28 Skater questions

[Brad Zastrow]

Transoms can go bad on any boat. Skater is not more susceptible than any other boat. Get a moisture meter or have a survey done. Moisture is what kills the transom. It is common on many older performance boats to need a transom. Yes, it is the ethanol gas that causes tank problems. I would assume any Skater or Motion cat need the tanks replaced or repaired no matter what you are told that it never had ethanol gas in the tanks. Here in the Midwest that is all the gas stations sell. My friends and I have installed aluminum tanks in Skaters and called it a day.

[Chaz]

I would assume any Skater or Motion​ cat need the tanks replaced or repaired no matter what you are told that it never had ethanol gas in the tanks. Here in the Midwest that is all the gas stations sell. My friends and I have installed aluminum tanks in Skaters and called it a day.

Well Commadore, you know what happens when ya AZZume .. yea, ya mention a boat that comes with aluminum tanks from the factory ...

[JPEROG]

You will generally see waves in the sides of a boat with bad tanks that are in the late stage. I have owned two of them (still have one) out of the 9 skaters owned over the years. The core gets saturated with fuel causing delamination, the outer skin flexes only so many times before it will let go and rip the running surface off. This is fact and many have seen it take place. I love and respect Pete, his personal abilities, his build quality, and numerous other traits. But if and when l get a new Skater it will not have balsa for coring. Balsa is great for resin absorption, cost, availability, but it goes to hell in a handbasket as soon as it's exposed to water, fuel, or any liquid.

Joe

[Brad Zastrow]

Well Commadore, you know what happens when ya AZZume .. yea, ya mention a boat that comes with aluminum tanks from the factory ...

It must be difficult for you to have so much knowledge. I hate to break your bubble of self-importance but for a fact Motion cats came with fiberglass tanks same as the Skater. I have owned two 30 Motions cats and two 35 Motion cats. Three of the Motions had tank issues exactly like Skaters.

[noli]

You will generally see waves in the sides of a boat with bad tanks that are in the late stage. I have owned two of them (still have one) out of the 9 skaters owned over the years. The core gets saturated with fuel causing delamination, the outer skin flexes only so many times before it will let go and rip the running surface off. This is fact and many have seen it take place. I love and respect Pete, his personal abilities, his build quality, and numerous other traits. But if and when l get a new Skater it will not have balsa for coring. Balsa is great for resin absorption, cost, availability, but it goes to hell in a handbasket as soon as it's exposed to water, fuel, or any liquid.

Joe

Curious which composite core would you opt for?






.

[PanRonnie]

Curious which composite core would you opt for?






.

Klegecell should be a good subsitute
https://www.boatdesign.net/articles/...ties/index.htm
Spherecore is also a nice material

[capteliminator]

Aluminum tanks go bad too. Welds crack, they corrode etc. If the Skater is an epoxy boat, chances are tanks can still go bad even with non ethanol fuel. The early vinylester boats seemed to be less prone to ethanol breaking down the resins used on the boat. Even after tank repair they can go bad again. Just check it out real good or have someone who knows the boats do it for you. I have owned 3, they really are very well built boats and will go through some serious slop. Also hold there value well compared to Motion, Extreme and other copies.

[Jim Speros]

Each core has its pros and cons. Balsa is resilient and withstands impacts very well. Yes, aluminum tanks have their issues too. Its like anything else you pay attention. Inspect annually.

I have seen many boat companies come and go while Skater remains at the top of the field. I am a proud new owner of a used 28 and did not even consider an other brand boat.

Good luck on your search.

[mikesufka]

As for fit and finish on Skaters I think that is real weak spot compared to other boats in that price category.

Brad -

What else are you comparing them to besides MTI ? I've never seen a DW. DCB is a different animal although I haven't seen the new 37's yet ( a buddy just bought the all red one with 450's ).

MDS

[Chaz]

It must be difficult for you to have so much knowledge. I hate to break your bubble of self-importance but for a fact Motion cats came with fiberglass tanks same as the Skater. I have owned two 30 Motions cats and two 35 Motion cats. Three of the Motions had tank issues exactly like Skaters.

Well Bradley, I rekkon I'll take a picture .. just for you today ..

Ya might-a been better off to say : Race boats with no inner liner usually came with Jello~tanks, while the consumer boats came with aluminum tanks.

I did like your statement about putting aluminum tanks in .. and being done with it. Usually makes the groupies throw up in their mouth's a little ..

But then ya ruined it ... self importance.

While I have an opinion that you might not like, or the fact that I have been the one to show you time and again .. where your info is wrong. Neither of those things lend themselves to me thinking that I'm egotistical enough to consider calling myself a .. Commadore.
Nor would I buy a 10'3" wide boat without putting it on a cantilevered trailer. The standard trailer (including cargo) width is 8.5' But that doesn't apply or matter to you. Well maybe it does, no crossing into Florida .. the DOT officers at the Agriculture inspection station / weigh station will put you in secondary inspection .. until you comply with the law ... maybe that's why you only run in a little pond by your crib.

