New member in St. Louis, MO
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 10:54 pm
Hello AABers. I have lurked on your site for a couple of years now as I have gained knowledge and searched the Internet for a good deal on a metal boat. I have enjoyed reading all of your posts, and I have learned a lot from you.
Well, I finally found my boat--a 2005 20-foot Wooldridge Sport with a walk-through windshield and 115 Merc four stroke on an offshore bracket. I had to travel to Louisiana to get her, but I am thrilled with this boat.
This Wooldridge is my first real boat. My other is a square stern Old Town Sport Boat with a 2.5 h.p. Merc two stroke.
As you already know, Missouri is a long day's drive from any saltwater. We have numerous reservoirs that are popular boating destinations. However, I have always been interested in the big, lonely rivers. I wanted a stout alloy boat to navigate the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, which have their confluence about one-half hour from where I write this. I wanted a northwest-style boat with a full windshield and beefy hull, but was scared away by the prices and the fact that most of them existed about 2000 miles from here. I had pretty much decided on buying a big Oquawka Boats alloy river jon when one became available. Oquawka is known around here to be a super premium custom builder. As such, used Oquawkas don't come up for sale every day. When I found the Wooldridge, I figured it would be perfect for the big rivers and made an offer for it the same day I found it.
I am going to have many questions in the coming months as I customize this boat and make it my own. At this time, I already have the following questions.
1. What aluminum alloy did Wooldridge use in 2005 to make its boats?
2. Is there an easy way to test the bilge pump and its plumbing to make sure that it works?
3. The vinyl graphics on the side of the boat show dock rash here and there. Is there a suitable replacement for the vinyl, such as epoxy or polyurethane paint or Line-X type material?
4. The hull seems to be in beautiful shape. However, there are specs on/in the aluminum that I suspect are corrosion. Should those specs be removed or is it okay to leave them alone? The boat's seller used the boat in salt in both the Pacific Northwest and Louisiana.
5. There are various cleats and such that are affixed to the boat via stainless steel screws. Are such screws safe to use, or will they create a bad reaction with the aluminum?
6. Per the seller, the top speed for the boat with the 2005 115 Merc four stroke is about 30 m.p.h. He took us out in the boat before I bought it, but I don't know how fast we were cruising. Should I expect more than 30 m.p.h. from a 115 four stroke?
7. In Louisiana where I bought the boat, alloy boats are popular and plentiful. Boats expected to last a long time are often referred to as "lifetime" boats. In fact, I believe there is a manufacture in Louisiana that goes by that name. With proper care, are Wooldridge boats "lifetime" boats?
Thank you in advance for your interest.
Well, I finally found my boat--a 2005 20-foot Wooldridge Sport with a walk-through windshield and 115 Merc four stroke on an offshore bracket. I had to travel to Louisiana to get her, but I am thrilled with this boat.
This Wooldridge is my first real boat. My other is a square stern Old Town Sport Boat with a 2.5 h.p. Merc two stroke.
As you already know, Missouri is a long day's drive from any saltwater. We have numerous reservoirs that are popular boating destinations. However, I have always been interested in the big, lonely rivers. I wanted a stout alloy boat to navigate the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, which have their confluence about one-half hour from where I write this. I wanted a northwest-style boat with a full windshield and beefy hull, but was scared away by the prices and the fact that most of them existed about 2000 miles from here. I had pretty much decided on buying a big Oquawka Boats alloy river jon when one became available. Oquawka is known around here to be a super premium custom builder. As such, used Oquawkas don't come up for sale every day. When I found the Wooldridge, I figured it would be perfect for the big rivers and made an offer for it the same day I found it.
I am going to have many questions in the coming months as I customize this boat and make it my own. At this time, I already have the following questions.
1. What aluminum alloy did Wooldridge use in 2005 to make its boats?
2. Is there an easy way to test the bilge pump and its plumbing to make sure that it works?
3. The vinyl graphics on the side of the boat show dock rash here and there. Is there a suitable replacement for the vinyl, such as epoxy or polyurethane paint or Line-X type material?
4. The hull seems to be in beautiful shape. However, there are specs on/in the aluminum that I suspect are corrosion. Should those specs be removed or is it okay to leave them alone? The boat's seller used the boat in salt in both the Pacific Northwest and Louisiana.
5. There are various cleats and such that are affixed to the boat via stainless steel screws. Are such screws safe to use, or will they create a bad reaction with the aluminum?
6. Per the seller, the top speed for the boat with the 2005 115 Merc four stroke is about 30 m.p.h. He took us out in the boat before I bought it, but I don't know how fast we were cruising. Should I expect more than 30 m.p.h. from a 115 four stroke?
7. In Louisiana where I bought the boat, alloy boats are popular and plentiful. Boats expected to last a long time are often referred to as "lifetime" boats. In fact, I believe there is a manufacture in Louisiana that goes by that name. With proper care, are Wooldridge boats "lifetime" boats?
Thank you in advance for your interest.