Cruiser Inc 202 Restoration

[LancerBoy]

99% of all my boating has been on wooden boats. So I cannot comment on the differences between the wooden and aluminum or fiberglass boat ride.

There certainly are differences on various wooden hull shapes. The Chris-Craft Ski Boat of 1966 I have been in is a rough ride in any type of waves. I thought I'd have to see the chiropracter after a ride in a Century Ski Dart a few years ago. Boy oh boy did it slap.

V-hull boats are better riding than flat bottoms.

Andreas

[Michael J. Seiber]

John, I own several different boats. My fishing boat is a sixteen foot aluminum boat and I can tell you that it's ride alot harder than my 202. As for a fiberglass boat I haven't owned one for a while but I know they don't ride as rough as an aluminum boat. I would think that the extra peices that I added to the structure would make it ride rougher than normal but it is still better than my aluminum boat and after all the wave pounding and floater hitting it still does not leak.

[HalcyonDays]

My thought is weight, wood is heavier than either aluminum or fiberglass. The other is the shape of the hull wooden boat often have a sharper "V" near the bow. But you have to love the feel and smell of a wooden boat.

[John Hart]

Thanks fellas... I appreciate the comments. I had added several 11-12' pieces of QS white oak when I redid the boat, which are VERY strong... sort of like adding 2" square steel channel. I did this to strengthen all along the keel... and I also added an additional stringer in between the keel and the original other stringer on each side. I felt that, given all the old wood, these new pieces would provide a fair amount of stability and protection given all the 45 year old original wood in the structure.

I am pleased with the safety and security, but was afraid that I lessened the wooden boat 'feel' a little. However, I didn't think that adding linear strength to the bottom would be detrimental. If the boat is supposed to flex, it isn't supposed to flex front to back. I am interested to pay better attention this year, when I can get out on calm to rolling surfaces.

Thanks again for your comments.

[John Hart]

Oh.. I forgot another thing... you are right.... I love it every time I slide the cover off, and get a big waft of varnish smell..... especially when I have someone with me who hasn't seen an old boat up close....