What yr did they stop wooden stringers?

Funny this comes up. I skied last Friday with some friends, 2 I have never skied with.
We were in my 95 running about a mile at 36 MPH going to our ski place.
I heard them talking to each other quietly.   When I asked what is up they said they noticed my Glass Strigers vibrate more than their boat does and they had heard in the past this was true.
I laughed and told them the boat was smooth as glass and vibration free before I slightly dinged the prop. Which is true. The vibration is almost undetectable but I know it is there and have not purchased a new prop yet. The guy that brought this up owns a early 80's Mastercraft.
He drove while I skied, his other comments also made me smile.
"Nautique uses Power Steering on these?"   I laughed, no they have good engineering.
"Man this sure cuts the wakes better than my Mastercraft"
"It sure turns better than my boat"
Man I like your wake, it is so much softer than mine.
All this made me happy. Good to know one ride plants the seeds for a new convert.
One of those skiing with us was 71 and a half.   he cut it up really well and told me to give it all I have pulling him up because he likes to pop out fast.
I was positive I would jerk his arms out but he popped up instantly and was out there laying it over like a 40 year old. He is my new hero.

Look at the words in the brochure for 1993 - "Since the company's inception in 1925, the Meloon family has been installing wooden stringer systems in every Correct Craft built. Needless to say, the 1993 introduction of a fiberglass stringer system is a monumental step. Still, the founding family was hesitant to employ synthetic stringers until the met the quality achieved by the wooden system. The new Integrated Composite Stringer System (ICS)TM does just that. And this is why it is better than any other synthetic system available in the industry." There are a lot of words about noise, vibration and smooth ride. Go for a ride or drive in a "stars and stripes" MC and then take a ride in a 2001 model Nautique. You'll notice the difference right away.

I think Sanger still uses wood stringers

I don’t know if they went as far as having ads but wouldn’t doubt it, – There was an active argument for wood for a while. . I know at least as late as 2000 Tige was still talking about their pressure treated wooden stringers as being a selling point. The would have cross sections at the boat shows and in the brochures, they were giving lifetime warranties on the stringers and the argument was their stringers had the same build up as the competitors but the competitors were built over low grade foam while they were using the best treated wood on the market to make the boat more solid and quiet on the water.

Still good info; forgot that I had already posted.

I have lived here on the Fox River in Northern Illinois almost all my life. In the '70s my Parents bought a lot and built a house in Key Largo. You leave their canal on the gulf side,right by "the cut" and as you guys know, you can almost go to any point on the compass in beautiful water. Since then I feel that I live on a drainage ditch up here, but at least it's impossible to get lost!

I hear ya it sure can get cold up there.

I've been to worst places than Kodiak during my 22 years in the military, in fact Kodiak would've been a vacation tour compared to where I've been sent.

I think it's a little colder in Kodiak then the Key's!!!!
Kodiak Island's in Alaska.

No sir, reluctantly I let them transfer me out of the keys...but if they offered me orders I'd be on the next plane. Any idea which billet sean has? Of course it could be the worst job in the world, but living in the keys makes up for it!

I really appreciate the info, 93 and newer here I come.

Yep, I've been following the site since it first started. I actuallly sold two Fish Nautiques through the sale board here. I did an original post under messer or close to that name and then lost/forgot myself (this is a trait that some avid boaters can recognize of a life long Coast Guardsman, hah). My dad bought an 86 Master Craft the year I left for the Navy (not sure what to make of that still) but thats when I fell in love with the inboard comp skiers. As a kid I used to hear the neihbors way off when coming in with a 97 Ski and early 80's Southwind bowrider...Whoever invented mufflers for boats should be shot! So since I found the Guard I jumped into three Fish Natiques of which one went on a flight with hurricane Georges and now I must admit own a 84 American Skier (which I may have sold today). I am set to retire in just over a year and hope to have a nice Nautique in my arsenal of accumulated toys. ....I've babbled enough... enjoy being part of this community!

MartyMabe wrote: 75 Tique---Didn't you see his signature???? USCG

Sure I did. I also looked up his old posts from 2004 and saw he was (stationed??) in Key West and was looking for a motor for a Fish Nautique. Doesn't sound too rough. That's not to say I am not fully aware of the fact that he may have been deployed elsewhere and that being in the CG is very risky business. I have a great appreciation for them. The local CG station here on the Cape makes the news regularly with their frequent rescues in the less than pleasant north atlantic. Have had occasion to meet a rescue jumper or two. Not fun work!! Key West, feasibly on drug traffic duty or illegal immigrant duty...yes...I appreciate what he's been up to.

All fiberglass construction started in 1993. Everyone on this site advocates, that if you're looking for a boat in the 90-96 vintage/price range, that its worth it to do what you have to do to get a 93 or newer so as to not worry about a stringer job sometime in your future.

You should stop by more often, four posts in five years is pretty sparce. Glad you found your way back. Good luck on the search.