Kevlar instead of fiberglass Skeeter?

[JYarb]

Looking at a 1977 Bass Pro catalog, there is a full page ad for a Skeeter SS-7 17 ft. bass boat made from Kevlar instead of fiberglass. Advertised as lighter and stronger. I don't remember Kevlar as a hull material. What happened as it certainly didn't work out?

[g352nv]

Im sure its much much more money for material.

[Walkabout7781]

There were also some Kevlar Stratos boats, IIRC. Kevlar is about 3 or 4 times as expensive to start with, and I don't imagine they can run it through a chopper gun. I haven't messed with composites in decades, but new stuff is coming out every day. I have a spool of Boron fiber that nobody wants!

[06 SB]

I had a “kevlar” Hydrasports. IIRC, there was still a lot of fiberglass in the boat. The kevlar was in the bottom and maybe the transom.

[luvdmymerc]

I had an '85 1710 limited addition tracker that was kevlar instead of fiber glass. I loved it. I had a 150XR2 on it and it would turn a 26p prop to 6000 rpm's. I didn't have gps on the boat back in those days but it was scary fast. It was several hundred pounds lighter that the fiberglass version of the same boat. I bought it used so I don't have any idea how much it was new but I too heard that it was NOT cost effective so they went to the all fiberglass models....

[John Jackson]

Most only had Kevlar reinforcements. While Kevlar is lighter than fiberglass, the weight is in the resign, (same resign used in fiberglass) so the weight savings is far less than most want to believe. Even converting the whole boat to kevlar, including the lids, usually results in 200 lbs or less difference. The way to get a lot lighter is having fewer layers, which makes the boat a lot weaker.

[Doorman1]

But is it bullet proof?

[go-fish]

I had a 84 HydraSport. Kelvar was one of the selling points at the time. It wasn't any better or worst than any of other brands at the time.
Mine had a stress crack the entire length of the hull @ water line when I traded it. Plus a couple repaired holes, from stumps, in the sump area.
But it was a fast little sucker.

[44k1500fom]

From what I know it’s mixed in with the resin. And gambler hulls. are all made this way.

[TritonJT]

I had an '85 1710 limited addition tracker that was kevlar instead of fiber glass. I loved it. I had a 150XR2 on it and it would turn a 26p prop to 6000 rpm's. I didn't have gps on the boat back in those days but it was scary fast. It was several hundred pounds lighter that the fiberglass version of the same boat. I bought it used so I don't have any idea how much it was new but I too heard that it was NOT cost effective so they went to the all fiberglass models....

Think that boat was built by Stratos.

[Nitro_Z20]

Gambler played with it for quite a while also extremely fast boats still know a old man with one and it only has a 225 and I’ve seen 78 gps with both of us in it

[Legend LE-195]

You would think it might be cost effective today for a go fast brand as much as boats cost, I know Bullet uses balsa in their boats instead of regular wood or composite to make them lighter/faster, kevlar would seem to make sense but maybe not I'm no boat builder.

[98skeeter202]

I had a 79 Cajun Kevlar, 17ft 900 lb hull, rated for 120. Sold new with 140hp on it. I put a 175 mer on it, very fast and easy to drive. Most dangerous part was water coming over transom if you shut it down fast. Lol

[gehol]

Um, you do know Bullet uses Kevlar in the construction of their boats. For an additional charge they will build you a hull that is largely Kevlar.

[Tim Powell]

I have a 2012 Bullet 21SS that is an all kevlar build. Hull weight is 1050lbs.

[RFSims]

But is it bullet proof?

Hydrosport advertised that the Kevlar material was. They wanted you to believe the boat was bullet proof.

[gehol]

Tim is the whole boat Kevlar or just the hull?

Edit: Tim was nice enough to PM me and yes the whole boat is Kevlar.

[HaulinBass]

Think that boat was built by Stratos.

Steve, you always post some nice pics. Thanks for that yesteryear pic. What launch ramp was that, appears familiar.

[jarhead175]

Champion made a few Kevlar hulled boats can't remember the year. Not sure why they never took off just figured cost was the main factor.

[Ben Danbleume]

Steve, you always post some nice pics. Thanks for that yesteryear pic. What launch ramp was that, appears familiar.

Old 86 maybe?