1997 Osprey Wood Content

[Bergertime]

Hello All,

I am considering purchasing a 97 Osprey.  From my understanding and what I have been told the 97 Osprey does not have wood stringers.  Would the same be true for the transom from a wood content perspective as I have read conflicting opinions on this matter?  Hoping I can get some clarification on what I should be concerned with related to the risk of wood rot and wood content on this year and make of vessel.  Hoping for some help.  Thanks in advance.

B

[wingtime]

ALL Aquasports have wood free fiberglass stringers filled with foam.  The transom in a 97 model is a poured composite so no wood  there.  I believe the deck is cored with balsa.  A 97 is relatively new boat so deck rot should not be a problem unless someone drilled holes in the deck and did not seal them properly allowing water intrusion.  The same goes for factory screws that have worked loose and have not been properly rebedded.

[Bergertime]

Thanks Wingtime for the info!  I sent you a follow-up question via PM.  Hope you can provide your thoughts.  Much appreciated.

[louiefl]

I installed a Humminbird fishfinder and when I drilled two holes for the mount, the drill shavings looked a whole lot like wood to me. Original transom and gel coat, no paint. The console is also has thickened mounting points using plywood. The sole also appears to be resin coated something not sure if it is wood. Oddly, there are a couple pieces of pressure treated lumber above the gas tank. Looks like a 2x4 running across and a 1x2 fore / aft monted to the foam. Have not seen stringers, so no idea about them.

[wingtime]

If you look on Aaron's rebuiod you will see the 2x4s hold the fuel tank in place.

[seabob4]

In regards to wood used in the mid to late 90s models.  The stringers were foam filled, as they always have been, the transom was a 2-part isocyanate "pour foam", which basically hardened to what we used to call the consistency of concrete.  Tough as all get out, never rot or degrade...

That being said, there was actually quite a bit of wood used in Aquasport construction in that time frame.  Cockpit soles, gunwales, console coring, all was endgrain balsa, and, when the time was when Genmar didn't pay the bills, marine ply (MUCH heavier boats!!).  Hullside stiffeners as well.  So don't think that you have a wood-free boat based on any ads or what you may have been told or heard.

The biggest problem I see is with cockpit soles, and lack of sealing when stuff like leaning posts, consoles, T-Tops, the like were installed.  It's all wood in there, be it a 200 Osprey or a 250 Explorer.  If the mounting holes weren't properly sealed at the factory (1651 Whitfield Ave., Bradenton , NOT SARASOTA), then you have rot, and how far that rot has extended away from the root cause...

Just my 2 pennies, from someone who was there...

[Bergertime]

Thanks again for the info! I will be able to use this during my final inspection of the boat this weekend. If all goes well I might be the next newest Aquasport owner on this board. Much appreciated!
-B

[Keith Knecht]

SeaBob, you would know for sure but I called Genmar once and talked to CS and they told me that they didn't start pouring transoms until 99.  Is that right or was the person in CS wrong.  Wouldn't be the first time customer service didn't know if they were a foot or on horse back.

[seabob4]

SeaBob, you would know for sure but I called Genmar once and talked to CS and they told me that they didn't start pouring transoms until 99.  Is that right or was the person in CS wrong.  Wouldn't be the first time customer service didn't know if they were a foot or on horse back.

Kieth, in this case, CS (4 Winns) is wrong.  Poured transoms were there when I got there in '94.  Unfortunately, most of anything having to do with Aquasport never made it up to Cadillac.  I've had many chat's with them, one guy in particular (can't remember his name), most of the AS stuff was left behind in Bradenton, probably in the Manatee county landfill by now...

[Keith Knecht]

Thanks Bob for the definitive answer.  Good to know!