View Full Version : Old Skeeter info.needed
My son is looking at a '90 Skeeter s-135.I saw it once and thought it was in good shape.I thought the floor and transom were solid and found no stress or spider cracks.He looked at it said said there was a soft spot in the floor under the console.It's 3 hours from home so I can't just drop everything to take a look.Did Skeeter use wood in the floor at that time and,if so,can the floor be easily removed and replace like in aluminium boats I've owned.I believe Skeeter changed hands a few times in the past,therefore, I wonder if there are certain years to stay away from.Any info. would be greatly appreciated and helpful with his decision to take the leap or run away from it.
Dodge1
06-01-2004, 04:00 PM
I had a 1989 Skeeter S-135 for 13 years and it was a great rig. However, from day one I had what felt like sort of like a soft spot, right in the area where the main floor meets the front elevated floor. I took it to the dealer about a month after purchasing it and he removed the carpet from that area but didn’t find any dry rot etc. Our guess was it was that it might have been a small design defect but in my 13 years of ownership it never did give me any problems.
Skeeter did use wood in the floor and to the best of my knowledge the floor can be removed; don’t know about the easy part though. From what I’ve read and experienced first hand, the S-135 didn’t have any “bad years”.
Dodge1,thanks for the info.My son said the soft spot was right where the lower and upper decks meet the outside of the console.Seems like the problem you describe.However,this boat has been sitting outside,uncovered for a year.That concerns we a bit.
Dodge1
06-02-2004, 12:41 PM
That’s "exactly" the same place that felt soft on mine. All I can tell you is that it felt that way from day one but it never got any worse. BTW, is this boat located in Minnesota and if so; does it have black sides (with a white cap and bottom) and red carpet?
No,it's two-tone blue sitting on the ugliest blue trailer I've every seen.It's also in Wisc.There's no outboard on it and I think he can build a pretty nice little versatle boat for not too much money.But,if he expects to park it in my driveway,he has to paint the trailer!Thanks again for your help.
Dodge1
06-02-2004, 02:21 PM
No problem and btw, the first motor I had on my S-135 was a Merc 100 and on a good day it would just touch 39mph.
s-135 were known for the floor roting out. I had to replace one and seen others. The foam used absobed water (open cell). Usualy the rotting starts in the back corner behind the counsel. When fixing run a tube from the pedestal to the bildge. Before the water would drain into the foam.
Thanks mg!We'll recheck the floor as you suggested. He's still contemplating the purchased.He can't decide where to set up a glass/console boat or a tin/tiller.He's looking for a glass/tiller,also,but they're a bit less abundant.