5200 lol

Aren't some bulkheads deliberately left clear to prevent stress points?

Didn't even think about snapping a pic when I was working on it. If I ever have to take it down again to re-glue the vinyl back into place I'll make sure I get a pic and post it. Seems to work pretty good though, nice and flexible to follow the curvature of the deck. I was just surprised to see it in a boat.

i think apaches are bonded... with kryptonite multi weave cloth, and titanium resin. lol

Is that why I see mid 80's Apaches listed for $150,000?

Most boats are screwed together. Formula and Baja outlaws are plexus bonded then screwed. You can't separate the hull and deck once it's bonded. Cigarette, apache and other big name boats fiberglass them together.
All older boats will eventually have some rot, there are no exceptions to this.
Not everyone can afford the big name boats but do your research.
I took my 36 outlaw apart last year and had no rot in the stringers, the transom was solid as a rock, and no balsa core rot. I can say I was surprised not to find any but If you hire someone to work on your boat and a screw comes out from below the water line and they don't seal it correctly on reinstallation you will eventually get rot. Poor sealing of screws and bolts will cost you thousands.

I have worked on Formula boats mainly 27 ft and down that had the shoebox lose its seal from Plexus debonding causing big water leaks underneath the rubrails. Some were in small spots making it very hard to catch where in the hell the water leak was coming from. Year models were mostly from 2004 or 2005 to 2007 or 2008 if I remember correctly.

Baja runabouts in the 90's & early 2000's were just very average on the construction and quality side.

The 2007 Baja models, the few that were out especially the rush build jobs to make the winter boatshows had poor fit & finish.

I'm not to sure how the 27' down boats were made as there not really meant for hard offshore use. I do know there was a thread on hear a few months back about a lot of 38 fastechs with there rub rails coming apart, and they weren't that old, but you don't hear to much about the older ones (sometimes It seams like new technology to lighten boats has sacrificed build quality and causes to much flex)) but i'm no pro.
I can say after looking my boat over while apart I was very happy with the construction. all the bonding was secure, the rub rail screws are all tight, and no transom rot. I was also impressed at how big the two main stringers are the run the length of the boat (There like 1 3/4 thick x 18" tall.)And everything was covered in resin.
I've read that the 36 outlaws are also glassed over but didn't verify that, If anyone can that would be helpful.

I've actually been impressed at how well our 2001 252 has been put together. I did have some bad coring in the center section of the floor (unsealed screws from the rear bench seat) but since that seat has to come out for any significant engine maintenance then it is hard to blame the manufacturers construction. Those screws had probably been in and our several times after the initial build and I doubt any sealant was used any of those times.

The long screws that you are holding in your hand I've only seen on access panels or trim pieces, not on structural components.

Yes the wiring is a rat's nest and could have been done better and I'm cleaning that up as I go but nothing ever failed to function on our boat because of the messy wiring. These are (were) production boats built on a schedule and with techniques that lowered the cost to the point that I could afford one. They are not and never claimed to be one off hand assembled boats, but neither did they cost multiple six figures.

I guess I'm saying that I really like our boat and it has provided hundreds of hours of fun with no problems whatsoever. And if it were perfect, then what would I do in the winter?

Dan

deleted - wrong thread.