You were right to pass on the soft spots. It's usually worse than it seems.
Once rot has started, it is very hard to contain when you try to fix it.

For some reason I'm thinking you're up on the great lakes? If so I do not
think I'd recomend the stingrays to you. They are light and fast but ride
hard and do not handle chop well. It has not been a problem for us because
we're into water sports on these smaller man made south east lakes. If the
water is not fairly smooth it's not any good for wakeboard/ski/tubes etc
anyway. So we move to another cove or section of the lake.

If you're on bigger water and after the cruising/camp out activities then
the ride quality in less than pefect water would be a big deal for me. And
I'd take a group with me on sea trials. On smaller boats the number of
people can have a big effect on the ride. One that rides great with just
you and the owner maybe completely different with 6 or 7 people on it.

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...
The other boat had serious structural problems with soft spots on the
transom, hull and deck. There were also some maintenance issues that I
was not initially aware of as well as being lied to on the canvas being
provided with the boat....nothing more than an old canvas sheet tied to
the trailer with bungee cords. I was told initially that it came with a
fitted cockpit cover.

So were are on a new search.

How do you like your Stingray?


"JamesgangNC" wrote in message
nk.net...
Funny how things turn out. I have a 19 1/2 foot stingray. Open bow
though. What happened to your other prospective boat?

Balsa and foam coring was/is used below the water line on larger
fiberglass boats but it is very unusual to find it on smaller boats.
You're not likely to run into it in anything under 25 ft.

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...
We are looking to purchase a used 20 foot cuddy cabin for running around
on the Lake. I ran across a 1995 Stingray boat that may be a
possibility. Does anyone have any experience with this boat company?
Based on information offered at their website
http://www.stingrayboats.com/technol...stinction.html it looks like
a pretty well constructed boat.

Thanks in advance for your response.

BTW: We are also looking at used Wellcraft, Thompson (Carerra), Four
Winns (Sundowner) and Regal 20 footers. What worries me is the
possibility of balsa or foam coring in the hull under the water line.
According to Four Winns, their 1994+ 20 footers were solid glass under
the water line. Any other information on these 20 footers would also be
appreciated.