hear you on boatshow exposure,to some other brands. Its REALLY expensive to exhibit a long way from your industrial and main client base- therefore its risky. Between booth & boat transport costs floor fees dreyage, insurance, payoffs, hotels , food etc.

Too bad because there is a lot of cool stuff out there that needs exposure.

Sounds like you are getting some good fun out of your Cobalt- Enjoy and keep us up to date on whatever you decide.


Uncle Dave

look at 24 banana boat it is 8 foot wide as opposed to a super boat pantera etc the banana if rigged right will compete with these boats in calm water but out run them inrough water if you want to go to a 26 foot boat the best you can get is a 26 sutphen rum runner you can not break a sutphen i have a 20 foot sutphen made in 1979 #5 outboard it is still structurally strong surveyed in 2006