Is there a better entry-level deal than the Tracker?

[airshot]

17 hours ago, gimruis said:

You can’t be serious with this. I thought wood was a thing of the past with modern boats. There is no reason to use an inferior material that rots anymore.

Wood will kadt a lifetime if taken care of, easier to work with and less expensive when looking to save money.  My wood decks look like new with the exception of some worm carpet.  No rot of any kind or any soft spots on the floor. Boat is a 1992, only had one boat with aluminum decks, hot, and harder to modify..  To each his own, but if cared for properly, wood should not be an issue. 

[flatcreek]

The marine plywood decks on my boat are 21 years old and in excellent shape. I removed and replaced the carpet(20oz.) and no problems whatsoever.i like the feel of wood under my old carpenter bones.

[MN Fisher]

Properly treated wood will last a very long time. Doesn't even need to be marine grade. Standard BCX plywood treated with a penetrating sealant will work very well. That's why the deck on Bass Trek is 1/2" BCX plywood with 2 coats of oil-based Spar Urethane before carpet was glued (not nailed) down. I expect it to last longer than my remaining fishing years.

[gim]

Alright, you've convinced that wood, properly taken care of, will last a while.

 

What you won't convince me of is that its a more superior component than something like aluminum though in terms of longevity and durability.  Given a choice, I'm taking aluminum components every time.

[flatcreek]

All my hatches are aluminum. I just feel safer especially with a fused spine walking on  good plywood than synthetic composite material that doesn’t last forever either. To each his own.

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

What you won't convince me of is that its a more superior component than something like aluminum though in terms of longevity and durability.

Oh I agree 100% - but going with an aluminum deck on Bass Trek would have tripled (at least) my cost...no way I could have afforded it.

[airshot]

5 hours ago, gimruis said:

Alright, you've convinced that wood, properly taken care of, will last a while.

 

What you won't convince me of is that its a more superior component than something like aluminum though in terms of longevity and durability.  Given a choice, I'm taking aluminum components every time.

Yes, aluminum is a superior product for longevity, doesn't mean it is better !!  Better is how it is used..Aluminum is hot in the sun, harder for non skilled persons to work/ modify the material.  Also more expensive to produce.  Doesn't mean its bad just a different material choice.  

[Dogface]

2 hours ago, airshot said:

..Aluminum is hot in the sun, harder for non skilled persons to work/ modify the material.  

 

I installed a 1/4" aluminum diamond plate deck in my boat. It was not any harder to cut and work with than wood. A saber saw and metal cutting blade worked great. 

 

I covered it with an EVA foam material. I forget the brand name. It does not get hot and it has lasted years. 

 

If I had to do it again I would use aluminum again.  

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, Dogface said:

A saber saw and metal cutting blade worked great. 

Ya - I've got non-ferrous metal-cutting blades for both the table saw and miter-saw, cutting discs for the 7-1/4 circular, 5-1/2" blade for the Ryobi 18v, blades for the saber saw and cutting discs for the angle grinder...I think I could handle just about any aluminum cutting needed - just the expense of aluminum sheet is holding me back.

[Susky River Rat]

On the aluminum deck talk. I would think a welded in aluminum deck would make the boat flex less than a wood deck.  This would make the boat feel stiffer. 

[Woody B]

The rear deck on Trackers is aluminum.   The front deck is plywood.  

 

What manufacturers still use plywood?   My Son in Laws Crestliner had a BUNCH of plywood in it.  (20+ years old, I don't know how much they have now)   

 

I don't see plywood as a big deal.  There's a BUNCH of plywood in my house, and I don't even cover it up or keep it in a garage.  

[TnRiver46]

18 hours ago, flatcreek said:

The marine plywood decks on my boat are 21 years old and in excellent shape. I removed and replaced the carpet(20oz.) and no problems whatsoever.i like the feel of wood under my old carpenter bones.

My house is wooden, built in 1963 😂 

 

I can drive to the mountains and see several log homes from 1800s 

[flatcreek]

23 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

My house is wooden, built in 1963 😂 

 

I can drive to the mountains and see several log homes from 1800s 

And Columbus sailed the ocean blue..

[DaubsNU1]

29 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

My house is wooden, built in 1963 😂 

 

I can drive to the mountains and see several log homes from 1800s 

 

My 81 year old carpenter Dad agrees with you.

 

Back in the day, companies used some nasty chemicals to treat wood. The Pella windows in his house (built in 1970) are rock solid, showing no wear at all. 

 

On the other hand, the Pella windows in my 2005 house rotted and were replaced. 

 

The transom on my 1960 Rich Line was replaced a few years back...held up well for 60+ years!

 

[airshot]

Look at all the transom repairs on old aluminum boats, once the aluminum gets corroded it becomes a major pain for the average handyman, but plywood is so easy to replace...

[MN Fisher]

14 minutes ago, airshot said:

but plywood is so easy to replace...

What plywood? My transom is a solid piece of white oak - Spar Urethane sealed.

[Dogface]

14 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

- just the expense of aluminum sheet is holding me back.

 

I have a Jon boat up the mountains. About 2 years ago I decided to put a floor in it to cover the ribs. I priced 1/4" diamond plate and it was way more expensive than I had paid for the aluminum to do my War Eagle. 

 

I'm still tripping over ribs in the Jon but I may do it this year.  

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, Dogface said:

I priced 1/4" diamond plate and it was way more expensive than I had paid for the aluminum to do my War Eagle. 

I said 3x the cost earlier....double that.

Took me 3 sheets of 1/2" 4x8 plywood to deck Bass Trek - current price at Menards - $109.95 call it $250 even with sealant, carpet and glue.

At my local metal shop - whose prices are cheaper than even Menards - 2 sheets of 3/16" 4x10 Diamond Tread plate in 3003 aluminum would be $1322

[Dogface]

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I said 3x the cost earlier....double that.

Took me 3 sheets of 1/2" 4x8 plywood to deck Bass Trek - current price at Menards - $109.95 call it $250 even with sealant, carpet and glue.

At my local metal shop - whose prices are cheaper than even Menards - 2 sheets of 3/16" 4x10 Diamond Tread plate in 3003 aluminum would be $1322

WOW!!!

[gim]

9 hours ago, Woody B said:

There's a BUNCH of plywood in my house, and I don't even cover it up or keep it in a garage.  

That doesn't make any sense.  If it's in your house, it's under a roof.  Not like it's exposed to any elements sitting inside your house.

 

 

[airshot]

7 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

What plywood? My transom is a solid piece of white oak - Spar Urethane sealed.

Even better...still easier than aluminum for the avg craftsman to work on.  I am a retired toolmaker with over 50 yrs experience and have acess to a complete metalworking shop, I can make most anything...but I would still replace my decks and floor with plywood !

[Born 2 fish]

I wouldn’t use wood or aluminum I would use a composit material.