[Brad Zastrow]

I have never seen a Motion with an aluminum tank or bladder tank, including race boats. I have owned a 35 race and converted it to pleasure. Count yourself lucky to own a Motion 25 with aluminum tanks. Maybe it was converted or special order that way. I was a good customer and close friends with Larry Goldman at Extreme Marine Miami. He was a Motion dealer and we discussed this at length. Yes, I have been to Florida a number of times with large boats. No issues. When you talk about our little pond are you must be referring to Lake Michigan a few miles away.
Fun fact: you are the only person who has called me Commadore. I was elected to run a very large boat club (NIOC) that had 250 members about 10 years ago. So maybe that is what you are referring to.

[Brad Zastrow]

Mike Sulfka, MTI, DCB, Doug Wrights, Mystic all have fit and finish that is over the top compared to new Skaters. Performance levels that have surpassed Skater boats as well. Perhaps that is because the big money guys are buying those boats and tuning them to run hard. Come to the Ozarks Shootout weekend and go see Supercat fest at the Horny Toad. All the new CC and cat boats are lined up for inspection.

[Speed Jr.]

... maybe that's why you only run in a little pond by your crib.

Well Chazbeen, at least he runs.....a lot. Lol.

Being lucky enough to have friends locally with lots of experience with Skaters, it was easy to identify the tanks were bad in my 28, which I figured at purchase. With the inspection covers off, I found loose liner in the bottom. After replacing some saturated balsa core and sealing it all, Kirk and I both had tanks made from a guy in Lake Havasu who had the dimensions. With Zastrows help, we essentially built a rigid foam bed for them to sit in. Proper support is the key to not having them split down the road....or river in this case. It wasn't a fun process but that boat is still running hard today. Mine just popped up for sale actually. Kirks with the same tanks I think Joe P has or had, can't keep track. Lol. Whatever it takes, the 28 was and still is a great hull. Worth fixing if it needs it.

The good old days.....Should have kept it like all the others...

Jr.

[Chaz]

I have never seen a Motion with an aluminum tank or bladder tank, including race boats. I have owned a 35 race and converted it to pleasure. Count yourself lucky to own a Motion 25 with aluminum tanks. Maybe it was converted or special order that way. I was a good customer and close friends with Larry Goldman at Extreme Marine Miami. He was a Motion dealer and we discussed this at length. Yes, I have been to Florida a number of times with large boats. No issues. When you talk about our little pond are you must be referring to Lake Michigan a few miles away.
Fun fact: you are the only person who has called me Commadore. I was elected to run a very large boat club (NIOC) that had 250 members about 10 years ago. So maybe that is what you are referring to.

Like I said .. maybe race boats were Jello-tankers.

I have enough work to do, the last thing I would do is buy a boat that everyone thinks are made out of gold (and Jello) and have to zizzy wheel it apart to stuff tanks under the deck as soon as I got home with it ...

Large boat's are one thing .. oversize is another. According to you and Gempty, you're a habitual law breaker. Even if you only tow a mile from home .. you set a fine example ..

Bradley, You stated that you were the Commodore of the NIOC club. I can come up with a less respectful nickname, if that would make you happy ...

Jr. quips :

Well Chazbeen, at least he breaks the law.....a lot. Lol.

Being lucky enough to have friends locally with lots of experience with Skaters, it was easy to identify the tanks were bad in my 28, which I figured at purchase. With the inspection covers off, I found loose liner in the bottom. After replacing some saturated balsa core and sealing it all, Kirk and I both had tanks made from a guy in Lake Havasu who had the dimensions. With Zastrows help, we essentially built a rigid foam bed for them to sit in. Proper support is the key to not having them split down the road....or river in this case. It wasn't a fun process but that boat is still running hard today. Mine just popped up for sale actually. Kirks with the same tanks I think Joe P has or had, can't keep track. Lol. Whatever it takes, the 28 was and still is a great hull. Worth fixing if it needs it.

Tanks made in Arizona ... ??? What, no one in Chit~cargo knows how to read a tape measure ...

Ohhh thats right .. Lightfoot school system doesn't put much stock in readin, writin an ariff-ma-tic ..

Nice pictures .. BTW, next run of books I'll have them added in ...

[aggiestckl]

I agree on every point Rayzor made about Skaters. I have owned 4 Skaters over the years and the gas tank issue can be a really big problem if it is not fixed before even before even worse problems happen such as destroying the hull bottom. As for fit and finish on Skaters I think that is real weak spot compared to other boats in that price category.

I would agree with this. Having owned a skater, Motion, Doug Wright, and MTI, can say the fit and finish of the skater is comparable more towards to motion than anything else.

If you look at the DW rigged by performance with interior by Ryan at Kutting Edge or any MTI it’s not even close.. the technology and design of the hull is not even close either